Vet can't diagnose our cat.
 

I'm going to skip the long story and tell the symptoms, maybe someone can
help point me in a direction.

Six year old tom cat, fixed and overweight. He's been panting a bit
getting around the house lately which I chalked up to his weight (he is on
a vet prescribed diet and has been losing weight).

He became less active but he's never been very active which is why he's
fat. I began to worry he might be getting constipated from the diet food
so I started mixing his old food 50/50.

The panting got worse. He had a few turds show up outside the litterbox
but he's very furry so sometimes a small turd sticks to his fur and falls
off later. Then one night he went to the litter box and didn't go, walked
into the kitchen bawling, flopped down and peed all over himself. He
seemed to feel better after peeing so I thought he might have a blockage
and took him to the vet. He has stopped eating and drinking. The vet
tested his blood and urine and said they are both normal. She gave him an
IV since he was dehydrated and a rabies shot which he had a bad reaction
to and I had to take him back for steroids and Benadryl. She x-rayed his
chest and found fluid around his lungs. Drew off 120cc of fluid and had it
tested. She says the fluid contained only a few white blood cells and a
few macrophages.

He improved a little after having the fluid removed but some fluid remains
and I believe he is in pain. Mostly he sleeps but he's not eating or
drinking.

The vet has no diagnosis. She suggested it might be cancer, heart failure,
leukemia or an infection, but she doesn't believe it is an infection. She
has no advice except to go to another vet. I'm frustrated that he is still
in pain and we have no idea what is wrong with him.

Vet can't diagnose our cat.
 

"Mac Cool" wrote in message
...
I'm going to skip the long story and tell the symptoms, maybe someone can
help point me in a direction.

Six year old tom cat, fixed and overweight. He's been panting a bit
getting around the house lately which I chalked up to his weight (he is on
a vet prescribed diet and has been losing weight).

He became less active but he's never been very active which is why he's
fat. I began to worry he might be getting constipated from the diet food
so I started mixing his old food 50/50.

The panting got worse. He had a few turds show up outside the litterbox
but he's very furry so sometimes a small turd sticks to his fur and falls
off later. Then one night he went to the litter box and didn't go, walked
into the kitchen bawling, flopped down and peed all over himself. He
seemed to feel better after peeing so I thought he might have a blockage
and took him to the vet. He has stopped eating and drinking. The vet
tested his blood and urine and said they are both normal. She gave him an
IV since he was dehydrated and a rabies shot which he had a bad reaction
to and I had to take him back for steroids and Benadryl. She x-rayed his
chest and found fluid around his lungs. Drew off 120cc of fluid and had it
tested. She says the fluid contained only a few white blood cells and a
few macrophages.

He improved a little after having the fluid removed but some fluid remains
and I believe he is in pain. Mostly he sleeps but he's not eating or
drinking.

The vet has no diagnosis. She suggested it might be cancer, heart failure,
leukemia or an infection, but she doesn't believe it is an infection. She
has no advice except to go to another vet. I'm frustrated that he is still
in pain and we have no idea what is wrong with him.

I don't understand why she would tell you to go to another vet, do you?

Vet can't diagnose our cat.
 

cybercat:

I don't understand why she would tell you to go to another vet, do you?

After $500 in tests she didn't know much more than when we started. She
gave me the option of doing more tests but that didn't seem to be going
anywhere, we didn't seem to be narrowing it down so she recommended seeing
a specialist. I think she realized that maybe it was beyond her experience
level.

Vet can't diagnose our cat.
 

"Mac Cool" wrote in message
...
I'm going to skip the long story and tell the symptoms, maybe someone can
help point me in a direction.

Six year old tom cat, fixed and overweight. He's been panting a bit
getting around the house lately which I chalked up to his weight (he is on
a vet prescribed diet and has been losing weight).

He became less active but he's never been very active which is why he's
fat. I began to worry he might be getting constipated from the diet food
so I started mixing his old food 50/50.

The panting got worse. He had a few turds show up outside the litterbox
but he's very furry so sometimes a small turd sticks to his fur and falls
off later. Then one night he went to the litter box and didn't go, walked
into the kitchen bawling, flopped down and peed all over himself. He
seemed to feel better after peeing so I thought he might have a blockage
and took him to the vet. He has stopped eating and drinking. The vet
tested his blood and urine and said they are both normal. She gave him an
IV since he was dehydrated and a rabies shot which he had a bad reaction
to and I had to take him back for steroids and Benadryl. She x-rayed his
chest and found fluid around his lungs. Drew off 120cc of fluid and had it
tested. She says the fluid contained only a few white blood cells and a
few macrophages.

He improved a little after having the fluid removed but some fluid remains
and I believe he is in pain. Mostly he sleeps but he's not eating or
drinking.

The vet has no diagnosis. She suggested it might be cancer, heart failure,
leukemia or an infection, but she doesn't believe it is an infection. She
has no advice except to go to another vet. I'm frustrated that he is still
in pain and we have no idea what is wrong with him.

I agree that you should see another vet, preferably one that specializes in
cats (or, at least, *small* animals). Are you within driving distance of a
veterinary college? That is often a good option.

Incidentally, I am very concerned that your vet would have given a rabies
shot (or any vaccination) at a time when your cat is obviously ill.

MaryL

Vet can't diagnose our cat.
 

MaryL wrote:

" I agree that you should see another vet, preferably one that specializes
in cats (or, at least, *small* animals). Are you within driving
distance of a veterinary college? That is often a good option.

Incidentally, I am very concerned that your vet would have given a
rabies shot (or any vaccination) at a time when your cat is obviously ill.

MaryL


That was on my mind too. Why in the world would she give him a
vaccination while he is ill? I would think that would compromise his
system even more.

I would get copies of all of his records and tests and at least get a
second opinion from another vet. I think the very best thing though
would be to go to a specialist. It could be something that is easily
corrected given the proper diagnosis.

Good luck,

Rhonda

Vet can't diagnose our cat.
 

On May 20, 7:52*pm, Mac Cool wrote:
I'm going to skip the long story and tell the symptoms, maybe someone can
help point me in a direction.

Six year old tom cat, fixed and overweight. He's been panting a bit
getting around the house lately which I chalked up to his weight (he is on
a vet prescribed diet and has been losing weight).

He became less active but he's never been very active which is why he's
fat. I began to worry he might be getting constipated from the diet food
so I started mixing his old food 50/50.

The panting got worse. He had a few turds show up outside the litterbox
but he's very furry so sometimes a small turd sticks to his fur and falls
off later. Then one night he went to the litter box and didn't go, walked
into the kitchen bawling, flopped down and peed all over himself. He
seemed to feel better after peeing so I thought he might have a blockage
and took him to the vet. He has stopped eating and drinking. The vet
tested his blood and urine and said they are both normal. She gave him an
IV since he was dehydrated and a rabies shot which he had a bad reaction
to and I had to take him back for steroids and Benadryl. She x-rayed his
chest and found fluid around his lungs. Drew off 120cc of fluid and had it
tested. She says the fluid contained only a few white blood cells and a
few macrophages.

He improved a little after having the fluid removed but some fluid remains
and I believe he is in pain. Mostly he sleeps but he's not eating or
drinking.

The vet has no diagnosis. She suggested it might be cancer, heart failure,
leukemia or an infection, but she doesn't believe it is an infection. She
has no advice except to go to another vet. I'm frustrated that he is still
in pain and we have no idea what is wrong with him.

What did the fluid look like that was drawn out? Was it pinkish?
Could your cat have chylothorax? My cat had that 3 years ago...major
symptom was labored breathing. There was chyle leaking into her
pleural cavity. There is also something called pneumothorax--the
fluid is a different color than pink. Both are very serious but can
be treated and can have a favorable outcome.

I would go to another vet--perhaps an internist. If your cat is not
eating or drinking, he'll die. A cat that does not eat for 3 days can
develop hepatic lipidosis--on top of whatever else he has going on and
that is very serious.

Candace

Vet can't diagnose our cat.
 

On May 20, 11:30*pm, Candace wrote:
On May 20, 7:52*pm, Mac Cool wrote:



I'm going to skip the long story and tell the symptoms, maybe someone can
help point me in a direction.

Six year old tom cat, fixed and overweight. He's been panting a bit
getting around the house lately which I chalked up to his weight (he is on
a vet prescribed diet and has been losing weight).

He became less active but he's never been very active which is why he's
fat. I began to worry he might be getting constipated from the diet food
so I started mixing his old food 50/50.

The panting got worse. He had a few turds show up outside the litterbox
but he's very furry so sometimes a small turd sticks to his fur and falls
off later. Then one night he went to the litter box and didn't go, walked
into the kitchen bawling, flopped down and peed all over himself. He
seemed to feel better after peeing so I thought he might have a blockage
and took him to the vet. He has stopped eating and drinking. The vet
tested his blood and urine and said they are both normal. She gave him an
IV since he was dehydrated and a rabies shot which he had a bad reaction
to and I had to take him back for steroids and Benadryl. She x-rayed his
chest and found fluid around his lungs. Drew off 120cc of fluid and had it
tested. She says the fluid contained only a few white blood cells and a
few macrophages.

He improved a little after having the fluid removed but some fluid remains
and I believe he is in pain. Mostly he sleeps but he's not eating or
drinking.

The vet has no diagnosis. She suggested it might be cancer, heart failure,
leukemia or an infection, but she doesn't believe it is an infection. She
has no advice except to go to another vet. I'm frustrated that he is still
in pain and we have no idea what is wrong with him.

What did the fluid look like that was drawn out? *Was it pinkish?
Could your cat have chylothorax? *My cat had that 3 years ago...major
symptom was labored breathing. *There was chyle leaking into her
pleural cavity. *There is also something called pneumothorax--the
fluid is a different color than pink. *Both are very serious but can
be treated and can have a favorable outcome.

I would go to another vet--perhaps an internist. *If your cat is not
eating or drinking, he'll die. *A cat that does not eat for 3 days can
develop hepatic lipidosis--on top of whatever else he has going on and
that is very serious.

Candace

Check out this website pleural effusion in cats:
http://www.petplace.com/cats/pleural...ats/page1.aspx

Vet can't diagnose our cat.
 

"Mac Cool" wrote

The vet has no diagnosis. She suggested it might be cancer, heart failure,
leukemia or an infection, but she doesn't believe it is an infection. She
has no advice except to go to another vet. I'm frustrated that he is still
in pain and we have no idea what is wrong with him.

Did she give a recommended vet listing? Specialists perhaps?

Vet can't diagnose our cat.
 

MaryL:

Are you within driving distance of a veterinary college? That is
often a good option.

Calling them today.

Incidentally, I am very concerned that your vet would have given a
rabies shot (or any vaccination) at a time when your cat is obviously
ill.

Yeah, after I read the complications that could (and did) result I pretty
much lost all confidence in that vet. The Rabies vaccine was like pouring
salt in a wound.

Vet can't diagnose our cat.
 

Candace:

What did the fluid look like that was drawn out? Was it pinkish?

Mostly clear with only a tinge of pink.

Could your cat have chylothorax? My cat had that 3 years ago...major
symptom was labored breathing. There was chyle leaking into her
pleural cavity. There is also something called pneumothorax--the
fluid is a different color than pink. Both are very serious but can
be treated and can have a favorable outcome.

I would go to another vet--perhaps an internist. If your cat is not
eating or drinking, he'll die. A cat that does not eat for 3 days can
develop hepatic lipidosis--on top of whatever else he has going on and
that is very serious.

Yes, that has worried also. I've tried giving him water with a dropper but
he just spits it out.