My cat, Scottie, is in his 10th day of fever of unknown origin despite
antibiotics, first polyflex, then doxycycline added, now baytril and
doxycycline, polyflex discontinued. He has been hospitalized for a
week today, on IV fluids and tube feedings. His temp goes up and down.
All bloodwork and x-rays normal except for elevated white count. He's
miserable in his cage, obviously. We want him home. Last night he ate
on his own so he didn't have to be tube fed this a.m., but his temp is
still 104. If I knew he would eat at home on his own, we would bring
him home.

The thing is this, his bill is now over $2,000 and nothing has changed.
We're a little worried about the money. Obviously, if we knew there
was an end in sight, we would pay willingly but this could drag on
forever and nothing might change. I am very tempted to bring him home
with antibiotics and an appetite stimulant and will be discusing this
with the vet later today when we go to see Scottie. But I've been
scouring the internet and I sometimes see where people write, "the vet
gave my cat a fever reducer and some antibiotics and sent him home."
But no one says what the fever reducer is.

I know aspirin has to be used very sparingly in a cat and I already
mentioned that to my vet and he didn't seem to favor that idea. I also
mentioned steroids and he wasn't thrilled with that either because it
can suppress the immune system. But would a short course of steroids
hurt anything? And is there something else that might be considered a
fever reducer?

I know Scottie is terrified there, he spends most of his time hiding
under a blanket unless I come to see him. I'm sure he's sick of being
poked and prodded. If we don't bring him home today, we are definitely
going to have to do so on Monday. I know if he would eat here, he
would be better off here but I can't guarantee he will eat. They
couldn't successfully syringe feed him so they have to tube feed him.
It's not a permanent tube, they just put the tubing partially down his
throat and connect it to the syringe. Is that something I could be
taught to do?

Can anyone help me?

Candace