19/11/2024
Please read previous post first.
🛑Photos and/or videos might be upsetting.🛑
I will continue to share with you about fip. Again, this doesn't have to be a death sentence and doesn't have to cost thousands to save our feline friends. I only share this because I truly thought fip cost ten thousand to cure or you let the cat go. I now have learned so much and want to share it. If it helps one of you some day, I'm happy!!
Toward the end of October I was awaken by the phone and it was our shelter cleaner. She came in to find one of our younger cats not right. It was a Saturday, all emergencies are the weekend or at night, right?! I was able to get an appointment locally though. Prior to walking in the vet's office to meet our cleaner, I truly thought this was going to be a minor thing. I was wrong! I walked in the exam room to no response from our normally shy, run & hide girl Penelope. I knew this was serious. We ran test and had lots if discussion with the Dr. Of course, it wasn't clear answers. Toxoplasmosis and FIP was the likely answers but unable to know which. This cat, yesterday was just fine. Now she had neurological symptoms and was knocking on that door of death. We started meds for toxo and I reached out to the fip group for their advice. Penelope went back to the vet on Monday, no improvement and it was obvious the vet thought we should let her go. But I was adamant that I was giving fip treatment a chance. I got back on with my fip group and they started to view videos and photos of Penelope. I was urged to rush her to an er because they could see she was suffering with brain swelling. So late into the night, I loaded her and we went to Shawnee Animal Clinic. ( Btw, if you need an er vet they are fabulous!! They do regular appointments too)
Upon examination our Dr didn't once urge us to euthanize. In fact, she thought we had a chance to save her if we got the swelling down and the gs medication for fip started. So, we did just that! October 28th was her first dose and today was her 37th. Penelope was in the hospital for 4 days. She improved after the med for brain swelling was administered but she had a long way to go. Those 4 days were hard for me, not knowing if she would get through. We even went during visiting hours to be with her. Which, just upset, me because I wanted a miracle and for her the miracle wasn't coming quickly. I wish I could say, I didn't add a cat to my bunch but I did!! If the shelter couldn't cover her cost then I had too. If there was a chance, I had to give it. Penelope came home with a head twitch and still not walking well in the back. After some more days of the fip injections, she gained her walk back. Unfortunately for her she has had to stay on 2 injections a day almost this whole time. We took her down to 1 a day but nearing a week, the head twitching increased. I also wish I could say, the twitching has subsided but it hasn't. The vet suspects it may be a bit of permanent brain damage. The good news is though, it isn't constant and it has improved from what it was. Fip warriors said, they didn't know if she would make it in the beginning and they now call her a miracle!! Her story will be used to share to other parents facing this dreaded disease. I hope she makes it through this. I know with her having neurological/dry fip, her case is severe. I have to say, I can't imagine she has gotten this far to fall again. And I won't let her. I think her recovery has been quite different from Rascal's. But he had dry fip only.
A few thinks to note: the treatment is injections in the beginning and if the cat is improving they can then be switched to pills. Injections have been easier for Rascal to continue on so we have. And with the severity of Penelope's case she will likely remain on injections throughout the course. Cats in treatment have to have bloodwork done at 4, 8, and 12 weeks during treatment. During observation they gave to get it done at weeks 6 & 12. I also give a high quality probiotic and immune support daily. Both also were put on iron supplements by the vet. He has finished his but she is still on it. This isn't an easy path and I understand why many wouldn't want to take it I give no judgment toward anyone who didn't do treatment or couldn't. I truly just want you to know there are options.
I once was told my only flaw working in shelter/rescue
Is that i care too much. Well once you see her before and after photos/videos, I hope you understand why I do!!
I must say, I owe so much to Dr P(Rascal's Dr) and Dr Angie( Penelope's Dr) Both have went above all expectations. They are intelligent, caring, and educated individuals. Dr Angie is my Feline Leukemia cats Dr. I love her so much. I know if she is working when I have an emergency, that we are in good hands. Dr. P has this way about him. You can see him thinking out loud. I enjoy his mind. He is always deep in thought. Shawnee has treated us, rather it be the shelter or me personally with such kindness and respect.
I didn't add names of our local vet's who were involved in these cases or our other fip cases. They know who they are. And they always give us outstanding care!!
Former shelter director,
Laura Stevens
-Laura
