Any suggestions???

[heidiv]

It was probably the wrong thing to do but I was looking on ANYTHING to find out what was wrong with our Chloe. My sister-in-law is going through a situation with one of her kitties right now they suspect FIP and he is on his way down everyday. So in talking with her I am seriously concerned our little girl may have the same thing?? It would be such a horrible situation!! I have 4 cats wouldn't that put them all into danger then? Chloe is showing strange signs that our vet has not been able to pin down. Lots of discharge out of her right eye. Chewing all of her hair off her body??? I don't know all of the tests they have put her eyes through with no conclusion?? The fact that she out of all of our cats has always delt with something. She had a sever case of parasites when we bought her from a breeder. Very sick little kitten. She is the best little cat I just don't know what I will do if she has this and the fact that all of my babies could be exposed is becoming all a little overhwhelming.... But I read things online and I don't know what the next step is do I go and have all 4 tested? I don't know it could be me just over reacting because seeing what my sister-in-law is going through just makes you turn to the worst. I guess I am asking anyone out there any info on this disease and if I should get her in ASAP to be tested? Thank You in advance.

[kittykatharine]

I don't know if this helps any, but I found some resouces on FIP:

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/fip.html

http://www.newmanveterinary.com/fip.html

http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=212

Information on eye problems in cats:

http://hubpages.com/hub/Cat-Eye-Problems

http://www.petmedsonline.org/cat-eye-health.html


Have you asked your vet about FIP? How long have your other cats been exposed to this one with the recent eye issues? If not long, consider seperating them - different food bowls, water bowls, and litter, till you have a better understanding of whats going on

[krazyaboutkatz]

I sure hope that Chloe doesn't have FIP. I was reading more about it and it seems like the FIP tests aren't always conclusive.

The antibody tests for FIPV also test for antibodies to FECV, i.e. any
a) cat exposed to any feline corona virus may test "positive" or even "strongly positive".
b) cats given FIPV vaccine may also test positive.

The antibody tests for FIPV may be negative in FIP-positive cats, because
a) The immune system components may actually be involved in the progression of the disease and be "consumed" in the disease process.
b) Early in disease—there is not enough time to develop antibodies.
Some animals are immune-suppressed from concurrent diseases (e.g. feline AIDS).
c) Antibody levels fluctuate up and down, seemingly in random fashion, in either FIPV or FECV infected cats. There is NO SPECIFIC PATTERN!
d) More recent research concerning the disease, including the use/misuse of serum serology to diagnose FIP is presented here.

For more information click http://www.newmanveterinary.com/fip.html.

[critters]

I'm wondering about allergies. Allergies can cause a gooby eye as well as hair loss because of itching. Chronic herpes infection can cause a harmless gooby eye, sometimes a REALLY gunky, gooby eye. If the eye has green or yellow pus, or if the goobies are new, it should probably be checked out. If the hair loss is circular or has a funny look to it, I'd get it checked for the possibility of ringworm.

[Catty1]

OR - you have been reading SO MUCH on the internet that you have yourself PANICKED.

Get kitty to the vet for a check, ok?

[Medusa]

OR - you have been reading SO MUCH on the internet that you have yourself PANICKED.

Get kitty to the vet for a check, ok?

I'm w/Candace on this one. Take kitty to the vet. It's too easy to panic ourselves when researching on the web. I've done it; I think most of us have. Ease your mind w/a vet visit and let us know what's up.

[heidiv]

Thanks for all of the websites and information everyone. We have been seeing the vet for awhile now and she finds Chloe's eye a total mystery they have done everything from tear tests to treating for infection immune boosting lysine to try and help her fight off whatever is creating the runny eye. We have now started her on allergy meds because i have really noticed that her hair is really missing in areas. I noticed today that she has gone and chewed all of her fur off from her feet all the way up all legs and her belly has NO fur she doesn't have sores she just chews it real short???

I guess food allergies was another thing that goes through my mind. I use to feed her Iams cat food but found that they have changed their ingredients HUGELY! I was not paying attention and should have been. So I changed their food to Purina One because out of all of the food that is in my area its the most reasonably priced and the ingredients was better than the Iams. If I were to change her food to something that would be better where in the world do I start? If I change the food for one they all have to be changed because honestly its a battle. I am willing to do so but like I said they all have to be on the same thing. We get behavior if one purson is given something different.

Anyone here experience allergies in their cats and do you see these issues with your cats? She is only 3 yrs old I adore her she is a wonderful kitty. I don't want her eye to hurt or have her chew all of her fur off anymore I want to fix it.... My vet is baffeled. We have been calling repeatedly and leaving messages with her for a referral to the U of Minnesota with no response so we are actually going TO the vet tomorrow to get some answers! I just emotionally am at a loss right now I really want her to be the happy healthy little kitty we once had. And I want to know that her little eye doesn't hurt anymore. Thank You everyone!

[Russian Blue]

I would highly recommend getting her to a feline only vet or the College of Veterinary Medicine. If you scroll down the page, in the center, there is Veterinary Medical Center appointments contact info for the University of Minnesota: Click Here

First, talk to your vet and get her to fax over your cat's file to the center. You know I went through so much with Nakita in a very small time frame. One thing I learned with that experience, is to push the vets until you have an answer that you trust. If your current vet is not answering your calls, go to a new one. You need an answer and your cat needs some relief!

Cat allergies are usually so hard to diagnose. They could be environmental, food or stress related. But, have they done a skin scraping to see if it's parasites rather than food related? That's the first step. Your cat could even have allergies and that's the reason for the weepy eye/hair loss etc. Is there anything new in your home environment?

If you go the food trial route, it can easily take 8-12 weeks before you see a difference. You want to have a simple food, with a new protein source (ie - venison, duck, rabbit etc). Often, it's better to go with a wet food over a dry since it has an easier ingredient list. You can try a vet prescription formula (ie - Hills, Royal Canin etc) or get a food at your pet food store. I have heard some good things regarding Natural Balance Venison and Pea formula.

But, you do need some answers and you need the poor cat to calm down. It's very frustrating and emotional when you're trying your all to help your cat but getting no answers.

Do you have a holistic vet in your area? That might be an alternative. Here's the website for the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association. You can do a search for a vet here -----> Holistic Vets

[Medusa]

My Creamsicle has allergies but we aren't sure what she's allergic to. I think she's allergic to treats and also Purina Cat Chow Indoor Formula. I had all my cats on regular Purina Cat Chow and switched to the indoor formula and that's when she started losing hair big time. She had bald spots on her head and her tail looked like a rat tail. So everyone is now eating regular cat chow and she doesn't get any treats. She's on Prednisolone for a little while until we're sure she's got all of the possible allergens out of her system. Good luck w/this. I know it isn't easy, especially if the allergy turns out to be environmental. Where in the world do you start?

[krazyaboutkatz]

Both Pearl and Starr are allergic to grains so now all of my cats are eating Innova Evo canned food and dry because it's grain free. Starr has a colitis and IBD and Pearl has eosinophilic granuloma complex (EGC) which in her case is caused by a food allergy. I know that diagnosing a food allergy or any allergy is very difficult and I would also recommend that you try going to a holisitic vet. I sure hope that a vet will be able to help Chloe and hopefully it's something that can be easily treated. Good luck.

Chloe could also be losing and biting her fur due to stress so it may also be a behavioral thing instead of an allergy. Is she an easily stressed cat? You might want to try using some Feliway/Comfort Zone plugins unless you've already tried these before. Good luck.

[heidiv]

We have gotten a hold of a vet up in the Twin Cities Chloe has an appointment for Wed. to see a specialized eye doctor. If he doesn't know then we will start down the allergen road. I have ran to a new local pet store here in town (family owned really super cute) and they carry all natural food. Who would have thought???? And they carry the same brand that Russian Blue was talking about the Venison and Pea formula. Which seems like a good senerio. So they were so nice they sent me home with samples of all of these different foods. And their prices were so reasonable.
I found the cutest little white and orange kitten at the store I think I am in love but when they let me hold her I took one look at her back paws and almost fell over!!! She has 7 toes on each of her back feet!! She was so precious! I wanted to take her home. But then my better half brought everything into prospective. We HAVE FOUR CATS HEIDI!! So I put her back but I was certain she should live with me When I go back to get Chloe some more food I will have to go visit her.....Oh she was just so cute!