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