Ok we went with Tigris to see the vet tonight and here is the outcome- it's a mix and not yet definite:
First: She did a puncture yesterday to get the fluid out and she says it was more than she ever took from a cat in 40 years of practice. She also did an ultrasound but there was still so much fluid left in the poor boy that she didn't see anything clearly. This fluid, about a quart, had blood and many proteins in it. She says the fluid is an exudate which means all the fluids of poor Tigris' body run into his tummy- which is why he is dehydrated and anemic. She had real problems to get enough blood for the analysis.
Second: we know it is not the heart and we know it isn't FIP.
Third: The bloodwork had come back from the lab and it was not as bad as she had expected. The only levels that were really off were the liver values. Unfortunately the analysis of the fluid had'nt arrived yet.
We will wait for this analysis to come back.
The options: We suppose the analysis of the fluids will show some cancer, maybe in the liver. To really see it she recommends a CT. From there we can see whether surgery makes sense or whether it doesn't. She gives him pred injections now as they should close the vessels a little so that he does not lose that much fluid.
The surprise: She couldn't believe how feisty Tigris was under such a serious condition. He jumps on the table (at home, not at the vets), he eats- and with Trude, the vet, he gave headbumpies and began to play with her.
So at least he is not in any pain.
Keep us all in your thoughts. I need a miracle here. But at least it doesn't sound as impossible as it sounded yesterday.
I'm glad the bloodwork came back better than expected, I hope it will be the same for the analysis.
Bookmarks