Update on Trip

Well, we brought Trip home with us last night. The little guy's test results do not look promising. But we're willing to try. And Trip is willing try.

Here's the details:

First, his lung fluid test came back looking like either fluid due to cardiovascular disease or FIP.

Second, his blood test for coronna virus came back positive, but not extremely high levels. So, yes, he has a coronna virus, but there are many types of coronna viruses.

Third, his blood protien levels are normal.

Fourth, the fluid in his lungs continues to increase. The first night they pulled 50 cc out, third night, 70 cc (aprox. 2 oz), and last night, over 90 cc. The fluid is in and around his lungs. The around his lungs is what's concerning the vet. It's actually crushing his lungs and causing his difficulty breathing. After pulling the 90 cc out last night, one lung fully reinflated, however the other did not.

There is no absolute test for FIP while the cat is alive. However, by adding all of this evidence up, the vet has come to the conclusion that he most likely has FIP. It's the fluid around his lungs that has especially drawn them to this conclusion. The vet said that in her 11 years of practice, she has only seen the wet form of FIP once, and unfortunately, it looked a lot like what little Trip has.

Based on the vet's call to me yesterday, telling me his breathing was more labored, he had more fluid in his lungs, and he wasn't eating, and that we should come in, I was expecting to see a lump of a kitty and was preparing myself to let the vets euthenize him. But as soon as they brought him in and lifted the lid off his oxygen cage, he saw us and started purring. Soon, he started eating, which he hadn't done all day at the vet's! He was breathing so hard though, each breath labored, and painful to watch. The vet pulled the 90 cc of liquid out of his chest and we took him home. He is currently happy and comfortable. He's been grooming himself, eating like a little piggie, and even playing! We have him quardoned off in the bathroom and hallway so he doesn't go running all around and over-exerting himself. Last night Rob and I spent our evening in the hall with him. He nuzzled up against us, purring, batted at the pages of our books, and enjoyed little head scritches. This morning when I opened the bedroom door, he came bounding over to me. He is giving me such hope! His breathing is still labored, though. We're still hoping it's pneumonia. We're hoping the vet is wrong. We're hoping the antibiotics will clear this all up and he'll go on to live a long life with us.




















Trip, sitting up and atentive.


















Trip testing out his bed.


















Sleepy Trip.