Hi Michelle, I'm glad to read that Lucy is feeling better, but just for the reference point: my Hepburn that I lost to wet FIP (also not confirmed with a necropsy), succombed quickly, like Beth said, it was over about a week and a half before I decided that she was suffering more than enjoying life. Funny, one of the things that made the decision so hard is that she would purr. I didn't know that it was called the purring disease, but I did know that purring doesn't always mean content, it can also mean pain or fear. In any event, her belly was quite round - think of a very pregnant horse - or maybe a pregnant cat, I don't know, I've never seen one. No real disguising it. I still get nervous sometimes with Satchmo and Beatrix though - especially Bea since she's longer haired and a kitten, and it's hard to tell if she's fluffy, got a full little belly, or is dying - that's pretty much how my mind works. :)
My test is to palpate the tummy when they are standing, if you can feel the "ropy"/bumpy muscle, connective tissue, whatever, that's in there, then you're fine, if you can press in and there is "nothing" resisting your fingers, then I would worry. This is not to say that it means wet FIP, it just means that I would worry. Anyway, I am glad that you don't need this info now, but in case it comes up in the future for anyone. By the way, they did draw some of the fluid and tested for lymphoma, it came back negative, so combined with the lethargy, inappetance, and belly...I can't remember if there was a fever, the vet concluded wet FIP. Leslie
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: fip question I spoke to my vet about lucy, and he did not see a reason to bring her in. He agreed that her discomfort for a few hours in the evening is probably related to her ibd and to up her flagyl and pred a little. I have, though, probably irrationally, started worrying about wet FIP. Her sides look a little pooched out to me, which may just be that she had lost some weight for the couple weeks she did not want her turkey mush and looks a bit skinny all over and has just started gaining it back so may be gaining it back in her tummy first. But, not knowing why she is getting uncomfortable for a few hours a day, and being paranoid about fip, I started worrying that maybe the poochiness is fluid accumulation. I looked for a wet fip photo online but can not find one. I found info on wet fip symptoms, and it did say that fluid accumulation can happen slowly and that other symptoms can be intermittent inappetance and depression. Does anyone think she could have fip? When she is not having the discomfort, she is pretty normal, maybe a slight bit less active than usual, but she is eating quite a bit. When cats get wet fip, are the symptoms normally constant? Should I be worried about this? And is fluid accumulation very obviously fluid, or could it look sort of like tummy weight gain (i.e. when I look at her from behind, her butt looks thin and I can see her sides sticking out a bit, rather than just chubby all over like my other cats). Does the fluid feel mush like water, or firm? If I press on her belly, it just feels like her stomach is bigger. Thanks for any thoughts or advice. I think if I call my vet and ask him this he will think I have gone round the bend, but I am feeling anxious. michelle
