Health Question

[Bella7777]

I purchased my F3 female (neutered) savannah, Bella, 2 years ago from a woman who's son was allergic. Bella is about 4 now. I took her to my cat only vet in July of 2016 (year I got her) and Bella was given a nasal vaccine for FIP. Before the vaccine, Bella ate like there was no tomorrow. After the vaccine, she was quiet for a day or so which is normal. However, she began sneezing and lost her appetite. Vet said it would get better - it didn't. Had a variety of tests run by another vet - no problems. Currently give Bella mirtazapine (on the inner ear) about once a week. Without it, she will eat for a
few days and then taper off (regardless of food type) and begin to lose weight. I have tried every type of food imaginable - raw, canned, dry, expensive, inexpensive, people, etc. The pattern is the same - she will act hungry but refuse food that she liked a day or two before. Sometimes that will even include an occasional treat like whipped cream. I don't want her to take mertazipine the rest of her life but that works. However, it is not as effective as it was but she is perfectly healthy. I know her sense of smell works. Vet just suggested I give her half a pepcid every day in case she has a slightly acidic stomach, but that doesn't seem to make any difference. The problem started after the damned nasal vaccine and persists. My bengal had the same vaccine and is fine. I have read all sorts of vet sites, college vet sites, etc., no answers. No ond has heard of this.

Thanks for any info.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

How long after you got Bella did you take to the vet. Was the only thing given the intranasal vaccine? I'm skeptical that this is the cause of her lack of appetite unless this just tipped the balance for another health issue.

Can you list the "variety of tests" that were done to try to work this out? Has she had any xrays or ultrasounds done?

 

[Bella7777]

How long after you got Bella did you take to the vet. Was the only thing given the intranasal vaccine? I'm skeptical that this is the cause of her lack of appetite unless this just tipped the balance for another health issue.

Can you list the "variety of tests" that were done to try to work this out? Has she had any xrays or ultrasounds done?

Hi

This is the first chance I have had to reply. I got Bella in April of 2018 - she was about 1.5 years old, great health and complete medical record - no problems, great appetite. In July '18 I took Bella and my bengal to a vet that specializes on in cats and I had gone there many times over the years. Vet administered nasal vaccine to both cats and that seemed to start Balla's problems as I described. Vet told me not to worry but when problem didn't resolve and I had to use mirtazapine, I went to another vet I had also gone to for many years (he is more of a scientist). We did blood, urine, feces, sonogram, MRI, x ray - had tests run a couple of times over the last 2 years and no problems. I didn't want to do anything invasive like an internal biopsy or anything that would involve surgery - opening her up. Vet is convined she is perfectly healthy but no explanation for problem. Tried all kinds of food, probiotics, 1/2 pepcid a day and probiotic powder. Problem is always the same - good appetite after mirtazapine and then gradual decline. Bella acts hungry even when she won't eat any of the food she will eat after mirtazapine and I know her sense of smell works.

Vet doesn't like mirtazapine as a solution but nothing else helps her. Have not tried predi

How long after you got Bella did you take to the vet. Was the only thing given the intranasal vaccine? I'm skeptical that this is the cause of her lack of appetite unless this just tipped the balance for another health issue.

Can you list the "variety of tests" that were done to try to work this out? Has she had any xrays or ultrasounds done?

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Blood could mean a lot of things, which blood tests were done? What fecal tests?

The sonogram and MRI and xray were looking where and for what?

Is this a specialist vet? What reason for the MRI?

There would be no reason for a biopsy unless something was detected. Do you have the reports for all those procedures? That would be useful to include here.

In terms of the nasal vaccine, if that was to blame then it would be that it caused FIP, therefore the blood tests would have shown anomalies, even dry FIP (although difficult to diagnose) shows vague signs.

 

[Bella7777]

Blood could mean a lot of things, which blood tests were done? What fecal tests?

The sonogram and MRI and xray were looking where and for what?

Is this a specialist vet? What reason for the MRI?

There would be no reason for a biopsy unless something was detected. Do you have the reports for all those procedures? That would be useful to include here.

In terms of the nasal vaccine, if that was to blame then it would be that it caused FIP, therefore the blood tests would have shown anomalies, even dry FIP (although difficult to diagnose) shows vague signs.

 

[Bella7777]

Hi

The nasal vaccine was not for FIP - what used to be called distemper - FIV? I think it was a combo vaccine and I can contact the vet who administered it for the record. The MRI and sonogram were to see if there was anything unusal in the digestive area/stomach - there was nothing. I wanted all of the tests just to
be sure. Feces checked for any parasites, several blood panels for whatever could have been a possibility - thyroid, urinary problems, The results of the
MRI and sonogram were sent to a specialist for further info but everything was normal. My vet said that he would not recommend any type of invasive
test or biopsy because there was nothing suspicious at all. Bella was at the vet about 4 months ago - right before Covid
started and she was fine, except for the ongoing appetitie problem.

I can get all of her records and could send them - I certainly appreciate any information or insight anyone has. My vet said that Bella could take mirtaz - the
only side effect is that it can make her more vocal. It does improve her appetite for a few days.

Thanks for your interest. I love Bella so much and would do anything to help her. She is a very happy Savannah - I have a large, screened porch where the cats hang out quite a bit with no poisonous plants . Bella plays, bothers everything, chases Cleo the bengal, sleeps with me except when she want to stay up all night. Then, I close my bedroom door and Bella and Cleo come back in around 4am and we all go back to sleep.

I will get Bella's medical record and appreciate your interest.

Thanks.

Charlene

 

[SV Dad]

I have a F3 (Mayhem) cat diagnosed with inflamatory bowel disease and lymphoma. At initial diagnosis he just stopped eating. Mirtazapine really helped and he was on it for about half a year, and then sporadically when needed. It really helped. He is in remission now for 32 months at his best weight ever and doing great. He does get chlorambucil, prednisolone and famotidine (Pepcid). He is somewhat finicky but I suspect he is manipulating us.

 

[Patti]

It's sounds like Bella is a completely happy kitty other than her lack of appetite. Have yout tried warming her food or sprinkling freeze dried chicken crumbs on top of it? Have you tried a raw diet? You may just have to resign yourself to rotating her food selection on a regular basis, and continue with the Remeron as needed...