Kyra has been diagnosed with Corona Virus (coronavirus?)

[huskerlaw]

:(

The good news: The vet assures me that it is not likely the type that morphs into FIP, so it's probably not fatal. (I called back in a panic after I ran "feline corona virus" in google...holy crap, I was nearly hysterical)

The other good news: The vet doesn't think my other cats will get it, as apparently this form of corona virus is typical in kittens, but fairly easily beat off by an adult immune system.

Even more good news: She'll probably outgrow it.

The bad news: In the meantime, we have to figure out a diet that a) she will eat and b) will help her digestive system so that her poo doesn't contain blood and is something other than a liquid.

Poor thing.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Oh poor baby.

Is it possible that any of the followoing would help-if not with the actual disease, but at least with the symptoms, so she will feel better? Acidophilus, pumpkin, slippery elm, l-Glutamine

Google them with "diarhhea, ibd" and see what you get.

[huskerlaw]

4. Maybe!

I'll ask the vet about it when I talk to her next. We're trying Science Diet i/d first, though I don't have much hope that Kyra will eat it. If that fails, we'll be getting more creative.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Poor little thing. Hope she gets better soon.

Yogurt or baby food, maybe?

[huskerlaw]

5. Thanks!

I'll put those on the list to ask the vet about. We're trying a prescription diet first...if/when she rejects that, we'll get creative.

[smokey nj]

3. I'm sorry huskerlaw

Big get well :hug:s for Kyra.

[huskerlaw]

6. Thanks!

:hug:

[Lorien]

7. Important! Read this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=243x29714

There are a lot of misunderstandings about corona virus-even among vets. About 80% of cats carry corona virus, but only 2-3% will ever develop FIP. Most carry the virus throughout their entire lives, but only "shed" virus from time to time. So Kyra may test positive now, but negative in six months, then positive again eight months later. Your other cats can catch the virus during the shedding phase...but there's only a 20% chance that they don't have it anyway. Many vets now say that any cat adopted from a shelter, breeder or busy foster home has corona virus. But, as you'll see in the link posted above, that's no reason to panic. My kitty Oberon has the corona virus too. I think that he caught it from a foster who developed FIP three months after she was adopted (contrary to popular belief FIP is not contagious-only the corona virus is contagious). Taking a few precautions should keep Kyra healthy. Avoid the FIP vaccine and steroids, and she should live a long and happy life.

[huskerlaw]

11. Wow...thanks so much for the information

The vet who diagnosed her said that she used to work for a kitten rescue group and nearly all of the kittens had corona virus. I almost wonder if Kyra really does have it, or if they're just kind of assuming she does because she was a rescue.

She isn't a typical rescue though, my boss found her and her siblings in a planter outside our office. Mama cat was still around and feeding them, but we decided the best thing was to take the kittens before they were old enough to be moved since mama cat was definitely feral. So my boss took her and her 3 siblings in when they were 3 weeks old and they came to the office everyday to be bottle fed and cuddled. Then I adopted her when she was 8 weeks.

So basically, I know everything that she has ever eaten, everywhere she's ever been, etc. And while her life started out a little rocky, it wasn't the same type of stress that a kitten in a shelter would go through. Also, my boss is still in touch with the families that have her siblings (the boss kept one) and Kyra's the only one that's having this poo issue.

We're starting out with Science Diet i/d (if Kyra will eat it), and she's already been on Flagyl (an antibiotic, which did get rid of the blood) for a week and now they want to put her back on it, somewhat indefinitely, but I'm dragging my feet on that because I don't want her continuously drugged.

I'm hoping we can figure something out with her diet!

[Lorien]

16. Re; her food. Please read this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=243&topic_id=4388&mesg_id=4388
I've had very, very bad luck with Science Diet, as have many other friends of mine. It's no wonder: just read the ingredients list. Obligate carnivores should never eat corn and brewer's rice (brown rice is OK in very small amounts-brewer's rice is nothing more than industry waste used as filler and can cause all kinds of health issues). As she has corona virus, it's also important to keep her off of as many chemicals as possible.Throughly read the FIP article; too many antibiotics can trigger an FIP mutation. You'll want to feed her food that is as close to what nature intended for her as you can-something that's USDA (human grade) or even organic...but NOT feed grade (grocery store brands, Iams, Eukanuba, Purina One and Science diet are all feed grade (livestock grade-unfit for human consumption) foods. I'd recommend a product like Prairie Nature's Variety raw or freeze dried raw turkey and chicken canine/ feline diet. Wellness, Evanger's, Innova, Artemis, Newman's Own, Petguard, Halo, Organix, Solid Gold, Felidae, Avoderm and Merrick are just a few other USDA brands that would probably make her feel much better and safe guard her health. Also, has she been tested for coccidia? It's very common is kittens her age and causes terrible diarrhea and a very stinky litter box. It can be cleared up in about a week using Clavamox.

[huskerlaw]

17. I don't like the idea of Science Diet either

and that's certainly not what they eat normally. In her short little life she's eaten Royal Canin Kitten, Wellness Kitten, and she eats the adult cats' Organix and Wellness because until now, it was left out all day. They're all on Wellness now, but the vet wants her to stop eating that until we get the poo situation figured out.

They gave me the Science (Prescription) Diet i/d to try to give her bowels a rest. Turns out, she won't eat it. So now they've told me to cook her chicken and rice. Actual human-grade chicken and rice. Heck, we could share dinner. ;)

We just tried that a few minutes ago and she's cool with the chicken, but unsure of the rice. I'll give it another go tonight, but if that doesn't work, I'm kinda out of ideas. Basically, they want her to be treated like a human who just had a really nasty stomach flu...very benign easy-to-digest food.

I went to the vet this morning and got her prescription for the 2nd round of Flagyl filled...but I'm holding off on giving it to her until I can figure out if a diet change alone would fix things.

As for coccidia...I'm not sure what tests they've run exactly, but she's had her poo tested at two completely different vet offices, multiple times, and it has come back completely clear of bacteria every time.

[Lorien]

19. Odd suggestion by your vet. Rice is very difficult for a cat to metabolize

it shoots up their blood sugar and can cause obesity and diabetes, but many vets aren't warned about the health effects of various ingredients because Hill's (Science Diet) conducts vet school "nutrition" classes! So Kyra isn't sure about the rice for a good reason. Smart kitty!

Also, a diet without sufficient taurine can quickly lead to all kinds of health problems. You can add taurine simply by adding organ meat to her diet, or a taurine supplement. Here's a basic healthy cat food recipe:

Basic Cat Food Recipe*

* 1300 g raw muscle meat (beef, chicken, lamb, quail, duck, etc., but not fish or pork!)
* 400 g heart
* 200 g liver (I alternate with kidneys)
* 100 g gizzards (excellent for a dental workout, which is important for teeth!)
* 600 g finely pulped or grated veggies (I mostly use carrots or plain pumpkin)
* spring water to desired consistency
* 4 eggs, lightly cooked
* 4 tbsp bonemeal
* approx. 60 drops of Liquid Trace Minerals
* 1000 mg vitamin C (calcium ascorbate, sodium ascorbate, or Ester C: the amount is variable according to your cat's needs)
* 2 tsp salmon body oil
* 100-200 IU vitamin E added directly to a meal, once a week
From: http://www.rawfoodlife.com/Raw_Pets/Raw_Pet_Recipes/raw_pet_recipes.htm#BasicCat


In fact, to make it even more simple; chicken, chicken organs, and pumpkin mixed together might be easy on the tummy without sacrificing nutrition. Just a thought.


You might also pass the Prairie raw by your vet. It has very wholesome ingredients. Here's a list:

Fresh & Healthy Ingredients
Organic Chicken, Raw Ground Organic Chicken Bone, Organic Chicken Liver, Organic Chicken Heart, Organic Chicken Eggs, Organic Bok Choy, Organic Carrots, Organic Apples, Organic Pears, Organic Persimmons, Organic Flaxseed Oil, Organic Yogurt (Organic Grade A Pasteurized Milk, Organic Nonfat Milk, Fructan, Pectin, Live and Active Yogurt Cultures: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus,
Lactobacillus casei), Organic Alfalfa Sprouts, Organic Parsley, Organic Blueberries.

[huskerlaw]

20. ARGH!!

Ok, now I totally don't trust the vet. We switched vets because her original vet kept looking at the poo sample and saying, "there's nothing wrong with her poo...she's fine." To which I said, "It's BLOODY!" So I switched in order to find someone willing to diagnose and treat her. But now I'm not convinced that this vet knows what end is up either. Ugh.

Chicken, chicken organs, and pumpkin, eh? That sounds easy enough to start with. I'm really hoping this is just a temporary thing because, as much as I love Kyra, I don't even cook for myself! Of course, I will do it as long as she needs for me to do it. ;)

Thanks so much for your help...and Kyra thanks you too!

[Lorien]

22. I know how you feel. I switched vets about six times in the past

five years. I think I was getting scammed by a few of them; I was pretty sure that I knew what my cat's problem was, but they kept ordering more and more tests and not testing for the obvious things. Then two of them wanted me to put them on prescription Science Diet food (no deal). Everything seemed geared towards having me bring the cats back and giving them more $$. I still have not found the "perfect" vet, but at least the two I have now aren't ordering lots of expensive tests for obscure conditions for my fur kids, and they don't push prescription food.

[blondie58]

8. oh. no- poor Kyra

I'm glad to hear that the vet doesn't think that it will morph into fip. One of my fosters died suddenly, and we think that is what he had. Keep us posted, Huskerlaw.

[huskerlaw]

12. I've lost a cat to FIV

so I really freaked out when I googled and saw that it's tied to FIP. I'm hoping it's as minor as the vet thinks it is and that we can find a diet that works for her.

Will definitely keep you posted!

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

9. Yikes - that's so scary!

Good vibes and best wishes for a healthy immune system and good outcome for your darling little beastie!

[huskerlaw]

13. Yeah, it was!

Thankfully, she's already 8 months old, so she should be getting that immune system boost relatively soon. (I HOPE!)

[AZBlue]

10. Poor baby!

I'm so sorry for both of you - what a worry! But, it's overall very good news - take care of both of you! :hug:

[huskerlaw]

14. I'm trying to focus on the good news

and hope that she can get over this quickly!

[joeybee12]

15. Good luck!

Sounds good that she'll outgrow it.

[huskerlaw]

18. Thanks

we hope so!! (and soon!)

[TZ]

21. I'm not going to get into a flame war here but

Please be VERY CAREFUL with RAW diets. If you give a high protein diet...Cook that meat. The last thing your cat needs is to ingest a pathogen that she can't deal with having her immune system stressed already. Cats can get sick from food borne pathogens, and I am familiar with the rodent version of corona virus, its a very nasty bug. I know people swear by a raw diet, but despite what people think, cats can and do get food illnesses. That's the reason I don't want my cats outside catching critters. I know too well what nasties that these critters carry, many of which the domestic cat does not have immunity from (see West Nile Virus, Lyme disease)

[huskerlaw]

23. It's ok...

I'm not going raw...at least not right now. This treatment has too many balls up in the air right now for me to even consider it. She's getting the best there is as far as manufactured food goes and I'm willing to try anything that I can cook for her, but even if I was seriously considering a raw diet for her, I wouldn't change her diet that drastically until we know exactly what's going on.

Her little system is confused enough as it is. ;)

[KC]

24. Someone told

me that vets are using Activia (the yogurt type stuff..vanilla only) for dogs that have diarrhea. You might want to check with your vet for a cat though. Also I'm not sure of the amount for pets.