What causes my cat's weight loss, swollen belly, and foamy urine?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From the X-rays, I can see that Mara's abdomen appears to be filled with fluid. It is obscuring his liver and intestines from being seen and there may even be a small amount in his lungs. Unfortunately it is impossible to tell what the fluid is from the x-ray alone. His blood work shows some abnormalities with his electrolytes, which may be if he is not eating or from fluid in the abdomen. Mara also has a high white blood cell count, these are the cells that are responsible for fighting off infections and increase if there is one present. Your vet can run some additional diagnostics, and perform a tap and remove the fluid as well as a blood test to determine if Mara is infected with FIP, a mutated form of a common virus that cats are exposed to. I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Cheeteo! Can you post the blood work results and X-rays? Based on your post Cheeto has fluid around his lungs and in his belly. This is a serious, sadly. The most common causes for bicavitary effusion (fluid in BOTH the chest and belly) are cancer, heart failure, and FIP. Heart failure can be managed, FIP sadly has no cure and cancer is not a good diagnosis either. I am guessing that Cheeto didn't respond (didn't get better) on the lasix? The lasix is for heart failure. That only leaves the other diagnoses which are all not good. Unfortunately for a diganosis tests need to be done. If you don't understand what is wrong with Cheeto and why your Vet is recommending certain tests you need to ask them to explain things better so you can make the best decision for you and Cheeto. I hope this helps and I wish you both the best!

Based upon the lack of response to treatment, it’s likely Kuskus has an internal disease like renal disease or hyperthyroidism but many many conditions will cause these clinical signs. Dental disease is also possible. At this point, he needs to be examined by the veterinarian and needs bloodwork to check his organ enzyme levels. Have him examined today before he gets worse. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Panther has a condition known as cachexia - where they are not able to put on weight and their muscles whither away. This indicates a severe illness like cancer, so I would believe that diagnosis. Alternatively, she could also have kidney failure, FIV, FeLV, or some other debilitating condition causing the cachexia. The cat flu would be a secondary problem. It is best to get this diagnosed by a veterinarian. They can usually get some good information from blood tests. Some of the aforementioned conditions can be treated, so it's best to try and find out as soon as possible. I hope that helps.

Hi there. It's possible that she's simply gaining weight as she gets older, especially if she's not as active now as she used to be or if she's getting more food than in the past. But, an enlarged abdomen could also be caused by heart disease, liver disease, FIP (feline infectious peritonitis), or an abdominal tumor of some kind. These things are less likely if she is acting completely normal, but to be on the safe side, it would be a good idea to have her seen by a vet when you are able to. He/she can palpate her abdomen to check for any abnormalities, and may recommend x-rays or other testing if there are any concerns.

Cheddar is a beautiful boy. I strongly recommend a vet exam as soon as you can. Diabetes mellitus is one disease that can cause weight loss and increased water consumption. Urinary or renal disease could also do this. Cheddar needs a physical exam and from there the vet will make recommendations on any tests or treatment recommended. I hope he is feeling better soon, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Gizzy needs to be examined by the veterinarian. The two most common conditions that will cause these clinical signs are kidney disease and hyperthyroidism. Please keep in mind that other causes are also possible. Both of these can be successfully managed with special foods/medications. The key however, is that treatment must start before things get too bad. The longer you wait, the worse things may become. These conditions are not death sentences if caught at an appropriate time. Many cats will live a quality life for a few years after diagnosis. I recommend to have Gizzy examined by the veterinarian within the next few days. Some simple blood and urine tests will be needed for a correct diagnosis. Left untreated, these conditions can cause pets to become more sick and potentially suffer. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.