How to tell if you waited too long to take your sick cat to vet?

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach. It sounds as though Nova may have been dealing with some infection or systemic disease. It is difficult to say for sure but if it was progressed too far, there probably was not much you could have done. If caught early on, then maybe something could have been done. Viral infections such as feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus can cause chronic infections and can lead to death in some cats. She could have any one of these infectious diseases and there is no treatment for either disease. I am sorry for your loss but try not to blame yourself. If she had something untreatable, there is not much you could have done. I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Hello. FIV is a very serious disease that is often fatal. We sometimes will aspirate the effusions , but for the most part it is a very uncomfortable process that is very temporary at best. The effusions come back very quickly. You did nothing wrong. You cared for your friend until the very end, but the virus was just too overwhelming for his system. I am so sorry for your loss, but you honestly did nothing wrong. Please accept my condolences on your loss & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Unfortunately, FIP is a largely incurable disease that is very very severe. If he is vomiting, not eating, and unwell, then he likely is feeling very sick and euthanasia might be the best option for him. It is hard to get an official diagnosis of FIP as it can only really be confirmed post-mortem, however you can always have a consultation with a specialist to make sure there isn't anything else going on that can be fixed, but it sounds like your vet has already done a lot of this testing. The testing rules out other things that can be treated. I suggest talking with your vet about any other possible causes that might be curable, and if you want you can ask for a referral to a specialist, however if this ultimately is FIP then euthanasia should be considered. I am so sorry about your little Leo.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I am sorry to hear about the loss of James. It is never easy to see a loved one pass away. His untimely death could have been due to a heart condition leading his heart to fail. Any underlying systemic disease that was going on that you did not know about could have progressed to the point where it overwhelmed James' system leading to his acute death. Unfortunately, it is difficult to speculate as there can be so many causes. I would discuss this with your veterinarian as he / she may be able to perform an autopsy on James to help determine what the cause of his untimely death could have been. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry for the loss of Lucifer! It sounds like a terrible ordeal. Cats are known for hiding their illness, sometimes until it is very advanced. They can have completely normal blood work with cancer. Sometimes if it is involving the bone marrow or liver we can start to see changes on blood work (very high or very low white blood cells and red blood cells or increased live enzymes). Lymphoma has the nickname of the "Great Pretender," meaning it can present like anything-a cold, a vomit/diarrhea episode, waxing and waning fevers, etc. It behaves this way in people too. You didn't miss anything. You did everything you could as soon as you knew he was sick. Sometimes things are out of our hands and progress so quickly we are blind sided. I wish you well and please feel free to reach out again if you have any other questions.

Hi and thanks for posting. Oh dear I am so sorry to hear this. FIP sadly has no cure and the fluid that builds up in the abdomen is uncomfortable and painful. Cats that are diagnosed with the wet form of FIP usually do not have long. Steroids can be prescribed to help control symptoms temporarily. If Luje is not eating or drinking and is becoming lethargic or weak, it may be time for him. I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry for the loss of your cat P! Cats are very good at hiding illnesses until they are very sick. Jaundice in cats can be from: 1) destruction of red blood cells. They tend to be anemic on blood work. This can be from blood parasites, cancer, immune problems 2) Liver disease: cancer, infection, toxin, inflammatory conditions or fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis). Fatty liver is a secondary condition. Prolonged anorexia is usually the cause. Anything that makes a cat stop eating for more than 3 days can cause fatty liver disease and 3) Gall bladder, biliary or pancreatic disease: infection, cancer, gall stones, biliary obstruction. P didn't die from an overactive thyroid. She died from whatever disease caused her to stop eating, that could have been liver disease or another disease that caused fatty liver syndrome. She sounded like she was very sick. I hope this provides some insight. Again I am sorry for your loss.