cat stopped eating, high fever, pain in back haunches, fluid in stomach, no tumors

[sher28des]

Cleo, 5 yrs. old an inside mostly cat, but goes outdoors, overweight, and TRIES to be fed every couple hours,stopped
eating, and hid for a whole day.  We found her, picked her up and she started growling and crying. She was tender toward her back haunches, around the kidney area, I think. We took her to the vet and she had a temp. of 106.  He did CBC, Chemisty, FIV, leukemia, x-rays, and an ultra-sound of her stomach.  Everything came out normal except they found a little air, and fluid in her stomach from the ultra-sound. Other than that the doctor has no idea what is wrong with her.  We brought her home last night, and the Dr. gave us saline solution to keep her hydrated, an anti-biotic, anti-inflammatory, some food, and a pain reliever.  We kept her in a pen overnight because she is urinating on herself.  When I let her out this morning, she was trying to walk but was falling over on her back legs, and started pulling herself by her front legs. I was able to force feed her about a half can of food throughout the day to altar her from getting hepatic lipidosis, but now the pain medicine makes it difficult to feed her now.  Please help her and me. Thank You

[sher28des]

Thank You, yes she is out of her misery, and I'm thankful for that.  I guess it's true for cats as it is for humans, that heart disease can be a silent killer.  To be truthful, it never even occurred to me that it was even an option because she was still a young cat.  Well, I have learned another lesson, albeit a painful one, but now I am aware.  Daisy is missing her too, but she has eaten a little, and now even wants to get in my husband's lap as well.  I think she is going to be okay.  But I want to thank you for taking time from you're life to help me out and for sharing you're knowledge with me.  God Bless

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

I am so sorry about your loss, but Cleo is now in a place without pain.  

Many cats will not show any symptoms of heart disease prior to having thromboembolism. They won't have a heart murmur, or coughing or wheezing and will have no sign of exercise intolerance, or syncope (fainting from heart problems).  

A chest X-Ray, echocardiogram, and blood pressure check would show abnormalities, but not many owners are willing to have these diagnostics performed unless a problem is already noted.  

Heart medications can be effective in preventing devastating heart problems if given early.

I believe that Daisy is grieving.  Even if Daisy and Cleo did not seem to get along, Daisy is feeling Cleo's absence and is perhaps emotionally lost.  She should get over it eventually, just give her lots of attention, if you can.  You may need an appetite stimulant or some calming medicine or herbs to help her get past this sad time.

[sher28des]

Thank You for you're reply, but Cleo died Saturday night.  It was the most heart wrenching thing I have experienced, had I known this was going to happen I would have glady ended her life so she wouldn't have suffered like she did.  It happened so suddenly,
one day she just stopped eating, and hid herself, and was sore to the touch. Three days later she dies. I did call the vet when she started falling over when she walked, but since it was Saturday the vet that examined her wasn't in and this other vet said she really didn;t know what else to do for her, but we could come get some pain medicine for her to make her more comfortable. She did mention that it could be an embolism. In the end she wasn't able to stand and support her weight, but pulled herself along with her legs. I have never felt so helpless and at a loss of what to do to help her. I need some kind of closure over this, I never want this to happen again. It doesn't seem fair that we couldn't help her.  Please could you tell me what the signs of heart disease are, and what are the signs of a cat that has had a heart attack?  If the cause of death was an embolism how do you detect one?  I also have another cat Daisy who is 2, also a dilute calico, who is not eating now and seems nervous, but not in pain, nor hiding.  I am paranoid now something is wrong with her.  Is this a normal reaction for a cat during a death?

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

It sounds as if your veterinarian has done a very complete work up on your cat.

I am concerned about her not being able to use her back legs.  This can occur with heart disease, when a clot is thrown into circulation and causes a thromboembolism.  The clot becomes lodged in the distal aorta and iliac arteries which leads to the legs, the circulation to the legs is either partially or totally eliminated and it leads to paralysis.  It is a very painful condition.  The pain itself can eliminate your cat's appetite.

I would call your vet tomorrow and report the new symptom of your cat not being able to use her back legs and have your vet determine if it is a thromboembolism.