Hi, any help much appreciated please! We've given the 3rd GS shot of 1.8ml so far to my 3.8kg cat with wet FIP (after first treating with molnupiravir for 45 days then GS oral for 10 days. Around day 25 she first started refusing food then lost appetite and never regained it fully + new belly fluid visibly built up the week we switched from mol to GS. Hence, we decided to start her on injections).
The first shot was given after creating a pocket of sub Q fluid, then injected in the rubber part of this hose - to ease the pain the vet said. At the same time they placed an IV catheter and gave her saline, vit B12 and antibiotic. They also gave her gabapentin. The IV catheter was left in, she vehemently tried to remove it the whole day. The SQ fluid did not absorb but formed a pocket near her front leg where the IV catheter was. It stayed like that for 30+ hours. She was groggy but ate chicken for the first time in ages.
The second dose was given directly, no diluting, no extra fluid. I asked them to remove the IV catheter and we decided to stop the antibiotic. 12 hours later - she looked worse than she's ever been so far! Lying on the side only, vocalizing when I try to move her, unable or unwilling to get up for eating nor to change position - mainly looking unable to turn the back body or use the back legs. She did stand up and walked to the litter box and back, but continued lying down and looking in pain. Whenever she attempted sitting, it was only with the front body and the back slightly raised and off the floor. She's aware and alert, eyes ok, so I suspect this is not neurological but she did seem to be in pain and quite swollen in the abdomen and even chest. Appetite was good again, mainly ate boiled chicken from lying position.
Today we went in for the third dose. They did ultrasound and there wasn't more liquid in the abdomen and none in the chest, only lots of GI inflammation, breathing was fine. They said the SQ fluid felt fully absorbed. vet gave her the third shot and the plan is I continue at home from tomorrow. They also gave me gabapentin, instructed to give 100mg 1 hour before injection. After coming back from the vet she started limping on one front leg. Has been hiding and sleeping since. Is this normal for the first GS shots? Or did they possibly do something wrong with the fluids the first day?? Should we wait and see or is it life threatening to wait and should I see another vet?? Thank you!