Hi,

My 2 year old cat rather suddenly became lethargic and very short of
breath last week.   The vet tested for feline leukemia and FIP, which were
negative.  After drawing out a large amount of fluid from his lungs, he
stated he thought it was an infection.  He had to send off the fluid to be
further tested, and we were to know the results by Thursday.  He gave
Max a couple of general antibiotic shots and that was it.

Back at home, Max wasn't eating or drinking or moving much, and still
appeared to be having increasing trouble with breathing.  Thursday
came and went with no word of results.  Friday, I called.  The vet wasn't
there that day, so I had to deal with his associate.  I asked him if the
results had come in yet, and he answered me by saying that Max had a
"bacterial infection of the thorax" and I should bring him in as soon as
possible.  Once there, he drew out some more fluid, gave him another
antibiotic shot, and gave me a bottle of Metronidazole - Flagyl 500 mg
for me to give him 3/4 cc daily.  I was really glad that he, unlike the
first vet, gave me some kind of idea of the future - that Max was very
seriously ill, it would be touch and go for a while, and that it could take
up to a month (and several drainings of fluid) to finally be rid of this
infection.

He was perkier when I got him home, drank water voluntarily and even
tried to eat a little Meow Mix, but it only last a couple of days.  I've
been
force feeding him baby food meat mixed with water since Sunday night.

Yesterday, the first vet called and said to bring him in.  Again he drew out
fluid (a lot less but thicker).  Weirdly enough, he said that the test
results
had NOT come in yet.  He insisted that the ONLY thing to do now is to
surgically insert two permanent holes in his sides for draining fluid.  He
suddenly thinks this is going to be a permanent condition.  What???  After
only a week and supposedly NO test results (and no X-rays), he knows this?
Why didn't the other vet tell me this?  You would think that a bacterial
infection would eventually clear up with antibiotics, like the associate vet
said.

I didn't let the vet do this procedure yesterday.  However, Max is already
bad again.  I'm not sure what to do right now.  Not only do I NOT want to
deform Max with this procedure, I'm also laid off work right now and
probably couldn't afford it anyway.  Yet I don't want Max to die.

Do vets read these ngs?  Or has anyone ever had a cat with this infection?
I
would appreciate any advice.

GypsyL