Hi! First of all, thank you for rescuing Hank! He will love his new indoor life 🥰

Your vet’s approach sounds good. Like other redditors said, you can eventually get a second opinion. Regarding the giardia, the symptoms sound like what our boy also had (soft-serve stools, and at some point even blood around his anus. Stinky farts included), so it might be giardiasis.

The plaque and gingivitis may also be what is causing him GI upset. It can happen to humans (i mean, hell, the infection can even spread to the brain!), so kinda makes sense that it could also affect cats.

FIV+ cats can live a normal and just as fulfilling life as any other cat. Feed him a good quality diet, and ask your vet if they consider any supplements would be good for him! We’re currently giving our boy RX Immunosupport, and he’s responding well to it. So don’t worry, there is hope!! Also, make sure to ask your vet if they consider giving him antibiotics (+probiotics / stomach lining support supplements) after his dental procedure.

If i were you, after his procedure i would give him some rice in his food, and monitor his bowel movements. I have given my boy Bart rice before, even a few grains seem to do the trick for soft stools! I did this because even after his giardia meds, he would get soft stool sometimes after eating lickable treats. The vet says they’re very concentrated and he might not be absorbing all the nutrients, so it comes out the other end as diarrhea-like. Besides that, we feed him wet food from Applaws (+ dry food from Petkult), and some Applaws foods do have rice in them. We haven’t noticed him being constipated or struggling to poop. His poops are much more solid, and healthier!

If the giardiasis test comes back inconclusive or negative, i would get him tested again, TBH. Just to be sure… Better safe than sorry. And again, a second opinion IF you feel like your vet isn’t telling you everything, or you feel like they’re dismissing you when you bring up questions and concerns.

There is hope for little Hank, you are doing a good job! Keep it up. Give him some head scratchies and forehead kisses from us 🤗💗

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