Not squirrel related, but I need advice on my kitten..

[lookmomchickens]

Tucker, about 8 months old. Ive noticed over the past week or so his coat has become dull and ratty & he's had extreme weight loss. He's an indoor cat but I thought that maybe it was because of the 100+ temperatures we've had here in Houston... well this morning when I woke up, he was extremely lethargic and his nictitating membranes in both eyes are highly visible, his ears are hot to the touch and his body is radiating with heat (I'm home alone so the taking his temperature isn't something I can do until my mom gets home to help). He's been like this all day. His gums are white, still lethargic and is extremely dehydrated no matter how much I've been pushing fluids. I really wish I could get my hands on a ringer.. He looks miserable. I'm wondering if maybe he has a blockage? Or maybe it's internal parasites? I have given him some pedialite, Benebac & molasses water to give him a little bit of sugar.

I'm really worried about him... anyone have any advice? I've done everything I know to do - it's always easier to come up with a plan of action when it's not your personal pet for some reason. If it's blockage, it usually requires surgery and that pricetag makes me want to pass out. I normally wouldn't think twice about going straight to the vet if the cat even sneezed wrong, but this school loan just dropped me into the poor house and it doesn't help being unemployed with a scarce job market.

I do have Baytril - the label from the vet says 2.27%. I don't think there is enough to dose for 7 days.. I could probably get my hands on some more if I try hard enough. I also have strongid-t & albon but I don't think it's coccidia. I've got infant gas drops as well, not sure if that'll help if it's blockage.

I would have taken him to the vet already, but I just racked up 32k in student loans & my unemployment check doesn't come until next Tuesday.

If anyone has ANY advice as to what I can try, I'm open to suggestions.

[4skwerlz]

Has he had all his shots? The membrane (third eyelid) becoming visible just means he's sick. Extreme weight loss sounds serious. Any discharge from the nose or eyes?

[DipityDane]

Any discharge from the eye's or mouth? Any sneezing? vomiting? At what age did you aquire him? Are his vaccinations current? Has he been out of doors AT ALL?...I'm not sure what type of blockage you are worried about but in the case of a urinary blockage, he likely wouldn't be feeling bad for a week...generally a couple day's is all you get before losing these guys...An intestinal blockage is a possibility but usually you see several day's of vomiting even before they even start to feel bad(but not always). If he's just been feeling bad, running a temp, and not eating it's possible he's contracted a random virus. Even if indoors a virus can get in through open doors and on your clothing. In the case of viral infection obviously antibiotic will not provide a complete cure...but it may ward off secondary bacterial infection. Baytril is good but you should be aware that some studies have shown an increased incidence of retinal detatchment in cat's given baytril. Given his symptoms it would probably be a good idea to confirm his FeLV/FIV status regardless of his recovery as these sort's of vague symptoms raise a red flag. Hope he feel's better soon. Please keep us posted.
Erin

[lookmomchickens]

He's vaccinated & current on everything and he's been tested for FIV and all that stuff. I plucked him from under a neighbors outdoor shed when we realized all of his brothers and sisters had died and he was struggling to survive. He was about 2wks old when I got him. He is strictly indoors, as all three of my cats are and have always been. I do, however, have 3 other indoor/outdoor cats that only have access to the garage now instead of freely roaming the neighborhood since my neighbor started trapping.

There has been green discharge from his left eye and his nose has been a little crusty these past two days.

We have had a major flea outbreak here because my neighbor refuses to treat her yard or her animals and no matter how much we do to keep the fleas out of here they've seemed to take over. All of my kids (animals) are due for their monthly round of revolution on July 4th. I'm wondering if maybe he is wormy, even though I haven't seen anything in his stools.

I haven't seen him use the bathroom at all today, which makes me think it could blockage - maybe even a large hairball. And he cries when you pick him up. He did eat some wet food and kept it down earlier this evening, that's the only thing he's been able to keep down all day. I haven't seen any fecal matter in his vomit, it's mostly just the dry food he had just eaten.

All of my other cats seem fine, fat & healthy with good appetites and healthy coats.

[4skwerlz]

Could be just a touch of cat flu. The discharge wouldn't be consistent with a blockage. If he were mine, I'd keep him very warm and hydrated tonight, and hopefully one of our more knowledgable folks will be here tomorrow. You might try PMing Philomycus, as she's pretty far along in vet school now. :grouphug

[DipityDane]

There is the possibility of parasites but truly, most cat's are at most mildly symptomatic with a parasite infestation...with the vomiting a blockage is a possibility....cat's tend to get into thing's....the crusty nose sound's a bit more like an upper respiratory infection but generally we don't see vomiting. Also, you mention the flea's...how bad were they and do you still have them? With a large population there is always a destinct possibility of a flea anemia...we've already seen a few this year with the rain's earlier and now the heat. Regardless of what is going on...the symptoms and attitude you describe are definitely something that warrant a visit. Hopefully you can find a way to get him in.

[lookmomchickens]

He's worse today. Cries when you touch him. He's still drinking when I offer water or pedialite and eating wet food when offered. But he just looks so miserable. I've never been in a situation where I can't afford to take care of my animals when they need to be taken to the vet, but ever since I was laid off it's been impossible and I feel like I'm a horrible because I know he needs to go to the vet.

Our flea problem is ridiculous. I use diatomatceous earth in the baseboards of my room and throughout the house, and it seems to help somewhat. All of the animals are covered in fleas because the dogs go out into the backyard and track them in. All of my cats are on monthly revolution but that doesn't mean that fleas are nonexistent.

I'm in tears over this and my heart is in knots.

[Kristal]

Honestly it sounds like something viral. A parasitic infection would not look anywhere near so bad, and neither would a bacterial infection normally progress so rapidly - unless the immune system is already compromised.

If you can, please get her to the vet. She is probably going to need fluids intravenously and a blast of ABs... I got one of my dogs as an abandoned puppy, and then he got parvo... The vet gave me a 15% chance of survival, but he made it with intensive care treatment. That was so scary, and lord did I ever cry... If I had left it even another hour he would probably have died. Baby animals get sick fast, so please get her to the vet if you can.

[lookmomchickens]

We are in the emergency clinic as we speak. I can't afford the estimate and they have no idea what it could be. I'm going to have to treat his symptoms. Im getting Baytril and SubQ fluids.. I'm hope this is just something viral and not a blockage.

[lookmomchickens]

But then again if it was something viral, all of my other cats would be showing some type of symptoms. And they're all perky and healthy. I can't afford the 600$ estimate.

[Tickle's Mom]

Don't let them do everything on their estimate...just enough to get him thru til you can go to your own vet - make them see him first (your vet) and start treatment. Then, if you can't pay all, tell them after he has been seen and work out payments. I had to take a dog to the ER one night, they wanted $900 for all sorts of BS and next day, my vet saw her and it was under $200. Just a thought.:grouphug :grouphug

[lookmomchickens]

I'm just concerned that if it is a blockage or foriegn body it will kill him. If I can get him through the night and into Tuesday morning when I get my unemployment check, we can reevaluate the situation.

[SammysMom]

Reading this makes me think back to a cat that I still have 9 years later. He was indoor only but he got out and hid under a neighbor's house where there was a flea infestation. A few days after he came home safely he got up in the morning and was acting really strange. He would not walk forward. He would only back up. He was hot and just looked sick. After taking him to the vet we found that he had acquired some flea born illness. A course of ab's and he was good as new. The vet explained the "reverse only" as a symptom of joint pain from high fever. Not that it is what is happening with your cat but everything else sounds similar. ABs will be helpful if it is flea-born infection. My vet said it is very common with an infestation even with Frontline or similar treatment. All it takes is a bite. Good luck with this and please keep us up on his progress!:grouphug

[Kristal]

Someone please correct me if this is wrong, but, as I understand it, vaccines don't ALWAYS work. They just work almost all of the time. They probably test for antibodies, and a vaccinated pet will show positive for those just as a sick one will. Maybe a good vet can give a diagnosis from the symptoms, though? :dono

[DipityDane]

Someone please correct me if this is wrong, but, as I understand it, vaccines don't ALWAYS work. They just work almost all of the time. They probably test for antibodies, and a vaccinated pet will show positive for those just as a sick one will. Maybe a good vet can give a diagnosis from the symptoms, though? :dono


Some vaccines...like the rabies vaccine and the canine parvo vaccine are very effective and rarely fail...but other's are less effective and have some possibility of failure...FeLV and FIV are in this category....it's likely to protect but there are higher incident's of ineffectiveness than most. Then there are some vaccines that are even less reliable such as the FIP vaccine. Whatever is going on with this kitty....the description gives the image of a grave to poor prognosis...I do hope he hang's in there until he can get in to a vet.

To the original poster....how horrible are the fleas? We talkin 4 or 5? or several hundred? His mucous membrane color....is he just pale? Or do you see any yellowish cast to the gums and eye whites?

[lookmomchickens]

We went to the vet, she was no help at all unless I forked over the $ first. She wouldn't discuss much with me and basically let everything I told her go in one ear and out the other.

I'm talking MASSIVE flea infestation. It's ridiculous. I vacuum everyday. Clean sheets, everything.

I was able to get him SubQ'd, he has been started on Baytril and Reglan and was given a capstar. His third eyelids have gone back to almost normal and his temp is back down. Tomorrow he will be wormed with Drontal.

I found fly eggs on his little bum and that raised a red flag. Vet shrugged it off. His gums are pink and his eyes are more alert than they have been in two days. He did pee at the vet which is a good sign. I'll try a little bit of wet food in a bit to see if he'll eat.

Thank you everyone for your input and your help. I'll be in contact with my normal vet in the morning.

[DipityDane]

Hopefully he will get lined out now...the capstar will only last 24 hours so be ready to combat fleas again with another longer lasting product or they will come right back. The fact that he's "Pinking up" is a good sign....keep offering him all he will eat so he can rebuild red blood cells. I hope he keeps rallying, thanks for the update.

[Jackie in Tampa]

thinking about you and kitty:wave123
:Love_Icon

[lookmomchickens]

I'm so glad to report that Tucker is 100% better after being put on Baytril, capstart, Reglan and being SubQ'd. He's eating and drinking on his own... Thank you everyone for all of your thoughts, input and prayers. I'm glad I had this board to turn to.

[Tickle's Mom]

:wahoo :wahoo :wahoo :wahoo :wahoo :wahoo :wahoo :wahoo

[Kristal]

yay! :)

[SammysMom]

Great news!:thumbsup