Last night I came home and found my 15 yo spayed female in the backyard. She had only been out for 20-30 min according to my dh.
She was wet (spiked-fur wet, not soaked to the bone) and it had not rained. My first thought was she must have been sprayed by a skunk. I touched her and it did not smell like skunk. To me it smelled like turpentine or something similar, not a really strong odor, but noticeable and with an oily or greasy feel. We of course took care of her the best we could. She had 4 baths and I called ASPCA poison control for advice. She stopped drooling after the 2nd bath. Her eyes were my biggest concern as the night went on, she wouldn't open them much, even after we flushed them w/ eye wash.
Thankfully she is doing really well this AM, I called my regular vet and I'll probably bring her for a check-up. He eyes are now open and it seems like she can see fairly well, but her ears seem to bother her a bit, they keep going back like she is flinching. I'm hoping they are just irritated.
My main question is what the heck did she get into or attacked by??
My dh and I have repeatedly checked the yard and garage, and we called our closest neighbors to see if anything in their shed was a possibility. We can't come up with any answers. Are there any other animals besides snunks and cats that spray? Are there any species of skunk with a different scent to their spray?? We are completely baffled since she was outside for less than 1/2 hour and couldn't have gone far. Any thoughts/suggestions appreciated, Thanks!!
Please help solve a mystery
Where on her body was the wettest?
How do you know if it was a toxin, could it have been urine? If her hind end was wet, she may have lost bladder control due to any number of reasons. She could also have had a seizure event, this needs to be ruled out immediately!
Why didn't you get her to an emergency vet right away so the vet could check her vitals, rule out toxic ingestion, etc? Any time a pet owner suspects a toxic ingestion, demands emergency veterinary attention! The vet could have smelled the fur and based on experience probably could have told you right then what it was. If he was uncertain, he could have, and would have, tested bloodwork immediately.
What "eye wash" did you use, and who recommended that? A vet?
Was she not supervised while she was outside? "Could not have gone very far" suggests she wasn't supervised. Please, read this link in it's entirety: Indoors ONLY!. If you didn't watch her while she was outdoors, the possibilites are endless, from hit by car, to dog attack, to falling or getting trapped in something, to an angry neighbor or child abusing her, etc etc etc. Getting sprayed by a skunk is a possibility, but unlikely since skunk scents are obvious. Is she up-to-date on her vaccinations?
Don't take chances with your kitty's health, get her to your vet or an emergency vet RIGHT THIS MINUTE to rule out toxins or injury/internal injuries, attacked by another animal or hit by car etc. Due to her age, you can't take chances, it could be nearly anything and only a veterinary exam and bloodwork can determine what happened. IF it was a toxin, you need to understand that toxins work in different ways, and can affect all body systems from dermal absorption into the bloodstream, to extensive and irreversible kidney and liver damage. Get her to a vet NOW.
How do you know if it was a toxin, could it have been urine? If her hind end was wet, she may have lost bladder control due to any number of reasons. She could also have had a seizure event, this needs to be ruled out immediately!
Why didn't you get her to an emergency vet right away so the vet could check her vitals, rule out toxic ingestion, etc? Any time a pet owner suspects a toxic ingestion, demands emergency veterinary attention! The vet could have smelled the fur and based on experience probably could have told you right then what it was. If he was uncertain, he could have, and would have, tested bloodwork immediately.
What "eye wash" did you use, and who recommended that? A vet?
Was she not supervised while she was outside? "Could not have gone very far" suggests she wasn't supervised. Please, read this link in it's entirety: Indoors ONLY!. If you didn't watch her while she was outdoors, the possibilites are endless, from hit by car, to dog attack, to falling or getting trapped in something, to an angry neighbor or child abusing her, etc etc etc. Getting sprayed by a skunk is a possibility, but unlikely since skunk scents are obvious. Is she up-to-date on her vaccinations?
Don't take chances with your kitty's health, get her to your vet or an emergency vet RIGHT THIS MINUTE to rule out toxins or injury/internal injuries, attacked by another animal or hit by car etc. Due to her age, you can't take chances, it could be nearly anything and only a veterinary exam and bloodwork can determine what happened. IF it was a toxin, you need to understand that toxins work in different ways, and can affect all body systems from dermal absorption into the bloodstream, to extensive and irreversible kidney and liver damage. Get her to a vet NOW.
..........Traci
Re: Please help solve a mystery
I agree with Traci entirely... This sounds like an emergency situation that requires a vet physically examining the cat.
I'm especially concerned by you saying she was drooling and wouldn't open her eyes.
As for skunks... Yes, if it were a skunk, you would know it. You wouldn't have to touch the cat and smell it to know if it had been sprayed by a skunk. You would mostly like be able to tell from 20 feet away from your cat. Skunk spray is one of the most horrible, obnoxious smells on the planet. And it's not like the way skunks smell when they walk by at a distance... Once it's actually come out of their bodies it is much, much, much worse. It makes me cry and gag, personally. :P
I don't know of any skunks with a different smell, or any other spraying animals, other than maybe another cat during a fight. I would think it's very likely to be urine or something bad that the cat rolled in, such as motor oil. Once again, I would definitely take her to a vet.
I'm especially concerned by you saying she was drooling and wouldn't open her eyes.
As for skunks... Yes, if it were a skunk, you would know it. You wouldn't have to touch the cat and smell it to know if it had been sprayed by a skunk. You would mostly like be able to tell from 20 feet away from your cat. Skunk spray is one of the most horrible, obnoxious smells on the planet. And it's not like the way skunks smell when they walk by at a distance... Once it's actually come out of their bodies it is much, much, much worse. It makes me cry and gag, personally. :P
I don't know of any skunks with a different smell, or any other spraying animals, other than maybe another cat during a fight. I would think it's very likely to be urine or something bad that the cat rolled in, such as motor oil. Once again, I would definitely take her to a vet.
Re: Please help solve a mystery
where I live an outdoor cat's worst enemy would be the PEOPLE. Perhaps a neighbor, tired of the cat pooping in his yard, threw some kind of liquid on your cat?
or maybe the cat went under a car that was leaking fluids?To me it smelled like turpentine or something similar, not a really strong odor, but noticeable and with an oily or greasy feel.