Negrito is not feeling well....

[Sara]

Negrito is acting under the weather. He has lost a little weight, has a dull coat and loss of appetite. I know he does not like the HA food that I have to feed for another 15 days, until we get Vest's blood work/allergy test results back from the states, but even when I gave him a treat he did not seem as interested. His gums are dark grey so it's hard to tell if they are pale.

The vet came to examine him and take his temp. He has no temperature but she agrees he is under the weather. He also pee'd and pooped in the house, he usually just poops just outside the litter box and pee's inside the litter box, but never in other areas of the house. I am taking poop samples from the litter box for 3 days, last day is tomorrow and they will check that for parasites. I also noticed a bit of blood in one of his poops. I took that to the vet immediately and they looked at it. They did not see anything but said it had the consistancy of a cat that had parasites, that's why they sent me home with that little vial filled with fluid to collect the samples with.

It's hard to wait until tomorrow for the results. I know all the cat's have softer poop now from the HA food perhaps the parasites are only making it worse. She said if one cat has them they all have them. She also asked me to put them all on a diet of cooked chicken and rice for 2 days. This is because I also found some vomit.

We are in the end of winter here, it's not fly season and I have never had fleas. The only thing he could have gotten a hold of would be a cockroach.

I have been reading about all the parasites and I totally have the heebie jeebies now. Especially since some of them can be transmitted to humans. Is there a broad range type of anti-parasite medicine? I want to cover all my bases when we treat them all. It's time for their yearly vaccines but she wants to wait until we get these test results back.

I know this is not Vest's thread but for those who remember... Since I can't really do much until his test results come back I started using a cortizone cream the vet recommended on him and had great results. This combined with a medicated bath. The hair is growing back, the spots nearly went away. There are still two very tiny areas that are red but they are very, very small. I think I will bathe him again this week. I actually think all the cats need a bath and anti-parasite medication. I keep a very clean house, I have no idea how they would be getting these problems but I suppose this happens to us all. Maybe the fact that I have 6 makes it worse for me.

What are the odds of humans getting parasites from the cats? I wash my hands all the time, bathe twice a day, I don't eat meat, cats eat only diet from the vet, litter boxes are cleaned with warm water and bleach daily. Scooped twice a day. Water dish and food dishes washed with dish soap and warm water daily. I don't know what else I can do. I do kiss the cats and hug them and they do sleep on my bed. They are part of the family. I also wash the couch and pillow covers often, and clean the bedding regularly. Should I not wash cat dishes with my dish soap and sponge? Maybe using the same sponge is not a good idea. I use those tiny rice bowls from China town, 6 of them, to feed the cats with.

[Mona]

Sara~

Thanks for naming your cat after me LOL!

I am sorry about Negrito. The only parasite I can think of that would not be from specifically outside would be "giardia".It is in the water and can be passed very easily.

Well, wait for the results, I hope Negrito eats some, try smelly food like Fancy Feast.

I wash my bowls daily, but I use an open weave scrunchie type of wash thing, which allows soap and water to rinse through.

Please post when you know.

Mona, Honeybun and Chloe

[Sara]

Is the open scrunchy thing better than a sponge for cat dishes? I have two sponges and now will wash them seperately. I have seen those scrunchy thingies in the store and can pick one up.

The water in this building is filtered, don't think it could be from that but you never know. Clover threw up a little tonight and I just put some of that into the sample mixture. EEEEEWWWWWWWWW I figured it could not hurt since I read that parasites can be found in poop and vomit. The sample container comes equiped with a tiny spoon so you can just spoon things into it.

Well the testing is tomorrow so I should know by then.

I have always loved the name Mona. Besides being a pretty name, in Argentina it can also mean a good looking woman or a female monkey. When my Mona (Siamese) was a baby she looked and acted just like a cute, cheeky little monkey! That's how she got her name.

I feel like washing the whole house in bleach now! We have no carpet or rugs and we use floor cleaner diluted in water mopped onto the floor daily to clean it. Warm water and bleach is used for the cat boxes. Bedding, couch and pillow covers are just washed in warm water and laundry detergent. I really don't see how I could keep it any cleaner here.

I notice the cats rear ends are dirtier with this HA food as well as the stool being softer and stinkier. I actually tried to wash Saharans rear end and could not get it clean for the life of me. It's like this HA food penetraits or stains the skin. It's a mess around here.

[Traci]

Sara, it could be the change in food, for Negrito. Have you noticed him avoiding the new food? If so, this is probably the cause. The important thing is ensuring he is eating, so tell your vet you need to consider getting at least Negrito back on his regular food.

I think your vet was alittle quick to jump to the conclusion of parasites. If nothing was detected in the first stool, chances are it won't again. The blood could have been a result of stress or sensitivity to the new diet. While treating for parasites wasn't a bad thing, I don't think it's necessary to have to treat all the cats, nor treat again, especially if a fecal exam showed no indication of parasites. On the other hand, a fecal float done next week maybe would be a good idea to absolutely rule them out.

As for disinfecting, don't change anything about your normal routine. I would only suggest using normal dishcloths for washing the cats' dishes. Sponges can harbor bacteria, no matter how clean you try to get them.

I would also not bathe the cats unless it is only to remove fecal matter from their fur.....be sure NOT to use medicated baths for the other cats, Sylvestre is the only one who should be getting these (if even necessary). Bathing can be stressful anyway, and if they don't need it, don't do it. Same applies to parasite meds, only upon a positive fecal exam should you even consider it.

[Sara]

I don't think they have a microscope in the office so I believe the vet just looked at it visually and did not see anything. That is when she gave us the plastic jar with liquid in it, a lid and spoon and told me to take samples for 3 days. Since I have 6 it's impossible to take samples from only one cat or determine which one has parasites if any. If this sample comes back from the lab positive today do you think I should treat them all for parasites? Negrito is the only one acting or looking funny. My vet said if one has parasites then they all do. What do you think?

I am anxioulsy awaiting Vest's allergy results because trying to feed them all apart is impossible. Negrito will only eat if he is with Vest and the kitchen door is open. When I close the door and try and feed some outside the kitchen, some in, they only focus on the door being closes and they won't eat. It's riduculous but you should see them! So they all basically have to eat the same diet. Sometimes I can put Clover outside the kitchen for the obesity diet but then the ones inside don't want to eat because they hate the door being closed. It's hard because they all need the Pro Plan light diet, Vester needs the HA diet and Clover needs obesity.

I'll post later on when I get the fecal results back. Awaiting anxiously.

Oh yeah, I am going to buy a dishrag for the cat bowls, use that, a sponge on my dishes and also, should I use seperate sinks? Is hot tap water enough or do I need boiling?

[Traci]

*If* the fecal comes back positive, for example, tapeworms, then yes, it is feasible to treat all cats, for this purpose I would suggest only using Droncit. If roundworms are detected, then use StrongidT, but may only have to treat the cat who actually has them. With not knowing which cat, yes, unfortunately, treating all may be necessary. What concerns me though, is that Negrito is losing weight and has a decreased appetite, worms would usually induce an increased appetite, and the coat condition would not generally be affected by a parasitic infestation.

Weight loss, dull coat and decrease in appetite are concerning, so for this reason I suggested getting Negrito back on his regular food. If you've tried the hypoallrgenic diet for him for at least 3-4 days and he refuses it, your main concern is ensuring his intake, whatever food he will eat. Hypoallergenic diets are not tolerated by all cats, Negrito may actually have a sensitivity to it, or refuse it altogether for palatability reasons, etc.

I know you are referring to results getting back today or tomorrow, but those are Vestre's, yes? Did your vet do any bloodwork on Negrito? If not, and based on the weight loss and inappetance, I'd start there. (want to rule out kidney disease, infection, thyroid problems, especially if Negrito is older than 6). If this weight loss was very sudden, and in the absense of a confirmed fecal, I would opt for bloodwork ASAP. (Has Negrito had any bloodwork done within the last year?)

As for the dishes, hot water is fine, as long as they are rinsed well. No need to use seperate sinks.

[Sara]

Negrito is eating a little better. I think it's the HA food he does not like. I will buy his old regular Pro Plan light, his favorite, tomorrow and seperate them anyway. As much as they freak out. I agree, he has to have his old favorite back.

I was meaning the fecal exam results. They were supposed to be back today and I found out now I have to wait until Monday.
Negrito is only 4 or 5, he is young and healthy. He just lost a tiny bit of weight, but he's not gaunt.

Now if the stool sample results come back negative on Monday would the blood test then be a good idea? And if it comes back negative no blood test? I hate to see him get a blood draw but if switching his regular diet back and making sure he has no parasites does not work I guess I have to.

The results I am waiting for in 15 days are Vest's allergy tests that are being done in the states, the reason they are all eating the HA diet.

He does seem to be feeling a little bit better today. But the coat just does not look as shiny and soft. Vet agrees but does not think it's anything seriuos. I agree with you though, if things do not change with diet and the stool sample is negative for parasites a CBC would be the next step.

Thanks!

[Traci]

Give Negrito a few days back on his regular food, monitor his stools, behavior and general attitude (might want to weigh him right now so you can log it and then re-weigh him in another week or so)

If the coat conditiion continues to deteriorate, if his soft stools progress, and if vomiting or general lethargy, inactivity, etc, then opt for a general blood profile. As long as he is not exhibiting clear signs of distress or sudden weight loss, fever, lethargy, vomiting, refusal of food, then you might be able to forego the blood profile at this point. Give his normal diet a try for a few days to see how he responds.

[Sara]

Thanks Traci! He's acting much better tonight and has eaten his lunch and dinner with gusto. I am going to brush him really good tomorrow to try and soften his coat up with natural oils. He loves to be brushed. The vet should be coming by tomorrow to see him and also the stool results will be in. I was thinking a nice can of wet food in a good brand like Royal Cannon would be a nice treat for him. Vest is lookign great as well. Wish us luck for tomorrow. I'll be posting the stool sample results then.

[Sara]

Results came back negative. He still has a tiny bald patch on his eyebrow but I will continue with the cream. I think it was the change in diet. I'll post an update in a few days.