help me: i think something is wrong with my 3 month old cat

[Tina B and crew]

I'm glad you are going to follow up...and silver is right you are doing what you can. I'll pray that she continues to feel better.

[Traci]

Vixen, does the feline vet have after-hours emergency services? IF so, call them back RIGHT THIS MINUTE, and try to get your kitten seen RIGHT NOW.

The first vet isn't telling you anything and didn't even bother to do bloodwork or check for infection (unless you declined diagnostics, did you?), and that's not an appropriate way to handle a sick kitten.

Your kitten needs a comprehensive exam, bloodwork and urinalysis and possibly xray to determine if there is fluid in the abdomen or chest at all. If your vet didn't offer these diagnostics to you, and told you he thought there was fluid accumulation, then you can't just sit around and wait for an appointment. This needs to be addressed NOW. There very well could be a bacterial infection somewhere, but testing is necessary to find out where the infection is coming from. In tiny young kittens, this is a SERIOUS matter and due to their limited immunity, they can fail quite rapidly.

We don't know where the kitten received her vaccinations, and when they were given, and what other health history she has, nor if she was exposed to feline infectious diseases, you MUST get your kitten seen and tested to ensure she has not been exposed to a feline infectious disease, or was in an environment she could have been exposed. We also don't know WHAT vaccines were given or when, so she may have very little immunity to any infectious disease. You need a vet to determine her overall health and testing to rule out these infectious diseases, so that they can be treated appropriately, and IMMEDIATELY.

It may be as simple as a bacterial infection somewhere that MIGHT respond to the antibiotics, but, it could be something else entirely and you can't take the chance to wait around and see. PLEASE, get your kitty to an emergency vet NOW, it is always better to play it safe and get this nipped in the bud than wait around for it to worsen. Just because she appears to be feeling better, does not mean she actually is.

[vixen8906]

She has eaten almost 2 cans of cat good. She has not been sleeping all day. Also, she has been going to her litterbox. The only thing is I have not noticed if she had a bowel movement. I do have a question or two though. When she was sick she wouldn't move, play, eat, she would get up and drink but not to the point where it would stop her dehydration. Now, since last night when she got her medication and fluids put in, she has been awake, walking around, eating, drinking, taking her medication, and actually spending time with my other cat. She is still a little bit sleepy but, other then that she does sound like she is starting to recover, correct? I am taking her to an all cat vet tomorrow morning. I will try to bring a sample of her bowel movements, if she has one that I know of. Are there any signs that I need to watch out for? Like, vomiting and such? Because she has been getting better but, I want to make sure that if anything does happen that is sign that she must go in I would like to know what it is. Please and thank you.

[Traci]

There are numerous things you should watch for, but the important thing is knowing WHEN something is wrong, just like you noticed yesterday she wasn't eating, wasn't active, was lethargic and sleeping, etc. You knew something was wrong then, those are all symptoms of a problem. Yes, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, withdrawal and hiding, obvious pain when touched or held, not eating/drinking or not using the litterbox (both urination/defecation) are all signs of illness that demand veterinary attention.

Again, we have no idea (and it doesn't sound like you do either), what her "exam" consisted of when you adopted her, or even IF she in fact, had an exam by a qualifed vet. Kittens need to be dewormed, do you know if she was? This is only ONE problem of many problems that can affect young kittens when they do not get regular veterinary care as they are growing and developing. This is the most important reason your kitten needs regular/followup care by your own vet, so he can monitor her growth, development, deworm her properly, test her for FELV/FIV, vaccinate accordingly, discuss proper nutrition with you, and monitor her for any health issues. This is all part of proper care when you adopt any kitten or cat.

Since she suddenly became ill with symptoms that are concerning, and the vet basically did nothing but prescribe antibiotics and gave sub-q fluids, he didn't do anything else, so you have NO way of knowing what is going on in your kitten's young immune system. She could have worms, she could have an infectious disease, she could have a nutritional problem or an organ defect, the possibilities are endless. The point here is, when a young kitten falls ill, it is imperative that proper diagnostics are done to nip the problem in the bud and treat it promptly and effectively so that worsening problems can be prevented.

Just because she appears to be doing better today than yesterday, doesn't mean that whatever is going on is getting better. It may or not be, only a more comprehensive exam and testing will tell you more. You need to know WHAT is going on, and if there is an infection, you need to know WHERE it is in order to treat it effectively. Just as an example, the antibiotics the vet gave you may not be the right ones to treat a more specific problem.

Could she have gotten into something at home? A string? A piece or part of a toy? Rancid food, or human food? Human medications? Plants? You also have to rule out these things as well.

[vixen8906]

Okay, so she went to the doctor today. He felt her stomach and said that she does have some poop in her. Then he took her blood. He said he will let her go home and call me with the results. He said if the results come up clean then she can stay home. If they don't he wants to bring her in. He wants to rule out FIP and anything that could be wrong with her liver and kidney. He also gave her a laxative. He said that if anything is backing her up this will clear her out. He said if she does not go to he bathroom tonight to bring her back in tomorrow. He wants her to stay in my watch at all times. He is worried and said that if the blood work comes up unclean that he will bring her in and do an x-ray and everything to see what if blocking her and if anything is enlarged. He said by the feel everything feels normal and in place but, wants me to keep an eye on her. He also wants me to watch for her poop to see if anything comes out. Another thing he said was that since she is eating that is good. He brought out a can of food from the back and fed her. She ate in front of him which was good. He is also happy that she is urinating and drinking water. He said that he thinks she is fine that the laxative will help her a lot. He gave her a shot to help her sleep so that the laxative will have time to kick in. He said to keep clean water out and my other pets away from her. So, I can only hope my baby will be okay. I have not stopped praying so, please don't you either. I won't give up untill I hear the words my cat is going to be fine. Thank you everyone for all your help. He is also keeping her on the medication that the last doctor gave me.

[Traci]

He gave her a shot to help her sleep? What do you mean by this, and whatever for???

If he thought she might be constipated or obstructed, why didn't he give her a kitten enema right then and there?

Did he offer to do a CBC or did you decline?

[vixen8906]

he gave her a laxative her said if she doesn't go to the bathroom tomorrow to bring her back and he will then decide what to do but, I did not decline anything. That would explain why my bill was at $200.

[vixen8906]

Okay, doctor just called me back with the results of her blood work. He said she does not have any cancer FIP or disease. However there may be something wrong with her kidneys. He said to up her dosage of her medicine to .5mL. He said if she doesn't get any better by Wed. to bring her in for some more work. He said that since she has been getting better it is most likely an infection. Which is why her dosage was raised. I think she did have a bowel movement. She had residue from what looked like a bowel movement around her anus. Please tell me what kidney failure or anything other then an infection that involves her kidney sounds like. He kidney was not enlarged. What could it be?

[Traci]

You need to be asking your vet these questions, and in detail.

What bloodwork was done, and what gave him reason to suspect there might be a kidney problem?

Was a urinalysis done?

Again, have you ruled out she could have gotten into something in your home? Have you thoroughly investigated that? Go through your home entirely, not once, but twice, and look for any tell-tale signs she could have gotten into something.....plants, rancid food, the trash, parts off her toys, strings, yarn, etc etc.

[vixen8906]

Just got off the phone with the doctor again. He asked what her reaction has been to the new dosage and the laxatives. I said she has had 2 bowel movements and she is energized. He said that she is responding nicely and, asked if there was anything in her stools, I told him that it was filled with hair. He said that could have been part of the reason why she was not going. I said she is almost like her old self. He said it does not sound like anything but, an infection. He would like me to call and give him information twice a day. And the second she worsens, if she does to bring her in right away. He wants her to keep calm so her stomach does not get upset but, other then that she is doing much better. I do ask that every keeps her in your prayers. Just to make sure that there is nothing seriously wrong with her kidneys. She is in recovery and, I would like to thank everyone for your help and advice. He will most likely have her back in tomorrow for one more dose of a laxative to be on the safe side and to make sure her colon is cleaned out. Thank you for your help. You were most helpful. Please keep praying for her. She is much happier. Thank you