#10 showed up...

[k9Karen]

I'm so sorry she's still not doing well. Hoping all turns out to be OK.

[Traci]

Was any bloodwork taken or at least a CBC? Was any urine taken for testing?

There's a similar post in Feline Health with a 10-week-old limping and a fever today. That vet thought maybe viral.

It's a little difficult interpretating with chemical profiles in kittens (the reference ranges are usually the same but the kittens are always different!), but at least a CBC might tell your vet something. The fever from last week might have just not responded to the antibiotics, or there might be a bacterial going on somewhere the antibiotics aren't targeting, maybe urinary tract or respiratory tract. Talk to the vet about possibly a different antibiotic (in the event it's a specific bacteria not responding to clavamox). Make sure she is eating and drinking well, offer her a good quality kitten food (my preference is Iams canned, and Iams or Science Diet kitten dry on the side for her to nibble on), and note any vomiting or diarrhea in which the antibiotic might be causing (especially clavamox). If the fever persists past 24 hours, don't wait, get her back and talk about a different antibiotic, urinalysis, and/or other diagnostics (like the CBC) to attempt to locate the source of infection (and ideally sub-q fluids, it doesn't have to be a lot). I realize this is on Amber, but anything you can do to find out the source of fever and treat it appropriately is best for Pumpkin and getting her immune system boosted so she can get past this and on toward better health.

[Auntie Debbie]

Poor little kitty....She's still got my prayers to recover. I hope the vet will be able to determine the cause of the infection/fever, etc.

[DeVon]

I went in with Amber today to the vet's. We may have a cat with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Her dentition is that of a 9 month old cat. The vet had me look at xrays of a normal cat, and Pumpkin's. The bones down at the ankle/toes look moth-eaten. The body of the long bones is not smooth, but bumpy. There are places it looks like old fractures have healed.

Her temp was back to normal today, and she has a soft splint on the fracture of the front leg she wasn't weight-bearing on.

I'm at a loss right now because the prognosis is not good long-term.

I can't contribute any money as I just got hired on part-time at the hospital yesterday. I've got a dog with systemic lupus who has to go in for a hernia repair Thursday. Unfortunately with her being on an immunosuppressive dose of pred, the muscles are pulling apart from the spay surgery several months ago.

I think I just need a good cry tonight before I go to bed.

[k9Karen]

Sorry the most recent news isn't good either. Still hoping for the best!!

[Traci]

Can you at least ask your vet to consult a specialist on your behalf. Sometimes, this condition is mistaken for what actually might be secondary hyperparathyroidism (or even rickets). In most of these cases (including osteogenesis imperfecta), it is a dietary deficiency, or phosphorus/calcium ratio deficiency, having been reared on raw meat or beef meat, or any meat diet that was not properly formulated for proper mineral composition. Sometimes, supplementing with calcium or iodine can reverse the condition (although bone deformities may remain). Best to treat this early, during development in the hopes progression can be slowed (or halted with proper diet).

Please ask your vet to consult on your behalf, might only be the price of a long distance phone call, I think it's worth ruling out other things that might be mimicing osteogenesis imperfecta, and to try a fortified diet and/or supplementation (by the vet).

In the meantime, limit her activity to some extent, make sure she can't hurt herself or fall, even a fall from a chair can result in a fracture (if the bones are brittle enough), and even handling her or picking her up wrong can be painful. Ask your vet for tips to reduce any potential for her hurting herself from a fall or too rambunctious activity, etc.

[DeVon]

The vet is going to research and help us get her started on some vitamin D and calcium supplementation-rickets was another consideration she originally had.

I'll update when I know more. In the meantime, she's doing well although it's clumsy for her to get around on the cast. She loves to lay on a sweatshirt beside me when I'm on the computer.

[Traci]

Glad to hear your vet is "researching"!! However, a consult with a specialist might also be to your favor, can you bring that up with her?

I think it's worth trying the supplementation, sometimes results can be seen in as little as 4 weeks, I hope this is the case!

In the meantime, please do what you can to limit her activity, and keep her environment free from obstacles that could injure her. Try keeping some heavy blankets or large pillows on the floor at the base of the couch, the beds, etc. and try to keep her from getting too playful/rambunctious. She is probably going to self-limit herself, but still, make sure nothing in the environment is going to be dangerous for her.

[DeVon]

We've got her area pretty well set up to prevent any further fractures, lots of padding and she's got a very soft bed she loves to lay on. We've also improvised a much lower litterbox for her to get in and out of.

[Traci]

Good to hear, and remember, when handling her, picking her up, etc, be gentle and careful. You also want to keep her from getting too rambunctious or not to play/exercise too hard or excessively due to her heart murmur. Most murmurs in kittens naturally resolve on their own as they develop and as they get older.

Remember to schedule in advance the re-test FELV/FIV. Are your other cats up-to-date on their vaccinations?

Keep us updated, ok?