Leopardess
08-21-2005, 11:08 PM
Some of you may remember that I took in a stray cat and that he now lives with my mother in law. Well, Friday chris' parents were supposed to go to the Cape for a family reunion and their younger daughter was to stay with us. However, they called saying that Salem (the kitty) was sick and had to go to the vet. They were going to cancel the trip but I offered to drive up and spend the weekend there to take care of him and watch chris' sister so that they could enjoy the weekend (they'd planned it months ago and had been so excited). They said it would be excellent...thinking that the kitty only had a little cold or something.
So, later that day, we picked him up from the vet. He had a fever of 104.5 and was given antibiotics after taking some xrays and blood tests and determining it to be a "non-specific viral infection." They said to take his temp again the next afternoon/evening and to check it. I was surprised that they released him knowing it was the weekend but it's a small town vet and their facilities are subpar, IMO. So, he went home, was very lethargic, hadn't eaten since early Thursday, nor drank anything, would not go to the bathroom etc.
Saturday afternoon we took his temperature (not a pleasant experience) and found it was still 104.5. I called the vet and got no answer, was forwarded to their "Emergency Vet", and couldnt' even get a machine there!! Um Duh. I made a point of asking which local facility would take emergencies and that was them. That vet is getting an earful tomorrow, from Salem's owners, btw. So, running low on options, I called my regular vet down here for advice and they said he should be brought in overnight and put on fluids and whatnot because he was facing dangers with the sustained fever. They said I should take him to the Critical care clinic down here (only one in all of ME and NH) and it's the Emergency vet our cats have gone to during off-hours and holidays.
My first thought was either leukemia/HIV or cancer. Cats we've had in the past displayed the same symptoms and only had hours to live. And then I thought - "MY cats were just with him 3 weeks ago...what if they're going to get sick now, too!?"
So, I hurriedly packed up the poor little guy and chris' sister, drove 1.5 hours in pouring rain at dusk without my driving glasses (:eek:) and brought him in. At that point, he was basically just an empty sack. He wet himself twice on the ride and had to be cleaned.
Upon arrival, his temperature was 105.8F:( Poor Kitty! He was also very dehydrated.
So, I had to call his "parents" and worry them on their trip (this cat is like a third child to them). He had a second set of xrays taken, another Complete Blood Count drawn, was put on IVs, injection antibiotics, leukemia/HIV tests, you name it. $1000 later.... (luckily they can certainly afford it).
He stayed overnight and is still there now (going on two nights in the hospital). Something was wrong with his blood test regarding his liver (vet gave a myriad of possible reasons, many of which are benign). That seems to be a secondary effect though. They can't find out what the cause of the fever is. These are the most apt vets I've seen and they've got several specialists so I know he's in good care. Tomorrow, they've got an ultrasound specialist coming in to check him.
Chris' parents shortened their trip and rushed home this morning so that they could be nearer to home in case something happened.
I feel so bad. Even though he's not technically "my" cat, he seems like one and now I'm very worried:(
EDIT: PS before anyone comments or asks. He was taken in around the first of October and he's an only cat, indoor only, no contact with outside.
So, later that day, we picked him up from the vet. He had a fever of 104.5 and was given antibiotics after taking some xrays and blood tests and determining it to be a "non-specific viral infection." They said to take his temp again the next afternoon/evening and to check it. I was surprised that they released him knowing it was the weekend but it's a small town vet and their facilities are subpar, IMO. So, he went home, was very lethargic, hadn't eaten since early Thursday, nor drank anything, would not go to the bathroom etc.
Saturday afternoon we took his temperature (not a pleasant experience) and found it was still 104.5. I called the vet and got no answer, was forwarded to their "Emergency Vet", and couldnt' even get a machine there!! Um Duh. I made a point of asking which local facility would take emergencies and that was them. That vet is getting an earful tomorrow, from Salem's owners, btw. So, running low on options, I called my regular vet down here for advice and they said he should be brought in overnight and put on fluids and whatnot because he was facing dangers with the sustained fever. They said I should take him to the Critical care clinic down here (only one in all of ME and NH) and it's the Emergency vet our cats have gone to during off-hours and holidays.
My first thought was either leukemia/HIV or cancer. Cats we've had in the past displayed the same symptoms and only had hours to live. And then I thought - "MY cats were just with him 3 weeks ago...what if they're going to get sick now, too!?"
So, I hurriedly packed up the poor little guy and chris' sister, drove 1.5 hours in pouring rain at dusk without my driving glasses (:eek:) and brought him in. At that point, he was basically just an empty sack. He wet himself twice on the ride and had to be cleaned.
Upon arrival, his temperature was 105.8F:( Poor Kitty! He was also very dehydrated.
So, I had to call his "parents" and worry them on their trip (this cat is like a third child to them). He had a second set of xrays taken, another Complete Blood Count drawn, was put on IVs, injection antibiotics, leukemia/HIV tests, you name it. $1000 later.... (luckily they can certainly afford it).
He stayed overnight and is still there now (going on two nights in the hospital). Something was wrong with his blood test regarding his liver (vet gave a myriad of possible reasons, many of which are benign). That seems to be a secondary effect though. They can't find out what the cause of the fever is. These are the most apt vets I've seen and they've got several specialists so I know he's in good care. Tomorrow, they've got an ultrasound specialist coming in to check him.
Chris' parents shortened their trip and rushed home this morning so that they could be nearer to home in case something happened.
I feel so bad. Even though he's not technically "my" cat, he seems like one and now I'm very worried:(
EDIT: PS before anyone comments or asks. He was taken in around the first of October and he's an only cat, indoor only, no contact with outside.