sinead
06-25-2008, 01:10 PM
I've got a very sick kitty this morning. Yesterday I noticed that he wasn't acting like himself (not eating, not coming out to hang out with us). He was just hunched over under our climber hanging out by himself. This morning he didn't come out for food when DH brought it out and when DH brought it right over to him, he didn't even move--VERY unusual. He was breathing really hard and was all raspy.
Took him to the vet. He has a 105.3 degree fever and is wheezy and gasping for breath. There's also some gross (and smelly, which makes me think infection) mucus (sometimes bloody) coming from his nose. The vet said his airway is really swollen.
They did x-rays which didn't show any clear pathology, though there is some round something in his stomach. Vet thinks that's a big hairball and probably not what's causing this problem. They're doing bloodwork, too.
Right now the vet has him and is giving him antibiotics and steroids through an IV trying to get the fever and swelling down. Our only other option at this point would be to drive him 4 hrs to Auburn (vet school there) for endoscopy...a $1000+ procedure that could yield answers or could not and also brings the risk of killing him.
:( We don't know what to do and we're very sad. We got him the month before we found out we were pregnant with Maggie and he was only 3 wks old then. Please keep poor O'Neill in your thoughts today. Also could you say a little prayer that whatever happens with him, I can break the news to Maggie and Katie. Maggie is convinced he'll be fine, but I keep telling her that he's really really sick and that the vet might not be able to help. :(
Here's my poor sweet boy:
http://www.thedigichick.com/gallery/data/525/medium/LoveisPatient_storyboard_small.JPG (http://www.thedigichick.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/82223)
This is the cat who is so gentle and kind that he lets the girls poke him and prod him...heck, he's even let both of them sit on him like he's a horse! I don't know what we'll do if they can't help him. :(
**UPDATE**
O'Neill is doing MUCH better today and is back at home with us. He's still congested and having a little trouble breathing, but they've given him several steroid injections and antibiotic shots. They did one more long-term antibiotic shot (14 days) before we picked him up today. They were encouraged by the fact that he was eating and drinking yesterday afternoon this morning and also using his little box. He's also a little hoarse--poor guy. He's going to be hanging out in the half bath off in our playroom, and I'm sure he'll get used to the air conditioner and pampering that he's going to get!
Thanks for all of the positive thoughts!!
Took him to the vet. He has a 105.3 degree fever and is wheezy and gasping for breath. There's also some gross (and smelly, which makes me think infection) mucus (sometimes bloody) coming from his nose. The vet said his airway is really swollen.
They did x-rays which didn't show any clear pathology, though there is some round something in his stomach. Vet thinks that's a big hairball and probably not what's causing this problem. They're doing bloodwork, too.
Right now the vet has him and is giving him antibiotics and steroids through an IV trying to get the fever and swelling down. Our only other option at this point would be to drive him 4 hrs to Auburn (vet school there) for endoscopy...a $1000+ procedure that could yield answers or could not and also brings the risk of killing him.
:( We don't know what to do and we're very sad. We got him the month before we found out we were pregnant with Maggie and he was only 3 wks old then. Please keep poor O'Neill in your thoughts today. Also could you say a little prayer that whatever happens with him, I can break the news to Maggie and Katie. Maggie is convinced he'll be fine, but I keep telling her that he's really really sick and that the vet might not be able to help. :(
Here's my poor sweet boy:
http://www.thedigichick.com/gallery/data/525/medium/LoveisPatient_storyboard_small.JPG (http://www.thedigichick.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/82223)
This is the cat who is so gentle and kind that he lets the girls poke him and prod him...heck, he's even let both of them sit on him like he's a horse! I don't know what we'll do if they can't help him. :(
**UPDATE**
O'Neill is doing MUCH better today and is back at home with us. He's still congested and having a little trouble breathing, but they've given him several steroid injections and antibiotic shots. They did one more long-term antibiotic shot (14 days) before we picked him up today. They were encouraged by the fact that he was eating and drinking yesterday afternoon this morning and also using his little box. He's also a little hoarse--poor guy. He's going to be hanging out in the half bath off in our playroom, and I'm sure he'll get used to the air conditioner and pampering that he's going to get!
Thanks for all of the positive thoughts!!