Conference misery::feline_v1

    Sorry, I'm having trouble entering this note, probably because I'm
    at a remote location.  Will try again later.
    

     I am very sorry about the kittens. How are the other two doing?
    And how is Patches?
    
    I'll be VERY interested to read the rest of your note when you can
    enter it because that strain of respiratory infection must have been 
    infecting alot of cats. My leukemic cat, Franics, was scheduled
    to have his teeth cleaned last week but the vet's office called
    suggesting that I postpone it since it wasn't an emergency - because
    they had been seeing ALOT of Upper Repiratory infections coming
    into the clinic, and that they had several cats hospitalized with
    it. I was real thankful that they called to tell me that BEFORE
    my exposing Francis to the virus. (So his appt is for a few weeks
    from now). 
    
    What treatment do the other babies get to help them avoid getting
    the virus??
    
    
               

    I borrowed this account so I could finish this note.
    
    We had just given 2 babies away, Tuffy and Buddy, on Sunday.
    Tuesday night I noticed that Rascal was not acting like himself,
    so I called my vet.  It was late so she suggested that I since he
    wasn't vomitting or anything that I wait til morning and drop him
    off to her on my way to work.  When I picked him up that night,
    she said it was a respiratory infection and to watch the other kittens.
    I called my sister-in-law and my sister to let them know to watch
    Buddy and Tuffy.  On Saturday morning my sister-in-law called to
    say Tuffy was sick.  She took him right to her vet, but it was too
    late.  He didn't make it through the night.  On Sunday, Buddy came
    down sick and my sister took him to her vet, again it was too late.
    
    I called my vet, Dr. Lung at Countryside Animal Hospital, and let
    her know about Buddy and Tuffy.  She said to bring Mischief in right
    away although she hadn't been acting sick.  I did, thank God, because
    Missy was in the early stages of the virus.  Dr. Lung kept her on
    an IV overnight and I was able to bring her home on Monday. 
    
    All three of my babies, Patch, Mishcief and Rascal, are now on
    ampicillin and doing fine.  But I can't help thinking that if I
    hadn't given Buddy and Tuffy away when I did, that they would still
    be alive.  I don't blame anyone but myself for them being gone.
    I would have noticed sooner than my sister or sister-in-law that
    they were sick and could have done something for them sooner.
    
    Please watch your babies.  Dr. Lung told me that there has been
    a lot of upper respiratory infections going around and that it moves
    qickly and, as we found out the hard way, it can be deadly to the
    young ones.
    
    Thanks for listening.
    
    Janet
     
    

    Please don't blame yourself.  We all know how cats seem to be well
    even when they are getting sick.
    

    How can you tell when they are first coming down with this?
    
    Is there anything I should watch for in my young ones, considering
    that I just got them a few weeks ago.
    
    Thanks
    
    Kathy
    

    A friend of mine lost a kitten, he was about 3.5 months old, with
    similar symptoms of upper resp. - symptoms were VERY SWIFT, sneezing,
    diarrhea, vomitting, not eating, listless,  a very high fever, and
     - within 48 hours he died.
    The vet still doesn't know exactly what it was.  A second kitten
    started with the same thing, but we saved that one by force feeding
    and liquids and antibiotics.  
    
    You shouldn't blame yourself (of course my friend does also) -
    the onset is so swift and even if the vet administers fluids,
    if 24 - 36 hours have gone by, it's just about too late, with
    this particular "disease" - I don't know what to call it.  This
    happened about 3 or 4 weeks ago.  The second kitten is now fine
    and thriving!!  
    
                       Sorry about your loss,
    
                                                    E.T.

    Isn't there a vaccination (4-way?) available for upper-respiratory?
    At what age should the kitten receive it if there is such a thing
    (I think 9 weeks?).
    
    Yup - upper respiratory is running amock this season, and kittens
    are the most vulnerable, poor things.
    
    I am so sorry to hear of your loss.  As everyone else has stated,
    it is not your fault at all so please don't blame yourself.
    
    /Roberta
    

    Holly's a carrier of an upper respiratory thing, and so Sweetie
    gets vaccinated twice a year against it.  So far, so good.  Possibly
    there is more than one "upper respiratory thing", however, or possibly
    kittens are too young to be vaccinated?  
    

    RE: .5
    
    Rascal is a very energetic little guy who suddenly became listless,
    depressed almost, and he seemed to have difficulty with his hinde
    legs when he walked.  Those were his only symptoms before I got
    him to the vet.  However, she did tell me to watch for some of the
    things mentioned in .6(?).
    
    Re: .8
    
    The doctor thinks that Momma Kitty may also be a carrier.  Yes,
    there is a vaccination they can get.  Just as soon as they are through
    with the medication, it's back to the vet for shots!
    
    Thanks everybody for helping me get through this.
    
    Janet
    

    Re: .4 (?)
    
    Kittens should receive their first vaccination about the same time
    that their natural immunity from mom wears off.  That is usually
    at about 6 weeks old.  They should have their second vaccination
    three weeks later at nine weeks and the third vaccine three weeks
    after that at 12 weeks.  After that they need a booster shot a year
    a year later.  
    
    Even if you do vaccinate the kittens, they can still come down with
    URI occasionally.  But, the vaccines will help them to fight it
    off.  
              
    Jo

    I want to thank this note for probably saving a kitten last week.
    
    A friend of mine went away for the holiday and asked me to check
    in on her three cats.  She has an older cat (8), a 2 year old cat
    and a kitten (about 3 months) that thye just got for her son.  His
    previous kitten had gotten killed just about a month ago.
    
    I checked the cats on Monday and all was well.  Tuesday I was away
    so it was Wednesday before I got back to them.  When I came in the
    house, the kitten was having trouble breathing, sneeaing alot, had
    ugly green stuff coming from her eyes, and was VERY listless.  I
    immediately called the vet and we were off.  She had a fever and
    he was pretty sure it was the start of Upper Resperitory infection.
    She was also full of ear mites which apparently can aggravate the
    condition.  She was put on penicillin and Mitox.  She perked up
    by Friday and by Monday when everyone returned, she was a terror
    again.  
    
    I can't tell you my great fear of having poor Johnathan return to
    a dead kitten.  He would have been crushed.  When I saw the kitten
    on Wednesday, I remembered reading this note and that is what headed
    me off to the vet.  So, Thanks to all of you.  You probably saved
    a darling kitten (whose name, by the way, is Oreo - looks just like
    one) and certainly kept a little boy's Christmas happy.
                                         
    Ellen