Conference misery::feline

    Cheryl, I don't know if this will help, but here is what I have
    experienced or might suggest.
    
    The stool being that mustardy yellow color is normal.  If you are
    seeing blood in it I would think of these things: first, did he eat
    something that could be caught or irritating his bowels.  Something I
    had happen with a kitten in this last litter was at about two weeks of
    age it became constipated and had to go have an enema at the vets. 
    Very hard to imagine on a baby smaller than your palm!  A couple of
    days later it was acting a little "scrunchy" again so I didn't wait and
    gave it some femalt.  Did the trick!!  
    
    Now, this is what a breeder friend has told me to do:  if there is
    something in the "tubes" that needs to come out, and can without harm,
    give it a good dose of vaseline!! Yucchh! but it works!
    
    Karen

    Cheryl's kitten is about 9 weeks old, so mustardy colored stool is not
    normal.  The kitten is eating some solid foods, so it should have
    normal stools by now.
    
    She is doing everything she can think of.  She took the baby back in
    to the vet yesterday morning.  I called her just after she came back
    from the vets, and told her everything I could think of, giving sub-q
    fluids herself, different things to try to get him to eat, etc.  The
    vet put him on an antibiotic that is good for diarrhea (we call it
    poppy ampule but I know it has a different name, maybe panmycin?). 
    The only thing she can do right now is keep feeding him and keeping him
    hydrated and hope the antibiotic cures whatever is causing his problem.
    
    Oh, and I warned her that if this was the result of an allergic
    reaction to his first vaccines, the second vaccine may bring on an even
    stronger reaction, so it should be given at the vet's office just in
    case.  The kitten's body has now had a chance to build antibodies to
    the vaccine and could react very strongly next time.  
    
    It was great fun talking with Cheryl again.  She said she may be coming
    to Medina, so we could finally meet in person.
    
    Jo

    I talked with Cheryl today around lunchtime (Tuesday). She says to say
    a big "THANKS!" to Jo and Lynn for calling her with suggestions. The
    last reply mentioned all that Cheryl is doing - she has learned how to
    give subcutaneous shots this morning, to help with the dehydration.
    Along with antibiotics and an AD diet.
    
    She said the kitten is moving around more today.
    
    Thanks again for the help and if anyone else has any ideas please leave
    them here and I'll get them to Cheryl.
    
    janetb.

    I just talked with Cheryl. She's having a really bad time. After the
    initial improvement of the kitten we posted the .0 note on, it's gone
    downhill. (warning if you are reading this at work - this note is
    depressing - hanky alert)
    
    The little boy (they were calling him Whiplash because of the bandage
    he was wearing around his neck made him look like he was wearing a
    neckbrace) has died. The biggest of the 2 girl kittens has also died
    and the other two (a boy and girl)  are still in emergency care, with
    temps. of 104 and 106. The vet says they are holding their own right
    now, but they are on iv's,antibiotics, being constantly monitored.
    
    Events as cheryl told them to me:
    
    Last Wed., the boy was a little better but the girl started having the
    shakes. Cheryl took her to the vets first thing in the morning, they
    did x-rays which only showed the bowels were very full. Thinking it was
    just constipation the vet did an enama. Kitty only passed bowels after
    a second enema later that day. Thursday they seems a little better.
    
    Friday she still was not good, Whiplash was weaker and the other boy
    kitten had a fever. Cheryl took all the kittens to vets. Whiplash died
    in Cheryl's hand while waiting for the vet (...I can't even think about
    that without choking). The autopsy showed everything was ok except the
    liver, which looked like it was attacked by some type of hepatitis.  
    
    Vet gave Cherly antibiotics for kittens. Sat. showed some improvement.
    
    Sunday started ok but by late morning the sick girl was down on her
    side. All kitties were rushed to the vet. Cheryl said the girl was
    yellow. The vet had them leave all the kittens, but take the mother cat
    home as she showed no signs of illness.  Vet did more tests, as the
    other 2 kittens now had high fevers. Kitties all on drugs, iv's,
    constant care, etc.
    
    The girl died monday and the vet did a more extensive autopsy and has
    sent samples to Univ. of Pa. for help. They won't have the results
    until Thursday or Friday.  The vet doesn't have any idea of what is
    happening, but one thought is that it is some type of virus. Or the
    first "kitten shots" have caused some type of allergic reaction or it
    was a bad batch of serum.
    
    The mother cat has been isolated from their other cats since the birth
    of the kittens and has shown no sign of illness so Cheryl is hopefull
    that none of the other cats will be affected (if it does prove to be a
    virus). She is also hoping that the results from Un. of PA will be
    helpful in what it was/is and what can be done to prevent it in the
    future and help now.  
    
    She's pretty upset about this as you can well imagine.  The vet's
    told her it could be another 10 days before the other kittens are ok
    And with the kittens being 2 1/2 months old they had developed
    personalities, so attachments to them are stronger than if they were
    newborns.
    
    I wish this wasn't so depressing. Hopefully I'll be able to report
    better news in a few days.... 
    
    janetb.

    Oh how terrible.  Please post the results once they come in. 
    We all want to know.  Maybe it could help someone in the future.
    Poor babies..
    
    

    Last night in my Feline Diseases book I was reading about an illness
    called V. Pseudotuberculosis which attacks the liver, spleen, etc.  The
    main symptoms were high fever and jaundice.  I hope the U of PA can
    help Cheryl figure out what is happening here.  If it is the disease
    above, they said that it responds well to medication if it is caught in
    time.  Unfortunately, it also said that it is usually not caught until
    a cat or kitten reachs the jaundice stage and by then it is too late
    for that cat or kitten.  But, in the case of a litter, the littermates
    who are not as well advanced in the disease have a good chance of
    survival.  
    
    BTW, it also mentioned that this disease is contagious to humans.  And
    that it is very rare.  Most likely this is not what it was, but it
    struck me as similar to what Cheryl described.
    
    Jo (who reads Feline Diseases to ward off insomnia ;'})
    
    

    
    
    
    
    
    ... more sad news
    
    
    Jo (.6) I called Cheryl about the info in your note. She says thanks -
    she'll pass it on to the vet.
    
    The other boy kitten died, but the last of the 4, the girl kitten, seems
    to be improving. Infact the vet said if the improvement continues, they
    may be able to take her home this weekend. They haven't heard yet from
    Un. of Penn, they are hoping to hear tomorrow.
    
    oh well.... 
    
    janetb.
     (going home to give my guys big hugs!)

    Send Cheryl my best and tell her that I will read some more tonight in
    my Feline Diseases book.  Hope the U of PA gets her some information
    soon. 
    
    I had a litter that I lost one by one of pneumonia, until there was
    just one girl left.  We did everything possible to keep her going, and
    she did survive.  We named her Live to Tell since it was the L year for
    Birmans, and today she is a happy 5 year old pet living with my cat
    sitter's parents in Thailand.  Actually we were supposed to get Livee
    back last night, but at the last minute they changed there minds and
    decided to take her to Thailand with them.  Both of Livee's major
    ordeals had a happy ending, and hopefully so will Cheryl's little
    girl's story.
    
    Jo

    Talked with Cheryl today. The little girl kitten has been home for just
    over a week now. She gained 4 oz. last week and seems to be doing okay.
    
    The autopsies came back "inconclusive" so they don't know what
    happened. The only thing that is still suspect was the first batch of
    kitten shots, since they all had it just before they got sick.
    
    Cheryl has switched vets. She feels the original vet never really
    helped and is now making all sorts of excuses for what happened. She's
    going to another vet that was recommended by the cat club she is part
    of (even though it is farther from her house). the new vet is actually
    4 doctors, they are on call 24 hrs and seem to deal more with breeders
    than the average home owner.
    
    So, everything is going better for them. She says hi to everyone and
    thanks for the help.
    
    janetb.
    	

    Another update - talked with Cheryl today and the little girl kitten is
    doing fine. They've decided to call her Lady Luck .... 
    
    None of the tests were ever conclusive about what killed the other
    kittens.
    
    Cheryl did have other news - which should probably got in one of the
    other topics - but - she received a letter saying the PA (aka Mount Sima
    Silver Shadow) was judged the 2nd best korat in the southern Region.
    Cheryl's been invited to an awards banquet (dont know if kitty gets to
    go). I don't have any other details, as Cheryl left this is a
    voicemail.
    
    janetb.