Dog Community

Help.. please.

sierra2002

Posted : 4/29/2007 5:40:15 PM

Ok, I do know that this doesn't belong here, but I need as much help as I can get.
(Moderaters, feel free to move it if it's a problem)

OK - here's the scenario:
I know someone who has 2 kittens. They got them at approx 6-7 weeks from a farm (they're sisters). They're now about 9 months.
One of the kittens is obviously the runt. She has some problems physically & mentally (Physically, walks funny. she may develop hip problems later. Mentally, not all there. she acts weird, in a funny sort of way)
But for the past 4 months or so, "Meeka" has been vomiting - almost every day. It's mostly a clear bile, with a few kibbles mixed in.

A few details that may or may not be relevant:
- they were fed Nutro Indoor kitten until about a month ago. That's when they were transitioned onto "Summit", which I convinced them to do because it was a little cheaper, and has more meat in it. So they've been solely on Summit for 2 weeks.
- They were both spayed (with much pushing on my part) about 2-3 months ago.
- They are not up-to-date on vaccinations. They got their first kitten worming at 8 weeks, and were supposed to go in for a booster a month after, but didn't.
- Meeka acts normally (ie. plays, purrs, cuddles, eats, etc)
- The other kitten is fine - no issues on her part. A happy, normal kitten.

I spent the day at their house yesterday, and during that time, Meeka vomited once, and dry heaved twice. Poor thing must feel sick all the time [

].

The owners say they can't afford to take her to the vet (argggg Angry

)

So - does anyone have suggestions that might help this poor girl, short of taking her to the vet myself (I'm a student, and simply can't afford to pay for someone elses pet)

Please help [&o]

jennie_c_d

Posted : 4/29/2007 5:45:50 PM

Did she have pre anesthesia bloodwork, prior to her spay?

sierra2002

Posted : 4/29/2007 5:46:40 PM

No bloodwork (that would have cost more....[:@])

jennie_c_d

Posted : 4/29/2007 5:54:19 PM

In my (given, very limited) experience, I've had two runty, funny acting, vomiting puppies. Both times, it was congenital, and both times, it was a big, expensive problem.

One was Grace, a Golden/Lab mix. When I got her, I knew that she had Chronic Renal Failure. She stayed very, very small. She never really acted like a puppy. She vomited frequently, and had little appetite. Those were symptoms of her underdeveloped kidneys.

Emma was a violent puppy. She vomited frequently. She walked funny. She had a rare liver condition, that caused her liver to produce so much ammonia, her brain swelled. It caused a number of specific, seemingly unrelated symptoms, and took a LONG time to catch (her liver numbers weren't too far off, til she was 10 months old).

I'm not saying that it's something huge like it was for my puppies, but it could be that she has some congenital issue going on.... I don't know cats well, at all. I'm just starting to learn about them... I hope that it's NOT something like my puppies had to deal with.

marynh

Posted : 4/29/2007 6:20:01 PM

something they could try - although it won't be a fix.....is Pepcid AC. 1/4 tablet. Not straight Pepcid - it MUST be PEPCID AC
it will help settle a cat's stomach. 1/4 tablet.
BUT - if the vomiting does persist this cat can't live on Pepcid, but it will help settle her stomach for a day or 2. I'd only give it once, see how long it works or if it works at all.
Cats with CRF do well with Pepcid AC as they need to eat and keept it down.
I have a puker - my Missy will puke now and then until she has nothing left in her stomach. No idea why - she's always done it and her bloodwork this year was right on target for her age. If she keeps it up for a day I give her a Pepcid and she's fine and I don't have to do it again for months.
BUT - I have had her checked first.
IF these people can't afford to vet these kittens perhaps you can talk them into giving them up. Better that than living lives of neglect for years to come.

Liesje

Posted : 4/29/2007 7:50:21 PM

Feline Panleukopenia/Distemper?

Cerebellar hypoplasia:
This syndrome occurs when the virus affects the kitten in utero. These kittens may appear normal at birth, but show incoordination, staggering and falling over when they begin to walk. Although this condition will persist for life, kittens that are coordinated well enough to eat can be adopted.

Mild disease:
Slight elevation in temperature, drop in appetite.

Severe cases:
Sudden signs include a high fever (T104 and over), depression, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. There is dehydration, a rough, dry hair coat, and the third eyelid may appear. The abdomen will become painful, with gas and fluid in the intestines. A very typical sign may be a hunched-up position, or the cats may hang their heads over their food or water bowls

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[size="3"]No offense to your friends, but I can't stand when people excuse not treating illness because the animal is supposedly "the runt." Well, OK, if you adopt a runt then you already can see the animal may be behind developmentally and will obviously need extra care and will cost more money treating. Not being able to afford a vet is not an excuse, it a jailable or fineable offense in most places.
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