Feline Panleukopenia (distemper) HELP!

Hi! I am new to this forum...and I am VERY worried about my Kitten.. She is approx 6-7 weeks old..Last weekend she started displaying symptoms of distemper and my fears were confirmed on Monday that she has Feline Distemper..Her condition has dramatically improved..she is now eating on her own and is perky and bright. My only worry noe is that the vet thinks she is anemic. I am so lost on what to think and when she will be well enough to come home..I was just wondering if anyone had some encouraging news about this disease.. I know she is young, but when I brought her to the vet, they didn't think she would survive the night..that was Monday the 7th..Can I hope for a recovery?

Please anything..I have been bawling my eyes out for days..I can't help but feel hopeful if she has made such progress..

I'm so sorry about your kittum

Here's a little information on distemper

http://www.thecatsite.com/health/pan.html'

I dont know much about it though, just what I've read.

Good luck.

HI Sicycat...Thanks for the link!..I am hoping someone has gone thru it and could tell me how long before we are "in the clear" or what to expect..I am extremely worried about her..We had to put our oldest cat down back in may..and I can't bear to loose another one..I know the vet is doing all she can..I just wanted to know who has gone thru it and survived..It's very depressing to read the odds..

Thanks again! Any info is EXTREMELY appreciated!
Natalie

Hi!!!
I don't have any first-hand knowledge of feline distemper either, but one of the other members here recently had to deal with this disease. To the best of my knowledge, 2 of her kittens survived. You might be interested in her threads, and I hope they will provide you with some helpful information:

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...threadid=20420
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...threadid=20422
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...threadid=20494
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...threadid=20740
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...threadid=20798

I think that's all of them! Good luck, and please keep us updated about your kitten!

HI Lori! Thanks SO Much for those posts...they really gave me something to hope for..seeing that her kittens survived to read someone else has gone thru and made it..What she descibed seems to be what Marble (our kitten, named after our oldest cat that passed away this past may)has been doing and how she has turned around..and it has been a week since she started feeling badly..so I am staying hopeful..I am just worried about the white nose..Maybe it just has to do with what she has gone thru...I can only hope..cause the alternative is not so encouraging..My other cats seem to be doing well..I think maybe they didn't catch distemper..we can only hope with that also..they are older which gives them a better chance..

Again...thanks SOOOO much for showing me those posts! I just hope when I speak to the vet tomorow she will have good news..!

I will keep you guys posted..keep your paws crossed..!

How is little Marble doing today?

When I was a child, my mother bought us a beautiful Siamese kitten. Just like in your experience, we found out that he had Distemper. My mom took him to the Vet, and he told her it was hopeless, and told my mother she should put him to sleep. We all cried, because we had fallen in love with the kitten. So, my mom being a nurse asked the Vet if she could give him shots of Penicillian (sp), and he told her, it couldn't hurt, but he felt it was just prolonging the inevitable.

Anyway, my mother gave him shots daily, I'm not sure how often a day, but more than once a day. He didn't seem to be getting any better, but she just wouldn't give up. In fact he got to the point where one night he was so close to death, that he couldn't use his back legs, and my mother told me he would more than likely be dead in the morning. I remember going to bed crying my eyes out.

The next morning with dread in my heart, I got up, and our little kitten wasn't dead, but was up walking and even trying to eat. To make a long story short, he did survive Distemper and grew up to be a beautiful healthy, extremely large Siamese cat. We named him Chang, and it was because of Chang that I grew to love Siamese so much. So, yes they can survive Distemper but it takes a lot of work.

Well...I have heard from the vet...they performed a blood test yesterday and her white blood cell count is back to normal.. I am SOOOO extremely pleased!! She is bright and eating like a pig..and now is drinking on her own also..I am extatic to say the least!! BUT her red blood cell count is very low..now the vet suspect Leukemia..But when we asked her if we brought her in today to her looking the way she does..would she suspect leukemia..she said NO..so we proceeded to say WHY then..she responded because of how she was on MONDAY...I am so angry and frustrated I could scream..!!! She looks normal again..aprt from her nose not being as pink it's no longer white...she is acting better than when we first adopted her..I don't get it!! Does this make any sense?? How can she have Leukemia if she is acting normal..not lethargic or not eating or drinking...??? or ANY of the syptoms associated with it?? Now we must wait until Tuesday to hear the results of her blood test that will be done this coming Monday..Needless to say I want to scream...SHe looks AMAZING..absolutely AMAZING...

I will keep you all posted..Please...if anyone has any opinion on this..I urge you to share it...I have done so much reading about this..and to me she is on her way to recovery..! I think my Marble will be just fine..! Keeping fingers crossed!!

Natalie

You might try PMing Hissy, she is one of the most knowledgeable members on this board. Hopefully, she will be able to give you some information.

I have a good update for you all about my kitten Marble..She is doing amazing...her nose has pinked up..not back to normal..but not white! She is eating like a little pig..and is getting wrestless..she wants to run and play! ..She still can't come home...but they are doing another blood tests today that hopefully her blood counts have gone up.. If the haven't then the vets will suspect Leukemia..But in my heart I don't think it is...she is SOOOO bright and perky...even MORE than when we brought her home...!

I can't wait to have her home..please keep her in your prayers that it's not leukemia..

Thanks everyone..!

I am staying optimistic about your news and hoping she continues to recover.

HI Hissy! I was hoping you would pop in..I don't know how to PM like Lori daid to do..To me, she looks amazing..I am worried about the anemia..but I am hopeful it's just cause her tiny body has gone thru SOOOO Much in such a short period..I know her platelettes are low and so is her red blood cell count..but since that last blood test the vet took, her nose has actually pinked up..I guess my question is..if it was leukemia..wouldn't she be more sick?? If you didn't know her before....you wouldn't have a clue on what she has been thru..she looks and acts amazing...!

On the bottom of a post there are little grey buttons. They are web site, PM (personal message), search, buddy, and profile. Press the PM one and it will bring up a screen to PM someone. Press the others, too. They are pretty handy.

Good News!! Actually AMAZING news!!! Marble has made it!! She is finally HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Her counts are back to normal...altho she is anemic from her ordeal, she will make a full recovery with extra rest and special food!!! YEAH!!!!! Thanks SO Much for eveyone who has helped me thru this..!! I am so HAPPY I could BURST!!!!!

Hugs all around!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!

Natalie

Oh this GREAT news! Come on Marbles you can do it! Keep recovering!

oh I just read this post, and I am so happy Marbles is home!!!!
Please keeps us updated on her!! do you have a pic?

OH!!! What cute kitties Cookie!! I have pics of her when she started getting sick..(before we knew..) But today I am taking some new ones cause she looks fantastic..skinny..but fantastic!! I can't believe the turnaround she has made...I can't keep her food bowl full enough! She gobbles it down..!! As Soon as I take a new pic I will come and post it..!! SHe is SOOO cute!!

Talk soon!
Natalie

Here a pic of my little Trooper!! She just amazes me...I can't get over her appetite



Look at that face!

Natalie

Oooooh how precious!!!! I just LOVE that sweet little face, and I'm soooo glad Marbles is doing much better!

thanx Natalie!

Marbles is such a sweetie! the pic makes me want to pick her up!!!

so happy she is continuing to get well!!!

hoping the good news continues!!!