10 week old kitten - fever - listless - undiagnosed

Hi everyone - hoping for some thoughts.  Ben is a 10 week old kitten that was trapped about 2 weeks ago at a home that obivously didn;t care for him.  he lived outside in broken down cars.  he has been to the vet 3 times this week.  Here is the summary:

Blood work normal with the exception of slight anemia

Pan-Leuk, Feline Leukemia and FIV tests are all negative

He is eating and going to the bathroom fine

He had excessive WBC in urine but culture did not grow anything.  He appeared very tender in the kidney, abdominal area so diagnosis was UTI.  Kidneys appeared slightly enlarged.  He was put on Amoxicyllin on Tuesday - 104.6 fever and received sub-q fluids on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - 50 ml each.   Thursday is fever remained high - 104.  Returned to the vet Friday, changed antibiotic to Clavamox, temp was 103.7 and he had lost 2 ounces.    So although he is eating; apparently not enough.  Saturday he appeared better - even playing a little bit and was back up on his weight and appeared to not be tender anymore in the abdomen area.  I think the Clavamox is working.

I don;t really have a diagnosis which is awful and very worried about him.  He wants to sleep all the time other than when he eats.  He does bathe himself too.  it seems like there are lots of positive signs, blood work etc but he remains listless and not kitten like.  I should mention that he had been on a 5 day dose of Panacur for worms and Marquis solution for coccidia.  He also had a dose of strongid wormer.  We are considering putting him back on Panacur to see if that helps but the vet didn't think his belly seemed "wormy".

I have considered FIP and the vet hasn't ruled that out.  it is hard to be patient but I keep telling myself I have to trust God's will.  

Any similar situations out there or ideas of diagnosis or additional things I could be doing?

Thank you,

Debbie

You said "Saturday he appeared better", then you said " he remains listless and not kitten like".  So my real question is...is he better than he was even if he is listless, or has he gotten worse again since Saturday? 

It sounds like he's been through the ringer, and needs to rest and let the antibiotic do it's thing, as long as he seems to be improving, even slightly .  But you need to make sure he eats PLENTY, and drinks PLENTY, and it's probably a very good idea to give him some probiotics since you are giving him antibiotics, because those things (antibiotics) will kill even the good bacterial in his gut.  You could give him human antibiotics, but be sure to give them to him in between doses of the antibiotics.  For instance, if you give him the clavamox in the a.m. and p.m., then give him the probiotics in the afternoon. 

Oh!  What about the anemia?  What do they think caused that?  That could certainly account for his lethargy.  Did they give him any vitamin shots?  I read that for mild anemia, that can help.

Hi - I took his temp a short while ago and he no longer has a fever so I think he is getting better.  I'm hesitant to believe it so will recheck it this evening.  The listlessness is not improved.  On Saturday, he seemed to have a burst of energy and felt good for a few hours but then retreated to the listless, curling, puffing body stature.

I wondered if perhaps I need to give him more time but it is painful and emotional to watch.  I keep hoping I'll check in on him and he'll be sitting there waiting for me.

The vet said the blood read was 25 on the anemia scale and he'd be worried if it was 12.  I read on another thread that they are really considered anemic unless it is 24 or less.  The vet didn't have a reason.  No vitamin shot.  We have been giving him Nutrical and a powdered vitamin we have.  He has been through a lot - you are absolutely right and his vet visits have been bad for him - Qtip swab up the anus for fecal, needle for urine and blood and another time for leukemia test and of course multiple pokes for fluids and thermometer reads.  Poor baby.  

I guess I need patience as all signs point to him improving but not having a diagnosis is unsettling.  The next step I think would be an xray or scan and there is possibility they could give him an antibiotic shot too but she said they like to try Amoxi and Clavamox before doing that.  I imagine, it's a lot for a baby.  He only weighs 1 lb, 14 ounces. 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and engaging with me on this.

Debbie

How's he doing today?  Any better?  If not, I would at least call the Vet and tell them what's going on.