4-week old kitten - lost use of front legs

Hi all, 

We've been caring for a 3 to 4-week old kitten from an abandoned feral litter since this past Tuesday. Went to vet on Wednesday for first appointment and our kitten, Claude, got a clean bill of health and was dewormed. On Friday, he didn't have much of an appetite and was very lethargic and a little wobbly on his feet, so we went back to the vet. He wasn't running any kind of fever,  but the vet suspected he was in the very early stages of an upper respiratory infection, and put him on an antibiotic to ward off anything secondary and instructed me to keep him warm, comfortable, and hydrated. 

Since yesterday, his appetite has come back and he's going to the bathroom well after every feeding (with stimulation), but it seems that he has completely lost the ability to use his front legs. He can't stand up or take any steps. His back legs seem a little stiff but otherwise completely fine. He really almost doesn't seem sick except for his immobile front legs.

I called the emergency vet (since ours is closed on weekends), and they seemed to think it sounds like distemper and recommended we put him down. I am not willing to throw in the towel just yet - he has no other symptoms at this point that would suggest distemper (no vomiting, diarrhea, or fever), and he seems comfortable and not in pain. He's eating well (about 9 mL of formula every couple of hours), gaining weight, purring when we pet him, going to the bathroom well, no fever, no vomiting, no diarrhea, etc. 

We are planning on going back to our own vet tomorrow for another opinion, but in the meantime, does anyone have any idea what could be going on? I am hoping this is just a more severe manifestation of "limping syndrome" that sometimes accompanies URIs. Any insight would be much, much appreciated. We love this little guy and want to give him the best shot at a decent life that we can. Thank you in advance!

And here he is: 

There is a form of the calicivirus that causes what is called  limping kitten syndrome.  The calicivirus is an upper respiratory virus.   http://www.sheltermedicine.com/node/38     I don't have any personal experience with feline distemper.  I know it is closely related to canine parvo which means severe diarrhea and vomiting are the hallmark symptoms.

I am wondering if you talked to a vet or a receptionist when you called the e-clinic.  Canine distemper does have neurological symptoms.  Feline distemper is actually a misnomer, I am guilty of using it because I have to look up the name to spell it right.   Panleukopenia is what is often called Feline Distemper and it is a parvo type virus.

Hi Denice, thanks so much for your response. When I called the emergency vet, I did speak to a vet tech. However, I am just not convinced he has distemper (aka FPV)...none of the hallmark symptoms at all. 

We're heading back to the vet this afternoon to see what we can do. I am feeling hopeful...his littermate began walking again today. 

No experience w/ this type of thing here, but just read your post & wanted to send vibes for your little guy. Hope all is well very soon!!

I can tell you this with confidence, it is NOT panleukopenia. You would know. Vomiting yellow/clear bile, diarrhea, fever, lethargy, death.

This little one likely has/had the limping strain of calicivirus, and will recover very soon. It runs it's course and gone in about 3 days to 3 1/2 days.

FYI-an unvaccinated kitten must be carefully dealt with at a vet's office. They are literally loaded with germs of various viruses, and so on.

Basically if I ever do take a kitten or a litter in for some reason, which I almost never do as I have all the meds and experience for the most common issues, I either squirt hand sanitizer on the table and smear it around with a paper towel, making sure the edges get wiped well too.

I've seen the workers clean in between appts, and although they usually will know if there has been a serious highly infectious virus there prior, they still can't always foresee what viruses come in with each animal they see, and it shows in how they are not vigilant with cleaning and disinfecting the tables and equipment.