Mystery solved!!!!!

Now for the more graphic pictures.

     This is what she looked like when I took her in yesterday morning. You can just see something in her nostril.

    A better view of her nostril. My poor baby girl. I just want to cry even today.

    This is the larvae that her vet pulled out of her nostril. It was the head that was at her nostril so it could breath. Normally they leave a hole in the skin so they can breath.

Please, please, please if you see anything not right on your cat. Take him/her to the vet immediately. If I hadn't persisted this could have entered her brain and killed her. The vet said she may have some sinus damage but at her age she should make a full recovery.

I know one thing....she is breathing SO MUCH BETTER NOW.

Poor little Zander! Those pics really bring home what she (and you) has been through. Those worm things look EVIL. Everything crossed for a speedy and full recovery

kntrygrl256 said:

     This is what she looked like when I took her in yesterday morning. You can just see something in her nostril.

IMG_4282.jpg

• kntrygrl256
• Aug 13, 2015

    A better view of her nostril. My poor baby girl. I just want to cry even today.

IMG_4286.jpg

• kntrygrl256
• Aug 13, 2015

    This is the larvae that her vet pulled out of her nostril. It was the head that was at her nostril so it could breath. Normally they leave a hole in the skin so they can breath.

Please, please, please if you see anything not right on your cat. Take him/her to the vet immediately. If I hadn't persisted this could have entered her brain and killed her. The vet said she may have some sinus damage but at her age she should make a full recovery.

I know one thing....she is breathing SO MUCH BETTER NOW.

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These pictures make me want to cry! I'm glad you guys were able to get to the bottom of the problem and get little Xander some relief! Sending hugs to this sweet little girl   time to go hug my Luna now 

Zander is alive and getting better because of you, and hopefully many more cats will benefit from people reading this thread too.   

Your gorgeous girl must feel a whole lot better already, and I for one am really looking forward to reading about how she makes up for lost time with her eating, sleeping, playing, pouncing and generally being a happy kitten over the next few days and weeks.  And photographs to show off that beautiful face of hers once her nose is all healed.

What a precious kitty she is, and very lucky to be with someone who knew something wasn't right for her and kept taking her to the vet.

Lots and lots of pampering for Zander is in order, and if you will - add a little extra from me please.  

MServant said:

Lots and lots of pampering for Zander is in order, and if you will - add a little extra from me please.  :heart3:

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That goes for me too, for sure :nod:

Zander is so lucky to have found you. You've literally saved her life.

I think Zander's nose looks so much better already!! If there's one good thing, it's that this parasite was not the kind that imbedded deep into tissue, so it was pretty much close, as you said, to her nostrils. Hoping that means deeper sinuses weren't damaged too much. Seriously, her nose really does look better. I had NO idea botfly larva were that big.

Geez - that's AWFUL! Just when I think I can't learn more or hear something new - man!!! But Zander has got to be feeling SO much better! Obviously she is if she's eating that well already.

I can tell you from experience that having a kitty with sinus damage isn't bad ---in the sense that you can get some pretty amusing snoring We have one kitty - a "failed Foster" (who's actually my avatar) we took in that had been left at the end of a driveway for days straight in a gerbil cage -he couldn't even turn around in - with NO food or water---almost dead from starvation & dehydration. And he has sinus damage from what our vet thinks was a serious untreated sinus infection (not surprising given the obvious severe lack of caring in his original home). His name is Bowie (bc he has "guy liner" like David Bowie) but we often refer to him as Snuffles since, due to the sinus damage, he snores like an overweight 80 year old man, and when he gets excited he does this little snuffle. So hopefully - like Bowie - the worst reminder of all this for you and Zander might be a very endearing snore. It'll always remind you what you saved her from!!!

And it does crack me up - she does look a lot like Stitch

When I got up this morning to do my normal routine of feeding the babies & getting ready for work came the sweetest noise I hadn't heard in a while. It was the cutest little meow. I turned around and Zander came running, yes running

, in from her bedroom meowing and hopping around my feed impatient for breakfast. I love watching her eat, especially since she is finally able to get face deep in her dish

.

I am still amazed at the survival instinct of this little girl. She wasn't even been able to meow with that thing in her nose. I am so proud of her and all she has been through she still has such a sweet personality. She still don't want to be held but I guess when you are given medicine twice a day for almost a month, you wouldn't want to be held either. I will continue to get her adjusted to being held and loved on (she so deserves all the lovin' she can get)

I will try to get a picture over the weekend to show off her beautiful face now that it's almost normal. It's a little crooked still and possibly always will be but that will just add to her personality. Her nose reminds me of Owen Wilson's nose, LOL.

Thanks again everyone for your positive vibes and well wishes. I don't know what I would do without this site and the wonderful people in it.

                                      

The Owen Wilson comment made me crack up.    I am so glad you persisted until you found out what was wrong.  I hope Zander continues to improve at a fast rate.

Zander sounds like such an adorable kitty and I am made up that she is running about and meowing for you.      How wonderful that she is full of energy and all set to eat as much as her little belly can take now she is feeling better.   I'm all hopeful for you that once she is done with the excitement and energy of feeling like a proper kitten, and she starts to realize that you don't always give her med's when you hold her, that she will be full of snuggles and purrs when ever she's played out and looking for somewhere to rest up - in your arms.  

I'll be waiting to see that pretty face of hers once the inflammation and any remaining infection from the parasite is gone - but preparing to be patient as she might be so full of kitten energy at last that you might have trouble getting her to stay still long enough to take photos.  

Poor poor baby. Thank goodness it was found and removed. I was stunned when I read there was a worm up Zander's nose.
It should be plain sailing from here on please God. You must be so relieved.
I know that I am.

The picture in my mind as I read that she came running and meowing made my night! (And the Iwen Wilson comment made me laugh too!) She is obviously one lucky kitty --and sounds like she's making your life as happy as you did hers. It's stories like these that remind me why all the tough parts of rescue work are worth it.

This update made my night!

Well we had a great weekend. Zander is playing and very active, like a healthy kitten should be. Her nose is still lopsided but it is better and so adorable.  am amazed at how much weight she has gained since Thursday. She looks like a completely different kitten. I have been picking her up a little and loving on her then putting her down so she will know that being picked up is not always bad. She is getting better but we are just taking it slow. If she never likes to be picked up a lot that's fine too. She will stand and let you pet her for as long as you want and even grab your hand if she isn't finished yet. It's just too cute.

I tried to get a decent picture of her this morning but she is very camera shy and well refuses to cooperate. I have a couple that are ok but not great. So thanks again to everyone who have kept up with her and here are pictures of her this morning.

 
Camera shy baby.


Not a happy camper to be picked up for a picture. LOL Love the look on her face.

:lol3: I love her expression in that last pic! She's definitely going to be a handful! :nod: Fantastic news that she's really thriving now. You can just tell that she's so happy to be a part of your family

Her nose looks a lot better even though so little time has passed.

Glad to hear Zander had a good weekend and is finally getting to act like a kitten.    She may never like being picked up, but she's young so you may be able to convince her that hugs are good things.

My Ruby is a cuddle-bug and naps in my lap, and sleeps in bed with me, but HATES being picked up or restrained.  Picking her up results in all 4 legs flying out in all directions and me trying not to get scratched as she does a gymnastic leap to the floor.  Even if I loosely wrap my arms around her when she is sitting on the bed, she will back out of my embrace.   She's a former stray, so not sure if something happened in her past to make her weary or if it's just her nature.

Yeah she will let me pick her up long enough to put her on the table to eat but that's it. She is very demanding where pets and loving is concerned. She will sit and let me pet her anytime but not pick her up. That's fine too. She is loving being able to breath better and play. She still has some drainage but that is normal. I will take her back to the vet next week for a check up. He didn't say I had to but just for my reassurance I want to make sure everything is healing fine. Plus she does need to get her shots. She should be healed enough to be able to get them by next week.

rubysmama said:

Glad to hear Zander had a good weekend and is finally getting to act like a kitten.    She may never like being picked up, but she's young so you may be able to convince her that hugs are good things.

My Ruby is a cuddle-bug and naps in my lap, and sleeps in bed with me, but HATES being picked up or restrained.  Picking her up results in all 4 legs flying out in all directions and me trying not to get scratched as she does a gymnastic leap to the floor.  Even if I loosely wrap my arms around her when she is sitting on the bed, she will back out of my embrace.   She's a former stray, so not sure if something happened in her past to make her weary or if it's just her nature.

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:lol3: You could be describing Asha here - she's EXACTLY the same!

Stewball said:

Poor poor baby. Thank goodness it was found and removed. I was stunned when I read there was a worm up Zander's nose.
It should be plain sailing from here on please God. You must be so relieved.
I know that I am.

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Yes I am relieved. She was such a pitiful baby but now she is making up for lost time.

Columbine said:

You could be describing Asha here - she's EXACTLY the same!

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Interesting. Guess Ruby isn't a one of a kind then.     Did you have Asha from a kitten?