New Kitten ! - ALWAYS sleeping, Ear mites, huge belly ?! #stressin'

melissa a

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HI!
SO we got a new cat about a week ago from a farm. She's 12 weeks old and really sweet. 
We took her in for her first well check on Tuesday  and she had an ear infection, ear mites, and a bloated belly but it also happened to be right after she ate, so the Dr. chalked it up to that.
So she's on Aurizon for her ears, and was given dose 1 of Revolution for the mites / deworming. 
I read that Revolution can cause drowsiness, but since tuesday this kitty is just ALWAYS sleeping. Like, always ! She was awake for maybe 10 minutes all day today (it's currently amost 230pm)
Also, her tummy is ALWAYS bloated feeling. I know that kittens are known for having rounded bellies, but are they usually hard ?! Hers always feels big and hard - almost like she has a full round orange inside of her abdomen. 
She's eating less since her check up as well, but still using the box.
I haven't had a cat since I was a kid and now I'm just a ball of nerves because I'm worried something is wrong with her! 
Yes I know the first answer will be "go back to the vet",  however,  this might be some cheaper reassurance.
Anyone have kitten insight ?!
 

bdk103

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My kitten was really sick, but still had a lot of energy. She sleeps 15 hours a day, so 10 minutes awake for a 12 week kitten is off in my opinion. I have a great relationship with my vet and can call any time for professional advice, so you may want to give that a try.

I gave my kitten revolution at 8 weeks and she had no reaction to the meds; only when she was given her FVRCP vaccine she became lethargic and slept a lot. 

The deworming process usually excludes tapeworm treatment (according to my vet). Take a stool sample and look for signs of tapeworms or take her into the vet with a stool sample.
 
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newmamaof3

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Typically kittens will need deworming two to three times with about two to three weeks between each treatment. Something like Drontal or Pyrantel. And that treatment is not good for tapeworms as stated above. The drug for tapeworms is praziquantel. If you kitten has fleas it is possible that she could have a tapeworm. Tapeworm segments are generally only intermittently present in the stool so a sample that yields a negative result does not guarantee the absence of a tapeworm. My recommendation would be to contact the vet and get her a dewormer such as pyrantel for roundworms, which almost all kittens have. Then retreat her with pyrantel 2 weeks later and again 2 weeks after that. And if she had fleas at any point in her life give her a dose of praziquantel just in case she has a tapeworm. Revolution is great for fleas and some internal parasites but I would not rely on it as an initial dewormer in a kitten. It also does not affect tapeworm. Pyrantel is a cheap drug and should be readily available from your vet. Praziquantel can be purchased off amazon (feline tapeworm tabs) or can be obtained through your vet. Praziquantel is in pill form typically and may have to be broken into a segment that is appropriate for her weight. Dosing information is in the literature that comes with the kind you buy on Amazon or your vet will know the proper dosage. If her belly is hard all the time she likely has worms (maybe several kinds). Frankly I am surprised that your vet did not do a deworming treatment when she went for shots. Also treatment with praziquantel is a one dose treatment and does not need to be repeated (unless she possibly ingests more fleas after the treatment) as the pyrantel does.
 
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melissa a

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He didn't even do initial shots because at this first visit kitty girl had a fever , possibly from his ear infection vet said?
She doesn't have fleas as far as I know, as I've been looking at her under a microscope (figuratively  :p ) since we got her - including checking her poop and bum for worm signs. 
We are supposed to give her a second dose of Revolution in 2 weeks from initial dose, and then a month from that. I'll look into Praziquantel though ! Thank you for that tip !! 
 
 

newmamaof3

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Pyrantel for roundworm wouldn't be a vaccine. Did he run a fecal exam to check for toundworm?
 

stephanietx

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Since she was running a fever, I'm going to say that's causing the lethargy.  I would call the vet in the morning and ask them for an antibiotic in addition to the ear drops.  I would also think that she needs a fecal test and dewormed for tapeworms.  Make sure she stays hydrated and eats, though. 
 

catwoman707

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Okay here's my two cents.

Revolution can be given with 2 weeks in between doses for lice and earmite treatment, however key here is that all of the goop and dirt is removed from the ears, or it will not work.

Yes, all kittens need treatments for roundworm, at least twice, two weeks in between to catch newly hatched worms.

If it is suspected of having a good amt of worms, which personally at 3 months old I would say yes she does, I would then treat 3-4 times, 2 weeks in between.

Tapeworms are not treated with the same med, it takes med specifically for tapeworm.

Now, the sleeping, tummy, fever...........this is a big concern to me.

What is she eating daily?

That sleeping tells me she continues to be fevered, something is wrong.

Where did she come from?
 
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melissa a

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I've def been cleaning her ears out regularly . They are getting so much better. They were So So So nasty when I first got her.

She eats a mix of wet and dry and has been drinking . She pooped once yesterday morning, and not since.   

We got her from a farm. They were socialized, and she is quite sweet and loves loves cuddles. But I'm fairly positive that all of her problems stem from where she was living.

A lot of googling led me to believe that lethargy is a common side effect of Revolution - especially if it's working to kill off any parasites ... ?? 

However, it feels like her tummy is just getting bigger? Or I'm getting more paranoid. How big is normal vs too big ?!?

I'm having major new cat paranoia. 
 

stephanietx

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Bloating in kittens is generally a sign of parasites, but it could be other things as well.  She really needs to get back to the vet for another check up and fecal test.  Unfortunately, parasites can be frustrating to get rid of and it takes multiple doses of deworming meds.  Chances are a lot of the problem is her past, but she's got you to take care of her now and is in a much better place.
 
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melissa a

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Also an update. I noticed some small black specks on her anus this morning. yet , she hasn't pooped this morning.
I was suspecting eggs, but aren't they usually white ??
 

catwoman707

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Black specks that look like pepper are flea poop, to prove this is what they are, flake some off onto a paper towel and add a few drops of water to them, if they are flea poop they will turn red as poop is actually dried blood.

If she is not on a topical flea med then you can bet she has plenty of fleas and needs treatment.

If there is a fever for longer than 3 days, which it sounds like it has already been at least that long, I highly recommend returning to the vet, should not charge you for the visit again, but if her tummy is continuing to get bigger and she is still sleeping constantly, fluid needs to be drawn out of her tummy and tested for FIP.
 
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melissa a

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so I called the vet this morning with my concerns,  and the vet is out of town until next week. But I talked to the tech who suggested to stop the Aurizon as it's "very potent" for such a little kitty (1.3 lbs)  which can be causing the lethargy. So she said to stop that immediately . On top of that, after googling, I read that Aurizon is actually not recommended for animals under 1 year?? And Mavis is only 12 weeks.  Anyone have any insight on Aurizon use???
As far as the rest goes, she recommended another anointment when the vet is back in town next week. I'd almost like to get a second opinion on everything though.
 

stephanietx

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I would encourage you to go to a different vet for a second opinion.  Is there someone at that office seeing your vet's patients? 
 

catwoman707

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I would encourage you to go to a different vet for a second opinion.  Is there someone at that office seeing your vet's patients? 
Absolutely agree. Different vet!

3 months and 1.3 lbs is very underweight :(
 
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melissa a

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Mavis is starting to act NORMAL !! She's playing a lot more ! Sleeping less, and seeming more curious !  She's also using the box more frequently.
This must have been from the Aurizon !? Within 24 hour of discontinuing use, she started livening up. I'm not too happy that she was prescribed that in the first place. 
However, her belly is still quite big, and so we have an appointment with a new vet on Friday for a follow up second opinion / well check.  (and oops, I previously meant 1.3 kg, not lbs)
Thank you everyone for the information and tips ! :) 
 

stephanietx

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Yay!  This is a great sign!  Hope she continues to improve and that the vet on Friday is more helpful than your current vet.
 
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melissa a

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Yes me too !! :p 
Thanks! ^_^
 
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