Misha has an infection in her spay incision. She's at the vet's office right now. High fever, green

She was spayed on Monday, but starting on Thursday morning she looked terrible. She was lethargic. I mean she looked awful. She stayed on my rocking chair ALL day, and ALL evening. I saw this morning that her incision, while not red or anything, is oozing this greenish, yellowish gunk. It's so gross. I called the vet 5 minutes before they opened and luckily they answered the phone. They got her right in as soon as I could get there. They said she has a really high fever. SO high they want her to say there for a few hours since they gave her in injection of something to bring the fever down. They want to see the fever go down before they release her. They also said she will be sent home with antibiotics.

I never saw the vet, which is the exact same way they handled it when my 1 year old cat Comet was spayed. They left me in the waiting room and took Misha back to have the vet examine her. I don't get it and I don't appreciate it at all. It leaves me no ability to ask questions or anything.

I'm hoping her fever is going down right now.

I just picked her up at the vet. Her fever was 103.8 when I brought her in. They gave her IV fluids, and an injection of a fever reducer plus an injection of amoxicillin. The paper is in the car so I don't know the name of the fever medicine. They gave me amoxicillin to give her twice a day. They also put a couple of staples in her incision, because part of her incision had opened up.

She's seems better now. They said her fever is not completely gone, but it is low enough now that they feel comfortable that it's going to keep going down. I'm taking her back in tomorrow for a recheck.

Just thought I'd update. I have to say I'm surprised that the vet only charged me for the fever reducer injection and for the amoxicillin. The IV liquids, the brief hospitalization, and the stapling of the incision was all done at no charge.

That's great. The vet should have given you a break, as this treatment was a follow-up to the spay. I hope she gets better as the antibiotic takes effect. Keep us up to date on her progress.

Thank you for your reply.. I appreciate it. I'll keep Misha's condition updated.

So glad they treated her infection.

Do you have any wet food you can feed her? Maybe something stinky fishy smelling so she continues to eat. my cat used to love her slurry-fancy feast pate with a can of water added and mixed mashed with a fork-she lapped it up. maybe this will help entice her to eat later tonight. so very glad the fever is responding to meds!!!

also before you give the antibiotics-make sure she eats a small snack or some food incase it upsets her tummy. I have one cat who vomits if I don't feed her a light snack before antibiotics. Sorry if you already knew this-wasn't sure if the vet told you this since they didn't meet with you to answer any questions. keep us posted!

Thank you for your suggestions and advice. I took them very seriously. I bought yogurt for Misha so that she won't get an upset tummy or any diarrhea from the amoxicillin. She's always loved yogurt. She's already ate a lot of it. After she ate it, she walked over to her water bowl and drank a ton of water.  I gave her the amoxicillin right after that.

I also bought her fancy feast wet kitten food, to entice her to eat, although she seems to be getting back to eating normally.

Her incision is still oozing. In fact, I think she's oozing more now than this morning. I suppose it's draining, which is a good thing? When I had surgery at the age of 18, to remove a benign cyst under my belly button, I developed a raging staph infection, and was in the hospital for 2 weeks. My parents I found out later, were not sure I was going to survive. The chief surgeon had my incision area drained for days, which is where I'm thinking that perhaps the vet WANTS Misha to keep draining.

I cant take seeing her abdomen with all this gunk. I mean good grief, its ridiculous. So a few minutes ago I got a piece of gauze and dabbed it with hydrogen peroxide and dabbed some of it off her belly. I didn't get it anywhere near her incision. I'm stunned that the incision area is not red, not even a hint of red. My other cat Comet, when she had her spay infection, she ONLY had redness, no oozing.

I guess infections all differ in their own way.

I think that's an excellent idea to clean the wound with a disinfectant. I think it would be OK to wipe the wound directly, too. Can't hurt and may help.

Thanks! I will do exactly that when she wakes up. She's sleeping right now.

This may help once her fever is gone.

When my cat got an infection in her spay incision my vet told me to set up a heating pad on low with an old towel on top of it to help it drain faster. The vet drained it once in the office and she was on antibiotics. The heat will help it drain faster. I suggest you use a towel you are willing to throw away since it may get stained. I was not able to get the gunk off the towel and threw it out.

I hope your baby feels better soon.

Misha just woke up. When she walked over to her food area, I jumped up and took the e collar off so she could eat and drink easier. She ate and then drank a ton of water after which I quickly replaced the collar. I know some people might  think I should leave the collar on 24/7, but because she is dealing with an infection so bad that she needed IV fluids etc, it's paramount that she gets as much food and liquid in her to help her fight this infection, and to keep her strength up.

After replacing the collar, I got my brand new gauze out and a brand new bottle of hydrogen peroxide out, and then looked at Misha's belly. I couldn't believe it! Her draining has pretty much stopped. I couldn't see any new drainage at all. I wiped her area and around her incision just to be proactive in case any new draining begins, which I don't think will. I guess the dose of antibiotic that I gave her 2 hours ago has really started working.

Thank you Catlover73 for your suggestion and for your good thoughts towards Misha. I think she drained SO much today that she probably got it all out.

I hope I''m not jinxing things by saying that.

You won't jinx it. You're doing well. She does need the food and water, so taking off the collar is a good thing. I don't think those collars are needed so much unless they are pulling out their stitches.

Uugh. I just checked her belly, and there was some more oozing. Although it is not greenish/yellowish anymore. It's more whitish. I saw where it was coming from and I every so slightly, I'm talking barely, pushed down near there and a bit of more oozing came out from there. So frustrating....

But she's really perked up. She's walking around and trying to engage us in play, like a moment ago where she got up on her hind legs and batted her paws at our 11year old daughter.. Our daughter has been worried sick about her so you can imagine how ecstatic she was. She absolutely loves our cats. She said when she grows up she's going to have at least 5 of them. The more the merrier. I wonder where she got that idea from? 

You're a great nurse to your kitty!  I think you're on the right track.  The amoxi will also help clear up the infection so hopefully the draining will stop.  I like the idea of the heating pad and old towel.  Just make sure she keeps eating and drinking.  I'm surprised she's drinking so much actually, especially if she got fluids at the vet's.  Watch her litter box habits, too.  Make sure she's using the litter box as normal. 

Update:

Misha is back in the veterinary Hospital.  She was rechecked this morning and while her fever is completely gone, the oozing is still there. They said if this were during the week, they would just keep Misha overnight and we could get her tomorrow. The vet assured me she does not have peritonitis, which is what I developed from my staph infection that I mentioned earlier in this thread. She went on to explain to me about the positioning of the muscles and the skin and the incision etc, saying that she is not full of pus, BUT they are going to flush out underneath the incision and they are going to suture it back up. Plus they may give her a stronger antibiotic. She said a tiny hole opened up in the incision, exactly how that happened I have no idea.

I looked at the doctor, tears coming down, and I said Dr just tell me the truth, is Misha going to die? And she said "No, absolutely not. That's not even a slight concern of mine. I'm just being extra cautious. Remember her fever is gone, and she does not have peritonitis. She is going to get over this infection."

I hated leaving her there. I've been trying not to cry all afternoon, and failing miserably. I'm deeply attached to Misha. She is no doubt there all alone, with her e collar on in a cage, with no one to hold her, pet her or talk to her. I bet the vet only checks on her once a day. I hate this so freaking much...

I am so sorry. This is the freakiest situation I've ever heard of. I hope she heals soon. Sending good vibes your way.   

I'll pray for your Misha, for her to heal quickly and come home to the one who loves her so much. Send her your love, she'll feel it through the bond you have with her, concentrate on your happy reunion, I have no doubt at all that she will come home. Take care....you will be blessed for your compassion and love for one of God's creatures. 

Thank you both for your prayers and good vibes. They mean so much to me.  I miss my Misha so much. I hope they didn't put the food and water bowls right next to each other, as they need to be separated enough for Misha's e collar to get all the way down on each one to be able to drink/eat. They said the doctor will call me tomorrow to tell me how she''s doing. I hope and pray I get good news..

I am so sorry you are both going through this. Hugs to both of you. You are doing a great job dealing with this issue. We are here to support you. I also have no doubt that Misha will be home soon. Hopefully the new antibiotic will fix things quickly.

Thank you catlover73 for your hugs. Your support means a lot to me.

I wonder how many times veterinarians, who are in charge of checking on their patients, actually check on them over the weekend. I hope she shows Misha the love, tenderness, and affection that Misha deserves.

Awwww....I'm so sorry you're going through all this with your baby.  I'm sure you're lonely and concerned for her.  Most vets will either check their patients frequently over the weekend or the vet techs will rotate shifts, in my experience.  I'm glad they're going to flush out the surgery/incision site.  The good news is that her fever is gone!  Prayers for you and your kitty.