Update on Danielle

Val,

let me tell you about one of the worst experience I had with cats.

Once upon a time.... (10 years ago), I had 2 nice inside cats, beautiful, healthy and happy... Then I rescued a stray kitty from the streets. A little black cat... A few days later, hell got loose... All the thre cats started pooping... everywhere in the house. They had some sort of diarrea... We took them to the vet of course, he tried blood work, feces analysis, we tried changing the food, we tried antibiotics, we tried a lot of things... The vet found nothing! Absolutely nothing! All was normal... except the three cats kept on pooping in all our appartement. Of course, they ended confined in own room so it would be easier to clean, and for us to keep the house clean. This went on for three months! And then suddenly, it stopped, and it never happened again!

We never knew what happened. We don't think it was stress because the three cats got quite well together.

There were times when we wanted to give up, really, we couldn't bear the smell... the cleaning... we were desperate! Fortunately, it ended and all was well after that. So... be strong, if she doesn't want to play, cuddle her... I had one tactic with a scared cat, i sat a lot on the floor, so she wouldn't be so scared... When she get better from her ailments, she will get less scared of you, i am sure.

Anne-Claire

I try to cuddle her....

But she looks at me with a "mommy you betrayed me" face and hides.

Val, you know (and she doesn't:confused2) that you are doing the best for her. She needs to be treated , but she can't understand it.... so chin up , and patience.

When the worst of the treatments is over, I am sure you and your husband will manage to regain her confidence. I know... easier said then done...

Anne-Claire

I believe that cats kind of do understand when we are trying to treat them. I have found that as much as they may squirm they know you are trying to help. I had to do the eye drop thing with Jinxy for glaucoma, and he did not appreciate it and it was really hard to do. Keep at it and you will develop a method soon enough. My husband was way better at it than me!!! I feel for ya. She knows you love her though, I'm sure of it!!

-Jacquie

I am trying to keep chin up, but today, after her eyes were getting better on the new eye drops, she suddenly had a setback.

I noticed that one of her eyes, (the lesser affected of the two) is all goopy and she is keeping it half closed. It is obviously bothering her.

We go back to the Vet on Thursday.

Is she EVER going to get better?????

Here is the latest:

We saw a different Vet tonight, since we brought her in on an emergency basis. I like this Vet better than the other. We go back in a week.

Here are the facts of the evening:

Danielle's ears are "pretty good"
Here eyes are a mess. We went back to the old steroid/antibiotic cream.
She must remain on the Orbax (antibiotic) at least another week.
She still gets the nose drops.
New News:.... She DOES have Calici Virus. #@!!%#&#@
Well, the doc says it will all run its course.
Now here is more new news....based on her mouth, he thinks she is about 12 years old!!!!!!!

He asked where did we adopt her, and we told him. He said that he has had several sick cats that came from there. ggggrrrrrrrrrr
He said nowadays, cats can sometimes live into their 20's. Kittens can live into their 30's perhaps. I was floored by that!

He said usually it is the thyroid that starts the problems, and then the heart and kidneys go, or they develop some other problem. He seemed to think that even if Danielle is around 12, with proper monitoring, she can live many more years. He said in a few months, we will redo the thyroid test, and see if the levels are any different. Best scenario is that she would not have to take the meds, although I am not counting on that. He said lets let her get rid of all these viruses and infections first before testing again.
Anyway, that is the update.

Lorie and Sandie, I saw your responses under "drooping eyelids". Thank you very much. I will check out those links. Now I will also look up Calici Virus. Somewhere back in these threads, someone suggested that, (sorry I can't remember who), and I asked the other Vet and that Vet said no. This new Vet recognised it immeadiately.
Sigh....

I am glad you got some answers tonight. Sometimes vets practice a little different and some are more in tune to a cats health. I think Imagyne had mentioned it. Of course, I think we have been through every which infection known to man througout the years with our rescues. I can't even say outloud how much our vet bills have been through it all, along with the yearly checkups, spaying/neutering and emergency appts. I fear I will scare myself. It is hard while you are going through it, but once they are back on thier feet the happiness is worth it. I had a 5 month old spend 2 weeks at the vet for the calici virus, I am not sure what was worse, her being sick or missing her. Just keep your hopes up and stick with the vet you are most comfortable with.

Danielle seems better!!! Wheeeeeeeeeeee!!!
:blubturq:


Her energy is up a bit, and her sneezing is almost gone. She still has a runny nose and the eye infection, but I think her ears are healing and she does go off the Staph meds on Monday. The next Vet visit is Tuesday night, so we will see then.

Thank you all again for your support. I'm gonna have LOTS more questions about my little darling.

Oh I am so glad she's doing a little better. I have actually been doing some more reading on the subject (always room to learn more). FVR and FCV are very common among cats who have been exposed to the virus at some point. Although vaccines are not 100% effective, it lessens the effects. Cats who get either virus usually become carriers for life. The virus will lay dormant until they are stressed. My guess is that she was exposed to the virus when in the shelter and did not have the vaccines to help her immune system. They say that these infections can last up to 3 months. In most cases, the antibiotics are just helping to prevent bacterial infections, but the URI just has to run it's course.

Sandie, thanks.


What is FVR?

FVR is viral Rhinotracheitis...it's a respitory virus that causes sneezing,loss of appetite,fever,conjunctavitis and a runny nose.
The only difference between the FVR and the FCV is that the FCV usually progresses into the sores in the mouth (calicivirus).

AAAAhhhhhhhh.....

So.... Sandie, from what I understand, I can expect her to get this virus periodically, since she will be a carrier forever.....

It's possible, but she can also never show active signs again. It could have been that the virus was activated because of the new home, vets, etc. If she does end up at some point with an active case again, it may not be as severe. Of course it will be something you will have to keep in mind if you ever decide to bring another cat into your home. The stress of a new cat may bring it on and the other cat may get it. There are ways to avoid it, so if 5 years from now you wanted to, you could.

Sandie, thank you so much for that info. I looked up Calcivirus on the net right after the Vet diagnosed it, and I did not find this information.

But I am still confused about one thing. You say after 5 years if I wanted to introduce another cat, there are ways to avoid it???

I am sorry, my brain is not computing what you were saying there.....
Is there a specific link that you got this info from, or was there a series of information......?

Thanks again Sandie....
What you have told me is valuable. And Danielle was DEFINATELY stressed when she came here... a new home, then she has med shoved in every orifi in her head, and THAT in itself was terrifiying in her new surroundings. I bet most or at least a lot of the cats at the shelter have the FVR or FCV. And since she had the staph infection, I bet lots of cats there have it too.

I actually get alot of my info from reading the veterinarian text books. When it is slow, I pick them up and start reading. We actually have 2 volumes that deal with just cats.
What I meant by being able to bring a new cat home in say 5 years was that if you take precautions, the transmission of the viruses can be avoided or much more mild than what Danielle went through. These viruses are more common in cats than people think. It is something that most street cats, shelter cats and multi cat households get. However, if you have a cat that has been boostered on a regular basis, the chances are good that if they did come into contact then the symptoms would be very mild to none at all. So if you decided to bring another cat home, I would make sure it is not a baby and has been properly vaccinated. You would also take extra steps when introducing a new cat, so that Danielle does not get very stressed.

Thanks Sandie,

I get it now. You are a doll.

Danielle just came from the Vet. She is healing nicely. She can now go off the pill, the ear drops and the nose drops. The Vet said the ulcers in her mouth are healing. The only thing left is her eyes, but they are a lot better.
:laughing2


We will be continuing the eye cream for a few more days.
We go back after Thanksgiving to test her thyroid again to see if she will need the meds. Also, she was never vaccinated against leukemia and bortadella (according to the shelter records). So she will get those next time we go..... (although she is in the house, so waiting a month won't hurt)

Hey, I am glad she is getting better finally!!!
I would like to say something about that leukemia vaccine though. Do some research before you let them give it to her. After much research on my part, I found it only necessary to vaccinate cats at high risk. Such as outdoor cats, shelter cats or cats that will be boarded. The leukemia vaccine has the highest rate of vaccine induced sarcomas. There are also very few owners who vaccinate against bordatella. So, please just look into it before you let the vet do it.

Originally posted by Sandie
The leukemia vaccine has the highest rate of vaccine induced sarcomas. There are also very few owners who vaccinate against bordatella. So, please just look into it before you let the vet do it.

Click to expand...

Sandie Thanks!!

The reason I was concerned about the Leukemia, was that I volunteer with FelV cats, (I haven't been there since we got Danielle), and I asked the Vet about Transmission if and when I go back to the shelter. He said the FIV was not as transferable, but the Leukemia might be a problem. That is why the vaccine came into the discussion.
When I asked if there were any other vaccines she should have, he looked at the shelter records and said she could use a Bortadella.

But I will definately check into what you said. Based on that, I have to decide whether to give up my volunteer work, or give her the vaccines. I guess I would have to lean toward staying away from the shelter if it came to that.

Thanks again Sandie, I will look into it.

Vjoy

I was reading your thread, and the news that Danielle is healing and improving is so WONDERFUL!!! I am happy for you, your husband, and Danielle, and I hope Danielle's health will be more stable now.