Okay, I'm being a nervous Nelly here and I know it, but could use some reassurances if possible...
Well, our new cat (actually, he's my roommate's new cat) went to the vet today. The good news is that he is FeLV/FIV negative and generally healthy. The bad news, however, is that he has coccidia. Since being brought inside and kept on the front porch, he had a number of bowel movements. Most were solid, but he did have on looser stool and then suffered with foul-smelling gas while at the vet's office. Thankfully, the vet who saw him (it was not my usual vet) was wonderful and was thorough when doing his fecal exam (smear/float). Thus, she found the coccidia. And, while I am grateful this was found and is now being dealt with, I'm not thrilled with the idea. But, then again, who would be?
Theo has since been moved from the porch to my roommate's art studio (in the finished basement -- her part of the house). And, as such, his main care has defaulted to her. She has fallen in love with him and they are so sweet to watch with one another, but she's not always the most cautious with new animals. And, so I've really had to talk with her to help her realize that a strict quarantine is crucial -- especially since there are a number of other animals in the home. She cleaned the front porch, vacuumed, wiped down all surfaces with a water/bleach solution, and threw away his makeshift litter pan. All used litter was thrown into a garbage bag, tied up, and taken immediately outside. And, Theo is now resting comfortably in his new digs. The vet prescribed Albon (I do not remember the dosage off-hand) for 10 days and gave instructions on how to best reduce the risk of reinfection. My roommate understands all of this and has been taking precautions. But, I'm still worried.
My cats have had no contact with Theo. However, my roommate told me today that she had allowed 2 of my kitties to rub up on her right after she had been outside with Theodore (she apologized profusely). She didn't pet them and he had not yet used the litter box (this was right after he was brought inside), but the fact there was some contact, however small, is disconcerting to me. I do not want to deal with coccidia with my four cats or, for that matter, with my dogs. The vet has assured me that risk of infection to my animals is minimal (since there was no first-hand contact), but I am a worrier and am, thus, well, worrying. On this front, there's not much else I can do as I always am very cautious and have since urged my roommate to be (and, as a precaution have moved my kitties upstairs into my portion of the house to further cut down on the risk of exposure). I know my roommate is on board with this regimen now, but could that brief mistake be costly despite the vet's assurances? My other concern is that coccidia can cause infection through intermediary hosts (ie. mice). Our house is an older home and we do have some mice. However, in all the time I've lived here with my current cats (who I've had for almost 2 years in some cases), they have caught and killed just a handful of mice. And, in fact, the mice tend to stay in other areas of the home so as to avoid the cats. We have humane traps set up throughout the house, but since my cats do not eat the mice they kill (if they even are exposed to mice), are they at a high risk of becoming infected? Or, am I really over-thinking this? Like I said, there has been no first-hand contact and there will be no chance of first-hand contact until he has been cleared by the vet and has been out of quarantine for at least 2-3 weeks. Oh, and I should mention that my roommate is following all of the vet's instructions about keeping Theo's area sanitary as well as minimizing risk for the household as a whole (cleaning her shoes (Crocs) following being in his room with either Lysol or a bleach/water solution, changing clothes as necessary, and the like). But, where my cats and other pets are concerned, I am very over-cautious and tend to worry far more than the average pet owner. Please tell me I'm over-reacting to some degree. I know that there is always the risk of infection, but aside from taking every possible measure I can, as well as keeping my roommate informed and accountable, is there anything else I can do?
Aside from the discovery of coccidia in our little guy's intestinal tract, he seems okay. He weighed in at 7.8 pounds and is muscular, but still underweight (could be from the coccidia or from neglect). His eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all looked good. There were no external parasites found though he did have fleas at some point (he has been treated with Advantage). He was de-wormed for all parasites (including tapes) and given his FVRCP and rabies vaccine. He's scheduled for his neuter next Saturday, a follow-up a week later (for a second fecal exam), and then another follow-up a week after that for another round of vaccines. They do estimate him at about 9-10 months as I did and think he's doing well all-around -- even considering the coccidia. His stool is loose and, at times, watery, but it is not bloody and he is not dehydrated, feverish, or anorexic. If he needs another round of the Albon, or another drug, he'll be given that in 2 weeks time. And, in the meantime, my roommate is just doing all she can to ensure that all of her animals (and mine) stay happy and healthy. I'm stressed, but that's just how I am. But, at the same time, his check-up could have yielded far worse results. And, thus, if all we're dealing with is coccidia (though unpleasant and certainly not something we want to infect the other animals), it's manageable.
But, alas, I'm still concerned. And, in the middle of a near meltdown. I can't help but worry about my kitties and dogs (and other pets). I can only do so much to ensure that they are healthy and remain that way, but I am not all-powerful and am going to have to trust the situation. As long as we're doing everything we can to risk the spread of infection, there's not much else that can be done. We're certainly not going to get rid of Theo! And, while I trust that everything is going to be okay, I am still freaked out that somehow, someway, my cats will become infected. Or, my dogs. Or, whatever! I'm obsessing right now and know I need to stop. And, so stop I will do...
...but, please, if you can spare some vibes or can reassure me in some way, it would be most appreciated.
Well, our new cat (actually, he's my roommate's new cat) went to the vet today. The good news is that he is FeLV/FIV negative and generally healthy. The bad news, however, is that he has coccidia. Since being brought inside and kept on the front porch, he had a number of bowel movements. Most were solid, but he did have on looser stool and then suffered with foul-smelling gas while at the vet's office. Thankfully, the vet who saw him (it was not my usual vet) was wonderful and was thorough when doing his fecal exam (smear/float). Thus, she found the coccidia. And, while I am grateful this was found and is now being dealt with, I'm not thrilled with the idea. But, then again, who would be?
Theo has since been moved from the porch to my roommate's art studio (in the finished basement -- her part of the house). And, as such, his main care has defaulted to her. She has fallen in love with him and they are so sweet to watch with one another, but she's not always the most cautious with new animals. And, so I've really had to talk with her to help her realize that a strict quarantine is crucial -- especially since there are a number of other animals in the home. She cleaned the front porch, vacuumed, wiped down all surfaces with a water/bleach solution, and threw away his makeshift litter pan. All used litter was thrown into a garbage bag, tied up, and taken immediately outside. And, Theo is now resting comfortably in his new digs. The vet prescribed Albon (I do not remember the dosage off-hand) for 10 days and gave instructions on how to best reduce the risk of reinfection. My roommate understands all of this and has been taking precautions. But, I'm still worried.
My cats have had no contact with Theo. However, my roommate told me today that she had allowed 2 of my kitties to rub up on her right after she had been outside with Theodore (she apologized profusely). She didn't pet them and he had not yet used the litter box (this was right after he was brought inside), but the fact there was some contact, however small, is disconcerting to me. I do not want to deal with coccidia with my four cats or, for that matter, with my dogs. The vet has assured me that risk of infection to my animals is minimal (since there was no first-hand contact), but I am a worrier and am, thus, well, worrying. On this front, there's not much else I can do as I always am very cautious and have since urged my roommate to be (and, as a precaution have moved my kitties upstairs into my portion of the house to further cut down on the risk of exposure). I know my roommate is on board with this regimen now, but could that brief mistake be costly despite the vet's assurances? My other concern is that coccidia can cause infection through intermediary hosts (ie. mice). Our house is an older home and we do have some mice. However, in all the time I've lived here with my current cats (who I've had for almost 2 years in some cases), they have caught and killed just a handful of mice. And, in fact, the mice tend to stay in other areas of the home so as to avoid the cats. We have humane traps set up throughout the house, but since my cats do not eat the mice they kill (if they even are exposed to mice), are they at a high risk of becoming infected? Or, am I really over-thinking this? Like I said, there has been no first-hand contact and there will be no chance of first-hand contact until he has been cleared by the vet and has been out of quarantine for at least 2-3 weeks. Oh, and I should mention that my roommate is following all of the vet's instructions about keeping Theo's area sanitary as well as minimizing risk for the household as a whole (cleaning her shoes (Crocs) following being in his room with either Lysol or a bleach/water solution, changing clothes as necessary, and the like). But, where my cats and other pets are concerned, I am very over-cautious and tend to worry far more than the average pet owner. Please tell me I'm over-reacting to some degree. I know that there is always the risk of infection, but aside from taking every possible measure I can, as well as keeping my roommate informed and accountable, is there anything else I can do?
Aside from the discovery of coccidia in our little guy's intestinal tract, he seems okay. He weighed in at 7.8 pounds and is muscular, but still underweight (could be from the coccidia or from neglect). His eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all looked good. There were no external parasites found though he did have fleas at some point (he has been treated with Advantage). He was de-wormed for all parasites (including tapes) and given his FVRCP and rabies vaccine. He's scheduled for his neuter next Saturday, a follow-up a week later (for a second fecal exam), and then another follow-up a week after that for another round of vaccines. They do estimate him at about 9-10 months as I did and think he's doing well all-around -- even considering the coccidia. His stool is loose and, at times, watery, but it is not bloody and he is not dehydrated, feverish, or anorexic. If he needs another round of the Albon, or another drug, he'll be given that in 2 weeks time. And, in the meantime, my roommate is just doing all she can to ensure that all of her animals (and mine) stay happy and healthy. I'm stressed, but that's just how I am. But, at the same time, his check-up could have yielded far worse results. And, thus, if all we're dealing with is coccidia (though unpleasant and certainly not something we want to infect the other animals), it's manageable.
But, alas, I'm still concerned. And, in the middle of a near meltdown. I can't help but worry about my kitties and dogs (and other pets). I can only do so much to ensure that they are healthy and remain that way, but I am not all-powerful and am going to have to trust the situation. As long as we're doing everything we can to risk the spread of infection, there's not much else that can be done. We're certainly not going to get rid of Theo! And, while I trust that everything is going to be okay, I am still freaked out that somehow, someway, my cats will become infected. Or, my dogs. Or, whatever! I'm obsessing right now and know I need to stop. And, so stop I will do...
...but, please, if you can spare some vibes or can reassure me in some way, it would be most appreciated.
