- Joined
- Feb 27, 2018
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Hi everyone! I'm new here, I'm the Mom of Ghosty, a 9month female black beauty 
My baby is having some health issues after her spay, and as a first time cat mom I am desperately in need of some guidance.
One week ago today, I took her in to get spayed. Prior to, she received a clean bill of health, had no issues whatsoever leading up to this procedure. I was told the spay went great. She also received rabies and distemper vaccs along with a dose of revolution at the clinic. She was back to her usual crazy self the next morning following surgery.
On day 3 after surgery, I noticed she started becoming more lethargic and eating way less than usual. I thought she would continue to improve as the days went on so this raised a red flag for me. Still, I didn't think too much about it, thinking that maybe the pain was starting to catch up with her and she just needed time to recover. She did just have major surgery 3 days ago after all.
Day 4 was when I really started to worry as when I put out her favorite dishes to get some nutrition into her, due to the lack there of in the previous day, she straight up refused food and water. I decided if she wasn't eating by lunch time to attempt to feed/hydrate her via tincture dropper. Success. Still not eating/drinking but at least I'm able to get nutrients in. I purchased a high calorie nutrient gel that I've been mixing with water that I feed her through the dropper.
Day 5. A really bad day. Ghosty vomited overnight. It's Sunday so vet isn't open. Noooo!!! Continued trying to dropper feed/hydrate small amounts. More vomit after feeds within an hour. Also, diarrhea. GI infection? Related to spay? Incision site looks great and not infected. Not sure what to think, but as I'm unable to keep anything in her, I decide to take her in to the emergency vet.
Emergency vet said she appeared in good shape (no dehydration thankfully) but definitely running a low/moderate fever of 103.7. She thinks that she may have picked up a secondary infection from one of the other animals at the clinic when I took her in for spay. She ended up giving her a broad spectrum antibiotic shot called convenia that lasts for two weeks and a shot of famotidine (pepcid) to hopefully help with nausea. Still no answers for my baby but I was hopeful that the antibiotic would help!!!
Day 6, yesterday, started out very hopeful! No vomiting at all anymore and she's still getting some nutrition in through the high cal/nutrient/water dropper mix. but still had liquid diarrhea. Throughout the day, her poop became more formed, like soft serve ice cream. Positive sign? At one point, she even drank from her water bowl and ate a very small amount of dry food!!!! I was crying tears of joy lol. But as the afternoon/night went on, she still refused her fave foods, couldn't get her to drink on her own again. This is essentially 3 days of her main hydration/nutrient intake completely being reliant on me dropper feeding her. And I know she's definitely lost weight. When are we going to turn the corner?
Today is one week since her surgery and 3-4 days since she started having problems. I was up last night dropper feeding her few of hours. She looks good this AM, greeted me at my door, vocalizing again, perching in the window, if I didn't know the situation I wouldn't think this is a cat who has been hand fed the past 3 days. No signs of dehydration (no tenting skin) gums look pink and mouth is moist.
Does anyone have any idea what could be going on here? Next steps? I keep reading about distemper and I'm terrified that is what is going on. Almost no success stories found so I'm really hoping it's NOT. This girl is my world. I'm currently a student trying to support myself so my budget for vet visits and treatments is not super high but I am willing to do what I have to do to get her out of this. Should I take her back to the vet despite her showing small improvements? I don't know what else they would do at this point besides more testing.
Sorry for the novel here everyone. I'm just lost. If anyone has words of wisdom or advice from a similar situation or just what to expect with a GI infection of some sort, I would very much appreciate it!!!
My baby is having some health issues after her spay, and as a first time cat mom I am desperately in need of some guidance. One week ago today, I took her in to get spayed. Prior to, she received a clean bill of health, had no issues whatsoever leading up to this procedure. I was told the spay went great. She also received rabies and distemper vaccs along with a dose of revolution at the clinic. She was back to her usual crazy self the next morning following surgery.
On day 3 after surgery, I noticed she started becoming more lethargic and eating way less than usual. I thought she would continue to improve as the days went on so this raised a red flag for me. Still, I didn't think too much about it, thinking that maybe the pain was starting to catch up with her and she just needed time to recover. She did just have major surgery 3 days ago after all.
Day 4 was when I really started to worry as when I put out her favorite dishes to get some nutrition into her, due to the lack there of in the previous day, she straight up refused food and water. I decided if she wasn't eating by lunch time to attempt to feed/hydrate her via tincture dropper. Success. Still not eating/drinking but at least I'm able to get nutrients in. I purchased a high calorie nutrient gel that I've been mixing with water that I feed her through the dropper.
Day 5. A really bad day. Ghosty vomited overnight. It's Sunday so vet isn't open. Noooo!!! Continued trying to dropper feed/hydrate small amounts. More vomit after feeds within an hour. Also, diarrhea. GI infection? Related to spay? Incision site looks great and not infected. Not sure what to think, but as I'm unable to keep anything in her, I decide to take her in to the emergency vet.
Emergency vet said she appeared in good shape (no dehydration thankfully) but definitely running a low/moderate fever of 103.7. She thinks that she may have picked up a secondary infection from one of the other animals at the clinic when I took her in for spay. She ended up giving her a broad spectrum antibiotic shot called convenia that lasts for two weeks and a shot of famotidine (pepcid) to hopefully help with nausea. Still no answers for my baby but I was hopeful that the antibiotic would help!!!
Day 6, yesterday, started out very hopeful! No vomiting at all anymore and she's still getting some nutrition in through the high cal/nutrient/water dropper mix. but still had liquid diarrhea. Throughout the day, her poop became more formed, like soft serve ice cream. Positive sign? At one point, she even drank from her water bowl and ate a very small amount of dry food!!!! I was crying tears of joy lol. But as the afternoon/night went on, she still refused her fave foods, couldn't get her to drink on her own again. This is essentially 3 days of her main hydration/nutrient intake completely being reliant on me dropper feeding her. And I know she's definitely lost weight. When are we going to turn the corner?
Today is one week since her surgery and 3-4 days since she started having problems. I was up last night dropper feeding her few of hours. She looks good this AM, greeted me at my door, vocalizing again, perching in the window, if I didn't know the situation I wouldn't think this is a cat who has been hand fed the past 3 days. No signs of dehydration (no tenting skin) gums look pink and mouth is moist.
Does anyone have any idea what could be going on here? Next steps? I keep reading about distemper and I'm terrified that is what is going on. Almost no success stories found so I'm really hoping it's NOT. This girl is my world. I'm currently a student trying to support myself so my budget for vet visits and treatments is not super high but I am willing to do what I have to do to get her out of this. Should I take her back to the vet despite her showing small improvements? I don't know what else they would do at this point besides more testing.
Sorry for the novel here everyone. I'm just lost. If anyone has words of wisdom or advice from a similar situation or just what to expect with a GI infection of some sort, I would very much appreciate it!!!
