Bertie Sick. And it's Christmas Day. UPDATE: Now 3 (now 4!) more sick cats... :-(

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Elizabeth and Bertie

Elizabeth and Bertie

Member Since 2010
Bertie became unwell yesterday. Off his food, miserable.
Managed to get a late vet appt. Vet examined him but couldn't find anything conclusive. No raised temperature, no real clues as to why he seemed so 'off'.
He'd seemed a little nauseous (lip smacking) so the vet gave a Cerenia shot to see if that would help him eat. But that hasn't really helped. He'll eat a little, but then gives up.

Vet has told us about an ER clinic that has opened up just to deal with emergencies over Christmas. I could go there if Bertie deteriorates...

My brain is complete fog.
It's Christmas day, and I have commitments and people relying on me today and tomorrow. But Bertie is my boy... Aaarrrggghh!!!

Please keep Bertie in your prayers. Any healing vibes very welcome.....

Thanks,

Eliz
 
Oh Elizabeth I am sorry Bertie is not well.
Could he have pancreatitis? Sheba goes off her food and is miserable and lethargic when she has it.
She doesn't always have a temperature with it. Is Bertie at all dehydrated? I find Subcut fluids always help Sheba when she has pancreatitis. Were you able to get any oral antinausea tablets to give at home?
Sending many healing vines to Bertie.
 
Oh, Eliz!! :(

Obviously there's no way of knowing if Bertie's pancreas may be playing up, but Bron has given you some good suggestions in general for nausea. If there's any way that you can encourage him to drink a bit - even via syringe - the hydration might help. Do you have any B12 at home? That can give a boost and help with appetite. Do you have any famotidine or ranitidine at home? If not, maybe there might be a chemist open for emergency Christmas cover near you. If yes, ranitidine (Zantac 75) might help if his tum's acidic. Here's the Nausea and Appetite page with dosing info from Tanya's Site. Also it might be worth checking with the veterinary ER service to see if they could issue an Rx for generic ondasetron (the Bristol Laboratories generic seems to work best for Saoirse). Even if they don't have any at the ER if there is a chemist open nearby they should be able to fill it because it's a human medication. If you do go to the ER ask the vet about possibly giving Bertie a B12 injection.

I assume you're trying all the usual tricks (sprinkled parmesan or freeze-dried treats, raising bowls, warming food, etc.)

Do you have any chicken in the house? Maybe that might be easier on Bertie's tummy. If you have the chicken, I'd suggest removing any skin and poaching the meat gently, mince it finely, and keep the poaching water to give to Bertie. Mixing broth 50:50 with water might encourage him to drink a little more.

Healing vibes on the way to Bertie from the Shire, Eliz, and some :bighug: for you. Fingers and paws crossed that Bertie will brighten up and feel better as the day goes on. If you get a chance please let us know how you're both doing. We'll be worrying about you both.



Mogs
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Your well-wishes may have worked a little Christmas magic for us, because Bertie is definitely stronger this morning!

As I went downstairs this morning I was praying that he wouldn't be any worse, but in fact he came into the kitchen and seemed to actually want to eat. His legs were wobbly, but he was at least moving around. And he ate some food; not a whole lot, but much more than he's eaten over the past couple of days.
He's now sitting in front of a log fire and having a nice wash.

He's not made a sound in the last couple of days, and I honestly thought I might never hear his gruff little voice again. But he managed a few faint, crackly, 'miaows' this morning.

Thank you all SO much for your kind wishes. You are such stars! :kiss::bighug::kiss::bighug::kiss::bighug::kiss::bighug::kiss:

Eliz
 
Phew! So glad to see this, Eliz. Maybe Bert had just been out on the razz on Christmas Eve and just needed a quiet day
Hoping for his continued better form (and your peace of mind...)
Love and hugs
Diana x
 
Hi Eliz,

Very glad to hear that Bertie's doing better this morning. You must be so worried. :bighug:

Good news that he's eating. What a relief! If you have any chicken it might be easier for him to digest. Maybe blitz it with a bit of water to make some kitty chicken soup?

More positive vibes on the way from the Shire.


Mogs
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Thank you again, lovelies, for your kind words and well-wishes.
Bertie has had a rather 'up and down' few days. But this morning he seems to be almost back to his old self.:cat:
And his blood glucose, which had been as high as the 20's (400's) for a few days is now back to it's usual range (touch wood/anti-jinx....).

All that remains is a strange intermittent cough, rather like he's trying to cough something up.
And I do wonder whether he's had some little injury to the inside of his throat; and whether it is perhaps this that had caused the lip smacking, the loss of appetite, and the complete loss of voice.....
Our usual vet is open tomorrow, so I'll pop Bertie back there if I think there's still a problem.

Bertie and I thank you all. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Eliz, so sorry that you had so much stress and worry over Christmas, but our furbabies are like our children, so of course we worry! I am very happy to hear that Bertie is on the mend! :bighug:
 
Hi Elizabeth. I am so pleased Bertie seems to be on the mend.
A couple of months ago Sheba developed an intermittent cough following some mouth wash I was using for her going down the wrong way. I don't use it anymore!
She had no other symptoms except the cough as if she wanted to bring up something. Also her BDLs were up a bit.
I took her to the vet and she said she had some tracheitis which should clear up. She didn't give me antibiotics as Sheba's temperature was ok and she was eating. It cleared up about 5 days later.
Bertie's does sound like tracheitis which may have been caused by an infection seeing he was off his food and BSLs high.
I think a vet visit is a wise move...hopefully just to confirm he is now on the mend.
 
If the others have similar symptoms, Eliz, does it suggest something they have picked up from each other, or something they have all eaten perhaps? I'm sure you're watching them all like a hawk but there must be clues somewhere to what's going on here more specifically than the usual (I know they are all on the frail side). Could you perhaps just phone the vet for a quick consult?
Please keep us informed... Thinking of you and sending positivest vibes...
Diana x x
 
Diana&Tom said:
...does it suggest something they have picked up from each other
Click to expand...
It's now starting to point that way, Diana....

When we took Bertie to the vet on Christmas Eve his symptoms were lethargy, loss of appetite, and lip smacking (that looked like nausea). His temperature wasn't raised, and lungs/heart seemed fine (apart from his existing heart murmur). He was peeing and pooping OK.
The symptoms were "vague" and the vet's best guess was that it was the beginnings of pancreatitis. So he was given an anti-emetic to try to help the (supposed) nausea, so that he might eat more.
It was only after that that he also developed a sort of intermittent cough (like clearing his throat).

Now Jonesy and Sophie (the oldest) and Lyra Lu (youngest girl) have the 'throat-clearing' cough, and are all lethargic and a bit off their food.
Have just persuaded all 3 to take some taurine dissolved in tuna water. Hopefully that will help boost their immune systems, as well as helping to keep their fluids up.

I thought our vet's practice was open today, but Chris says it isn't.... So that leaves the emergency clinic in Guildford. I really wish we could talk things through with our own vet.... :(

I also have a sore throat and feel rather unwell. (I'm sure that's just coincidence!)
.
 
Have managed to talk to our own vet (who was working today after all...)

He thinks it likely we have a URI virus in our household.
And it seems quite possible that this has arrived with our most recent foster kitty...
The foster kitty has been here almost 4 months, and has shown no symptoms herself. But she may be a carrier.
The foster kitty was kept pretty much confined until a couple of weeks ago. But at that point we started to consider adopting her, and so allowed her to meet our resident cats to see how they got along. Since then we have also noticed a few fleas around the house - for the first time in about 15 years! So, foster kitty - or her fleas - may be the culprits....

It looks like we are just going to have to ride this one out, and pray that the older kitties don't experience any complications....
.
 
Sorry to hear you are all under the weather. Here's hoping you all get better soon. Also, L-lysine is a very good immune booster if you can get your hands on some of it. I would empty the capsules on the cat's food. They also make stuff especially for cats.
 
Oh no, Liz!
I am so sorry to read this... I hope they get all better soon! I would also recommend, besides the L-Lysine, some Fortiflora. It will help them eat, as well as making their intestinal flora healthier...

Sending lots of Love and healing energy.

Sara
 
Elizabeth and Bertie said:
Have managed to talk to our own vet (who was working today after all...)

He thinks it likely we have a URI virus in our household.
And it seems quite possible that this has arrived with our most recent foster kitty...
The foster kitty has been here almost 4 months, and has shown no symptoms herself. But she may be a carrier.
The foster kitty was kept pretty much confined until a couple of weeks ago. But at that point we started to consider adopting her, and so allowed her to meet our resident cats to see how they got along. Since then we have also noticed a few fleas around the house - for the first time in about 15 years! So, foster kitty - or her fleas - may be the culprits....

It looks like we are just going to have to ride this one out, and pray that the older kitties don't experience any complications....
.
Click to expand...
Ah, that does seem probable... Sorry to hear that but knowledge is power or something like that, so hopefully if you have a good idea what you're dealing with you can take action. Glad you managed to speak to your own vet,
All paws crossed that this is short lived and that all will be feeling much better very soon...
hugs
Diana x x
 
Hi Diana,
Milo is now also having symptoms. So, that means all 5 resident cats.... :(

Am going to take up @Maggies Mom Debby 's suggestion and supplement with L- Lysine. I think I can get that from health store tomorrow (although it won't be the cat-specific version). I'm particularly worried about the two 18-year olds, Sophie and Jonesy... And I feel SOOOOO responsible that I brought this foster kitty into our home..... :arghh::arghh::arghh::arghh::arghh:
.
 
Oh, @Critter Mom , sorry, I forgot to thank you for the B12 suggestion.
I do have B12 in my stash. And your suggestion was a very valid one. And in fact my hand did hover (really!) over that B12 container; but, at that time, I couldn't shake the feeling that Bertie might have cancer (in which case B12 might be inappropriate) so I didn't feel able to give it....
.
 
((((((Eliz))))) i'm just so sorry you're going through this. It's just awful to feel both worried and responsible, and try to make the right judgement for treatment. First off though, you really must NOT feel guilty in the slightest about bringing the foster kitty into your home... You were only acting with the very best of intentions amd who was to say that something like this could happen... it's just a bit of bad luck, pure and simple. So pleeeeease try not to think that you're responsible for this. It could happen to anyone.
I wish I was better qualified to make suggestions for treatment but my own experience is zilch. I can only recall that you need to ensure that the cats are eating something, anything, to keep their strength up. As for supplements, no-one knows better than you what's worth trying and what's not, but do keep posting here and start a new thread perhaps to get more eyes on other suggestions you may not have thought of... It really is a case of several heads are better than one, isn't it.
Try to stay positive somehow - Bertie seemed to turn a corner after a couple of days so there is no reason to suspect that the infection, if that's what it is, won't also be short-lived in the others. I know they're getting on but they in reasonable general health, aren't they?
Silly question but is there anything I can do...?
Hugs
Diana x x
 
Quick suggestion - been Googling respiratory infection and found a site which says it may help if you increase humidity in the home... eg use a humidifier or create a steamy environment (hmmmm, not sure how one would do that). Anyway, just a thought. Also sent you via email a link to L Lycine for cats products on Amazon - may be something there that you could get delivered quickly...
Thinking of you all...
D x x
 
Hi Elizabeth
I am so sorry all your kitties now have the URI virus. :bighug:
You don't know for sure it was the foster kitty that brought it into the house.........so don't blame yourself or the kitty. It could well have been from another way.
Have you given all the kitties some homemade chicken broth made with chicken bones and water boiled for several hours, then drained and the fat taken off next morning. It is a great way to keep them hydrated and is full of nutrients and might be easy for them to drink if they have sore throats. Can also be added warm to their food to make it more tempting.
All the best to the kitties and you.
 
Diana&Tom said:
Quick suggestion - been Googling respiratory infection and found a site which says it may help if you increase humidity in the home... eg use a humidifier or create a steamy environment (hmmmm, not sure how one would do that).
Click to expand...
I forgot about that! My vet always suggests "steaming" the cats when they have a cold. I would shut the cats in the bathroom while I took a hot steamy shower. It may be hard with so many kitties.
 
Eliz, sending healing thoughts and prayers your way. It's so hard to have one sick....I can't imagine having the whole crew under the weather all at once. :bighug: to you and scritches for all the furry kids!
 
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