Freaks out when taking temp - hyperventalates

[Sharyn & Fiona]

I'm fostering a cat, Uno, who's been ill and has seen a vet twice will in my care for a week. When they took her temperature (rectal) she REALLY freaked out. She started hyperventalating. The vet listened to her chest but didn't say anything. She's been on ABs for the week and has loose stool (even w/probiotics). Since she's got long hair, well, you know... Whenever I try to clean her rear end she freaks out. I was only cutting the pooped up hair off, not even close to her anus, and she's wailing and struggling like I'm skinning her alive - this is while she's burritoed. I've never seen anything like this.

She's funny. She hates being held but when wrapped in the burrito she relaxes, closes her eyes, purrs. As soon as a paw is free from the towel she starts struggling to get free.

 

[Jess & Earl]

Hi Sharyn

You didn't ask a question about it, but i'll answer anyway ;-) .. Some cats can hyperventilate when they are stressed and it is purely from stress. Other cats actually hyperventilate when they are stressed because they have heart disease. When their heart races (as it does under stress), the heart disease prevents them from oxygenating normally so they pant. If this only happens when they are stressed (and not also when they exercise, for example), you can't say one way or the other which one it is. Listening to the chest may not help decide, you need an echocardiogram unfortunately.

If her vet- stress level gets to be a problem you can speak to your vet about giving oral sedation beforehand.
Jess

 

[paige]

Another thing is that loose stool can cause the area to be very sensitive and it may actually be very uncomfortable or hurt when they insert the thermometer. Poor baby.

How old is the cat you are fostering?

 

[paige]

Also, have you tried fortiflora?

 

[Karen & Pearl]

Do you suppose they will ever have a device like they do for humans now where they just zip that baby over your forehead and Bob's your uncle. That would be nice.