SCHOONER- 15 YR. Old Cat- High Fever 105 degrees!

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Jean and Charcoal

Jean and Charcoal

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My cat, Schooner, has been lethargic, not drinking or eating for about 18 hours or so.

He is 15 years old, has cardiomyopathy, and I suspect pancreatitis or IBD. I had him to the vet's almost two weeks ago. His x-rays showed that he was full of poop, but the vet did not seem to be concerned about that. He has been having a couple BM's a day, well formed, but sometimes yellow colored, which to me usually indicates Pancreatitis, since his brother, Rudder, who died last year, had the same sypmtoms for a long time.

Vet only ran blood work on him for his T-4 that came back in normal range.

Schooner was so warm, that I decided to take his rectal temp, could hardly get the thermometer in his rectum, maybe a quarter inch and it registered after one minute about 104.5 degrees. Since I barely had it in, I am figuring it might be higher than it registered. This was a glass rectal thermometer.

Here is a site that I found about fevers in cats:

http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=133&med=1

If I do take him to the vet's, the one he saw is not in today, but I could try to take him to my other vet's if I have to. At this point, I am thinking that I may have to put him down. He had intussusception when he was a 5 month old kitten, and I hope that all the poop he had in him, almost two weeks ago, is not the mass of pellon material that he chews on under my sofa. The vet did not seem to think it looked bad when she showed me his x-rays.

Any advice or suggestions? I am recovering from oral surgery, so I don't want to drag him to the vet's if there is a way to get around this.

He was born in this house to Gracie, whom I lost last year in 2009. She was about 15 then. She and her kittens have all had health problems most of their life. Lousy genetics I suppose, being a stray herself.

I have been posting on Community about my sister and her Golden Retriever, but never thought Schooner would be getting so sick all of a sudden.

Thanks,
Jean and Charcoal (GA)
 
((((( jean )))))

there are tricks to get a fever down. BUT that will not address the cause of the fever, and would only be a short term bandaid for what is going on
There is possibly an infection brewing.
Fevers are not a typical symptom with p-titis unless an infection is also involved.

yellow stool can indicative of several different things , including p-titis, ibd , liver issues , other malabsorption conditions.

Will the vet talk to you on the phone? maybe they would be willing to offer some help that way if you explain your situation. The not eating or drinking and lethargy combined with the fever sound like he needs to go in.
I'm worried about that.

With his medical issues, see what they suggest for bringing it down in the meantime. I hesitate to give any suggestions in that area with all his different health issues. -- esp the cardio, issues which i have no experience with. well one thing for temp relief that my vet had me do for Wolfie off hours until i could get him in (and should not be contraindicated with cardio issues) is using rubbing alcohol on his paw pads, back near tail ( get to skin) , ears, skin on back of neck. keep to the skin as much as possible. Just make sure he doesn't lick it. and don't overdo.apply lightly. it helped wolfie. But then he went in and was treated by the vet.
even if that helps, you kitty still needs treated for the underlying cause.

I wish I had an easy solution for you . please keep us posted.

ETA-- if you do take him in -- get a cbc and have a UA done. a c&S is optimal but expensive and in your situation I would feel ok saying skip and just treat based on u/a
 
Okay, called vet's and have an appointment for 11:40 am this morning. I just did the alcohol wipe lightly and by the way, that is what the vet tech told me to do too, Cheryl. Thanks. I used to do that for my son when he was young, and it helped.

Schooner is becoming very dehydrated, when I pull his scruff up it is not springing back, so at least I hope they will give him fluids and maybe I will have blood work done, or if he feels any tumors, or anything strange, I may just have to have him pts.

I said to the girl at the vet's, my cats must have lousy genetics, but she said "Yikes, he is 15! That is OLD for a cat!"

I will try to post when I get home later. I have not slept all night. Maybe one hour sitting here at the computer.

Thanks again!
Jean and Charcoal (GA)
 
Schooner is still here! Phew! He saw the older doctor, Dr. E, whom I have been going to since 1984! Dr. E said he can’t believe that Schooner is still alive, since his heart is so bad. He said that is a testament to my wonderful care that I take of my animals. So, that was nice of him.

He said Schooner has FUO, fever of unidentified origin, at least so far. He did a rectal exam on him, and blood work, and they gave him fluids, and put him on 7 days of Zeniquin. He said it most likely might be viral, or it could be bacterial, OR it could be a pancreatic flare up, or it could be ‘cancer’. UGH…. He will call me tomorrow about his blood results.

So, I will keep posting anything new.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers. Schooner got home, in the door, and slinked out of the carrier, cautiously looking around to make sure he was HOME!
:) The fluids really perked him up. He went and drank, used the litter box, and seems to feel better.

Jean and Charcoal (GA)
 
happy to hear he perked up a little from his fluids. --- and that you got a fav vet.

I hope the ABs do the trick and that nothing nasty turns up in the bw.
 
Thanks, Cheryl. I can't believe that I went and laid down for a while and fell asleep and just woke up. I was up all during the night with him, and I guess I needed the sleep.

Vet's will call me Thursday with BW results. I will post when I hear anything. Schooner is cleaning himself now a little, so I am getting ready to feed him and my other four cats.

Thanks again for that alcohol tip! That was so helpful!

Jean and Charcoal (GA)
 
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