Thomas had an episode tonight where he was acting like he was throwing up and choking at the same time. All that was coming out was white foam and he seemed to be breathing funny so I took him to the pet emergency clinic.
By the time we got there, he seemed better, but the vet checked him over really good. I had also noticed that his bottom lip was red and swollen and I really thought maybe he had an allergic reaction to something. I've suspected that he may have asthma for awhile, but the vet hasn't heard him wheezing like I have......so it hasn't been confirmed.
Anyway, the vet checked him and noticed that his gums are also very red and inflamed and he had a low-grade temperature. He told me that Thomas's symptoms could be feline leukemia! I told him that Abby had tested negative and he said that she may have only had it a short time and it may have been too early for her to test positive. He also said that there have been cases where negative moms gave birth to positive kittens.
The problem is, Leo and Shelby, my original two cats, were never vaccinated against it because the vet had told me that as long as they were both negative and stayed inside and didn't come into contact with other cats.....they wouldn't get feline leukemia. And I tested Abby right away when I got her and she was negative.....so assumed it was ok to have her around Leo and Shelby.
I have to take Thomas in tomorrow to have a bunch of blood tests run and if he turns out to be positive for the disease....that means ALL my cats probably have it. It means that I could lose them ALL!
I've been crying ever since I got home. I just can't imagine the possibility of losing them all. I don't even want to think of losing ANY of them.
Please pray for us and pray that Thomas does not have this awful disease. The vet did say that it could be just really bad allergies and asthma.....but that still wouldn't explain the gingivitis. The vet was acting as if he was pretty sure that Thomas has leukemia. God I hope he's wrong!
By the time we got there, he seemed better, but the vet checked him over really good. I had also noticed that his bottom lip was red and swollen and I really thought maybe he had an allergic reaction to something. I've suspected that he may have asthma for awhile, but the vet hasn't heard him wheezing like I have......so it hasn't been confirmed.
Anyway, the vet checked him and noticed that his gums are also very red and inflamed and he had a low-grade temperature. He told me that Thomas's symptoms could be feline leukemia! I told him that Abby had tested negative and he said that she may have only had it a short time and it may have been too early for her to test positive. He also said that there have been cases where negative moms gave birth to positive kittens.
The problem is, Leo and Shelby, my original two cats, were never vaccinated against it because the vet had told me that as long as they were both negative and stayed inside and didn't come into contact with other cats.....they wouldn't get feline leukemia. And I tested Abby right away when I got her and she was negative.....so assumed it was ok to have her around Leo and Shelby.
I have to take Thomas in tomorrow to have a bunch of blood tests run and if he turns out to be positive for the disease....that means ALL my cats probably have it. It means that I could lose them ALL!
I've been crying ever since I got home. I just can't imagine the possibility of losing them all. I don't even want to think of losing ANY of them.
Please pray for us and pray that Thomas does not have this awful disease. The vet did say that it could be just really bad allergies and asthma.....but that still wouldn't explain the gingivitis. The vet was acting as if he was pretty sure that Thomas has leukemia. God I hope he's wrong!