About 6-7 weeks ago I adopted a new kitty into my one-kitty household. After a week of hissing and growling, they grew to tolerate eachother and are now best buds - grooming eachother and hanging out together.
So...here's the timeline as it relates to the new kitty, Pico, coming into the household.
Week 1: OK, nothing to report.
Week 2: OK, nothing to report.
Week 3: Loose stool from the new guy. He was negative for any parasites but was sent home with dewormer just in case. Vet noticed mild gingivitis and told me to keep an eye on it because he may have Bartonella (Cat Scratch Disease).
Week 4: I came home one night from work and noticed Pico was extremely lethargic. He would just lay wherever I set him. I brought him some food and he ate it and watched him all night.
I took him to the vet the very next day and the Dr. suggested I have him tested for Bartonella. She sent me home with Doxycycline, which is a strong antibiotic to kill any strong bacteria and to stop the spread of Bartonella, should he have it. After the first dose, he was back in action.
Week 5: Pico had been vomiting every other day or so. The vet told me to stop the antibiotic for a couple of days and administer Pepcid. He vomited two more times so I took him back to the vet. He was x-rayed just to find out that he was extremely constipated. The vet gave him an enema and he was clean as a whistle.
She sent me home with azithromycin because Pico was in fact Bartonella positive. I had my other one (Merlynn) tested for Bartonella just in case.
Week 6: Merlynn's positive and Pico is still vomiting, oh and with loose stool - not too bad, but loose...ay yay yay. So I picked up Merlynn's medicine and I took Pico in to be examined. I also brought in a sample of his stool with what appeared to be a string or worm. The doctor said it was a string and that I needed to find out what he was getting into. The Dr. suggested taking more x-rays to see if his intestines were placated (getting bunched up by string only to be cut up by the string, causing death). X-rays came back ok. No problem. Went home, found that he had been eating away at my rattan chair. Purchased bitter apple spray and sprayed the chair. I haven't seen them near it, so we'll see what happens.
Merlynn had soft stool after the first dose of her meds. I waited to see if it would get better just to find out that it turned into runny diarrhea yesterday and today.
I am at a complete loss as to what to do with these little characters. It seems like every time I turn around, something else is wrong. The vet suggested I stop the medication for Merlynn for a couple of days and give her Immodium to see if it clears up. He says that he's never heard of any cats having diarrhea from Azithromycin. Merlynn is very, very sensitive so I'm kind of hoping it's just the medication.
I don't know how it could be a bacteria that they are giving eachother seeing that they've both been on antibiotics and...I don't know, just kind of at a loss. Haven't changed their diet or litter. Haven't moved. No new furniture or toys. Maybe Pico has taught Merlynn to eat the chair as well???
ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE VERY WELCOME!!! PLEASE!
So...here's the timeline as it relates to the new kitty, Pico, coming into the household.
Week 1: OK, nothing to report.
Week 2: OK, nothing to report.
Week 3: Loose stool from the new guy. He was negative for any parasites but was sent home with dewormer just in case. Vet noticed mild gingivitis and told me to keep an eye on it because he may have Bartonella (Cat Scratch Disease).
Week 4: I came home one night from work and noticed Pico was extremely lethargic. He would just lay wherever I set him. I brought him some food and he ate it and watched him all night.
Week 5: Pico had been vomiting every other day or so. The vet told me to stop the antibiotic for a couple of days and administer Pepcid. He vomited two more times so I took him back to the vet. He was x-rayed just to find out that he was extremely constipated. The vet gave him an enema and he was clean as a whistle.
Week 6: Merlynn's positive and Pico is still vomiting, oh and with loose stool - not too bad, but loose...ay yay yay. So I picked up Merlynn's medicine and I took Pico in to be examined. I also brought in a sample of his stool with what appeared to be a string or worm. The doctor said it was a string and that I needed to find out what he was getting into. The Dr. suggested taking more x-rays to see if his intestines were placated (getting bunched up by string only to be cut up by the string, causing death). X-rays came back ok. No problem. Went home, found that he had been eating away at my rattan chair. Purchased bitter apple spray and sprayed the chair. I haven't seen them near it, so we'll see what happens.
Merlynn had soft stool after the first dose of her meds. I waited to see if it would get better just to find out that it turned into runny diarrhea yesterday and today.
I am at a complete loss as to what to do with these little characters. It seems like every time I turn around, something else is wrong. The vet suggested I stop the medication for Merlynn for a couple of days and give her Immodium to see if it clears up. He says that he's never heard of any cats having diarrhea from Azithromycin. Merlynn is very, very sensitive so I'm kind of hoping it's just the medication.
I don't know how it could be a bacteria that they are giving eachother seeing that they've both been on antibiotics and...I don't know, just kind of at a loss. Haven't changed their diet or litter. Haven't moved. No new furniture or toys. Maybe Pico has taught Merlynn to eat the chair as well???
ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE VERY WELCOME!!! PLEASE!