I think I probably just need some hand-holding here more than anything else, but I'm worried and I have to do something with that worry so here I am. I'd love opinions on this.
I trapped a new feral "teen" (maybe about 7 mos?) last week. He had been friendly to me when I'd go out and feed him, and my husband fell in love with his unique look. He is super friendly to us, no trace of aggression or anything else. He had his first vet appointment yesterday, and he was even very good at the vet, purring up a storm. I already knew he had tapeworms and told the vet so. My assumption is he has round and/or hook as well, as most of the ones I've taken in here have (current feral count here is 5 that I've trapped in my semi-rural back yard). The vet also found a live flea. His bloodwork came back great, and his SNAP test negative for FIV/FeLV/heartworm. He got his rabies vax and his FVRCP vax.
Vet gave us Effipro Plus spot on (similar to Frontline Plus) for fleas and Profender for worms, with instructions to do the flea stuff first. I applied the Effipro when we got home from the vet. I didn't like the idea of two spot on treatments so instead of the Profender, today I gave him (again, flea stuff was yesterday) a dose of Pyrantel Pamoate suspension and a Bayer Elanco tapeworm pill (he is 9.5 lbs, so one pill). That combo of wormers is the equivalent of Drontal tabs.
He had kind of had a little reduced appetite before the worm meds, but not anything alarming. Now this evening, something like 8 or 10 hours after the worm meds, he still hasn't eaten much of his lunch and isn't really interested in food or even squeeze treats. He seems drowsy, and occasionally he makes a weird face with his mouth open just a little (not the smelling something face) and then licks his lips. He's still purry and friendly, but only stays for a few pets and then goes back and lays down. He is peeing like normal and I think also pooping like normal (he pooped this morning).
He does not seem acutely ill and it doesn't really seem like an ER thing, but he does seem really uncomfortable. ALL of these things (the vaccines and the meds) have the side effect of gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, etc. Should I stop being a worrywart mom and just assume whatever this is will pass, and it's just kind of an issue of too much all at once, kind of like when I made the terrible mistake of getting my Covid booster and my flu shot at the same time? Any suggestions to make him more comfortable? If it's just the onslaught of meds, any idea when he'll start feeling better?
I trapped a new feral "teen" (maybe about 7 mos?) last week. He had been friendly to me when I'd go out and feed him, and my husband fell in love with his unique look. He is super friendly to us, no trace of aggression or anything else. He had his first vet appointment yesterday, and he was even very good at the vet, purring up a storm. I already knew he had tapeworms and told the vet so. My assumption is he has round and/or hook as well, as most of the ones I've taken in here have (current feral count here is 5 that I've trapped in my semi-rural back yard). The vet also found a live flea. His bloodwork came back great, and his SNAP test negative for FIV/FeLV/heartworm. He got his rabies vax and his FVRCP vax.
Vet gave us Effipro Plus spot on (similar to Frontline Plus) for fleas and Profender for worms, with instructions to do the flea stuff first. I applied the Effipro when we got home from the vet. I didn't like the idea of two spot on treatments so instead of the Profender, today I gave him (again, flea stuff was yesterday) a dose of Pyrantel Pamoate suspension and a Bayer Elanco tapeworm pill (he is 9.5 lbs, so one pill). That combo of wormers is the equivalent of Drontal tabs.
He had kind of had a little reduced appetite before the worm meds, but not anything alarming. Now this evening, something like 8 or 10 hours after the worm meds, he still hasn't eaten much of his lunch and isn't really interested in food or even squeeze treats. He seems drowsy, and occasionally he makes a weird face with his mouth open just a little (not the smelling something face) and then licks his lips. He's still purry and friendly, but only stays for a few pets and then goes back and lays down. He is peeing like normal and I think also pooping like normal (he pooped this morning).
He does not seem acutely ill and it doesn't really seem like an ER thing, but he does seem really uncomfortable. ALL of these things (the vaccines and the meds) have the side effect of gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, etc. Should I stop being a worrywart mom and just assume whatever this is will pass, and it's just kind of an issue of too much all at once, kind of like when I made the terrible mistake of getting my Covid booster and my flu shot at the same time? Any suggestions to make him more comfortable? If it's just the onslaught of meds, any idea when he'll start feeling better?