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- Jul 21, 2021
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Background story - Have three kittens (1 male, 2 female) and they just turned 10 months old last week. All of them are vaccinated and neutered/spayed.
Male kitten (Tabby One) was neutered around late December and he recuperated just fine. Had a lung infection around October but got it cleared mid-November with multiple vet visits and x-rays.
I didn't think too much of it but he had been less active over the past few weeks until he just didn't want to eat one day (early February) and rushed him to the vet the next day.
Turns out it was an ear infection + running a temp (which was detected once in January and went away) and it got better with meds. He looked better after the vet visit but didn't quite perk up as he should be in the following days.
Took him in for a follow-up in which the vet gave the all-clear for the ear infection (didn't find anything, nothing weird with the heart, lungs, etc.)
Two more days in, he just isn't quite improving and took him to the vet again where they suggested warding him for observation (again he's running a high temp/fever) + some bloodwork (basic) and testing for FIP/FLV.
He eats minimally and prefers kitten food over regular canned wet food. No increase nor decrease during his 4-day stay at the vet. Tested negative for FIP/FLV and red blood cells are kinda low (6.9g/dl) when it should be about 8 ~ 15g/dl.
However, he has responded well (temp remained normal) during his vet stay to antibiotics so he's on 21-day antibiotics plus liver supplement. No jaundice spotted, my vet noted that it usually comes with the territory (anaemia) but his mucous membranes (gums, ears) are pale/white instead of pink and definitely lost some weight (have to weigh him again tomorrow).
Vet suggests that it could be mycoplasma haemofelis* and might need a blood transfusion in case he starts panting (who would do an emergency transfusion, I'm curious). Found a non-profit that connects pet blood donors with those in need and messaged them - waiting to see how that goes.
I started reaching out to vet clinics and only found one further away in town that does it. Though it looks like I might need to do the diagnostics all over again for my Tabby + various tests for the cat blood donor in question. Don't mind the latter but it's the former I'm a bit worried that I can't hold up financially plus having to explain this all over again.
I might ask my regular vet if it's possible to provide a summary of his medical record or something to provide the next vet with an idea of my cat's health.
So I wonder if the mycoplasma haemofelis could be a precursor to other things, false negatives for the FIP/FLV test - just trying not to break down mentally despite the lack of context.
To top it all off, I'm also monitoring the two other female kittens (tortoiseshell coats, Tortie One and Two) if they could be a little anaemic too.
Saw one of them licking a dry leaf and a rock. Hadn't seen them do that since that one time but the coincidence + just minimal eating, they both are active and play with each other - just leaves me quaking in my boots.
*Am told that this is usually transmitted by infected fleas (but other webpages online mention mosquitoes and etc.) but don't think I had a flea problem for the kittens or that it's possible it was only a small amount of fleas and with Advocate/Advantage Multi applied in-between, it went unnoticed.
Male kitten (Tabby One) was neutered around late December and he recuperated just fine. Had a lung infection around October but got it cleared mid-November with multiple vet visits and x-rays.
I didn't think too much of it but he had been less active over the past few weeks until he just didn't want to eat one day (early February) and rushed him to the vet the next day.
Turns out it was an ear infection + running a temp (which was detected once in January and went away) and it got better with meds. He looked better after the vet visit but didn't quite perk up as he should be in the following days.
Took him in for a follow-up in which the vet gave the all-clear for the ear infection (didn't find anything, nothing weird with the heart, lungs, etc.)
Two more days in, he just isn't quite improving and took him to the vet again where they suggested warding him for observation (again he's running a high temp/fever) + some bloodwork (basic) and testing for FIP/FLV.
He eats minimally and prefers kitten food over regular canned wet food. No increase nor decrease during his 4-day stay at the vet. Tested negative for FIP/FLV and red blood cells are kinda low (6.9g/dl) when it should be about 8 ~ 15g/dl.
However, he has responded well (temp remained normal) during his vet stay to antibiotics so he's on 21-day antibiotics plus liver supplement. No jaundice spotted, my vet noted that it usually comes with the territory (anaemia) but his mucous membranes (gums, ears) are pale/white instead of pink and definitely lost some weight (have to weigh him again tomorrow).
Vet suggests that it could be mycoplasma haemofelis* and might need a blood transfusion in case he starts panting (who would do an emergency transfusion, I'm curious). Found a non-profit that connects pet blood donors with those in need and messaged them - waiting to see how that goes.
I started reaching out to vet clinics and only found one further away in town that does it. Though it looks like I might need to do the diagnostics all over again for my Tabby + various tests for the cat blood donor in question. Don't mind the latter but it's the former I'm a bit worried that I can't hold up financially plus having to explain this all over again.
I might ask my regular vet if it's possible to provide a summary of his medical record or something to provide the next vet with an idea of my cat's health.
So I wonder if the mycoplasma haemofelis could be a precursor to other things, false negatives for the FIP/FLV test - just trying not to break down mentally despite the lack of context.
To top it all off, I'm also monitoring the two other female kittens (tortoiseshell coats, Tortie One and Two) if they could be a little anaemic too.
Saw one of them licking a dry leaf and a rock. Hadn't seen them do that since that one time but the coincidence + just minimal eating, they both are active and play with each other - just leaves me quaking in my boots.
*Am told that this is usually transmitted by infected fleas (but other webpages online mention mosquitoes and etc.) but don't think I had a flea problem for the kittens or that it's possible it was only a small amount of fleas and with Advocate/Advantage Multi applied in-between, it went unnoticed.