Conference misery::feline_v1

    Carlajeanne:
    
    So sorry to hear about Vernon.
    
    Having had a sick cat - with the runs - I understand your anxiety
    and frustration.  At first our vet thought he had been eating
    _something_ he shouldn't have - but found out later the medication
    he had been taking for a urinary infection/being neutered...
    irritated his bowels.
    
    I do remember the vet saying that he had a fever - but she didn't
    tell me 'what' his temperature.
    
    He is FINE now - but I hope it doesn't ever happen to him again.
    
    Sending best wishes....
    
    Marilyn, Otis & Tiffany
    

    I am not able to follow your note well enough to tell exactly when Verne
    has been sick and when he hasn't.  It sounds like he was sick still as of
    this morning.  I believe you should consider this a serious
    problem, for these reasons:
    
    (1) Cats can get dehydrated very quickly from a problem like this and a
    few days of dehydration can be fatal.  A vet can treat dehydration by
    giving an injection of fluid, but it will have to be repeated (daily?)
    while the problem persists.  Your vet seems to be dismissing the problem
    as minor -- either he doesn't understand how  much difficulty Verne is
    in, or he is not competent and you should see another vet.
    
    (2)  The first symptom my cat showed of intestinal blockage a few years
    ago was (as odd as it sounds) just this -- diarrhea.  Intestinal
    blockage is also very serious.
    
    (3)  Verne sounds like he is very uncomfortable.
    
    I would be inclined to take Verne into the vet's again tomorrow to
    be checked on.  Remember that they will likely be closed the two
    following days due to the holiday.  I would not try to take Verne's
    temperature until the vet has showed you how.
    

    p.s.  All the things that I can think of that this might be are
    treatable, but not things that should be neglected.
    T
    tell your boyfriend to calm down;  you need his support now, not
    extra hassle. 
    

    
    hope poor verne feels better soon!  we just moved into a brand-new
    house, and i was a bit p.o'ed at whichever cat made a mess outside the
    box.  but i calmed down cuz i love them.  hope your boyfriend can work
    through his irritation at the cat.
    
    diane, stanley & stella
    

    Just make sure he's still eating and, more importantly, drinking
    lots of water.  If you notice he stops doing either, or if he
    starts vomitting, get him to the vet IMMEDIATELY.
    
    Hope he's doing better by today.
      Nancy DC
    
    p.s. even if he is still eating and drinking if he still has
    diarrea as of today (Tuesday), take him back to the vet.

    well you all will be happy to know that vernon is back to his normal
    self... and wanting to play but mom says not yet my little monster; you
    need your rest for a few more days.
    
    karen, i'm sorry that you had a hard time reading my note; i do know
    that i was real upset when i wrote it and can imagine how difficult 
    it was to follow.  i tried to re-read this morning and laughed at the 
    sentances all running together.
    
    but anyways.. to get to the important subject.. vernon.
    
    when i got home on friday i couldn't believe that he wasn't better at
    all.  in fact, his eyes had the green junk in them that we get when we
    oversleep.  my boyfriend said that he thought that was what the problem
    was but i could see that even he was upset and worried about him.  he
    was managing to eat but the doctor told me to regulate small amounts
    over the course of the day and keep fresh water in his room so i didn't
    feed him more till the morning.  and that was when i saw shirly... 
    running around flitting her tail (you know how females do that right?)
    anyways... then i saw some stuff on her bumm.  i went immediately to
    the box where i saw the runns.  i panicked but it was too late to call
    the doctor.  so i gave her some of vern's medication and put her in the
    other bathroom for the night.  in the morning both cats seems alot
    better.  verne was getting around and his eyes were all cleaned out.  i
    called the doctor first thing and he said to bring both cats over cuz
    he wasn't going to be around sunday or monday.  so i did and shirly got
    sick all over the box.  of course she is a lady and managed not to get
    covered in it and norman was happy over that. :) but seriously, he gave
    her a shot and told me to keep her away from verne.  and then when he
    checked verne he said that his glands were almost back to normal and he
    seemed alot better.  his temperature was at this time 102.5.  he gave
    him another shot and boy was he mad!!! so we put them back in their
    boxes and went home very happy.  my boyfriend was alot better too and
    reminded me that he does love the cats.  (really he does) 
    
    when we got home shirl wasn't taking to the shot very well.  she was
    panting very heavily and wouldn't walk at all.  verne was like that the
    other time that i brought him but this time he didn't want to go in the
    bathroom at all and made a fuss about it.  we got him in however and
    sunday morning we were able to let him out for good.  both cats seems to be
    doing well now.  isn't that great?
    
    i was just so worried.  these are my first two kitties and i don't
    really know as much as an experienced kitty lover would however i'm
    learning.  my boyfriend has had at least 10 believe it or not and kept
    telling me that it was probably the flu bug or something like that but
    i just kept thinking about all the problems that i know cats can have. 
    (and how alot of them are terminal.)  next time i will be a bit more at
    ease and bring them immediately to the vet.
    
    oh, and norman charged me 10.00 for the two visits with verne, one with
    shirl and five shots total.  i do not go to him for the price either. 
    i go to him because he is very good with the kitties, close to home and
    makes us both feel at ease.  i highly recommend him for the fitchburg
    area.
    
    and last but not least on saturday he told me that he had 10 other cats
    in on friday with the same thing.  the fever and the runs.  i wonder
    what is was...
    
    
    thanks again for listening everyone!
    
    carlajeanne, and a happy vern and shirl

    This must have been really scary.  I've had cats for years and never
    seen anything like this, thank goodness.
    

    Hey - we're all still learning.  Its a life-long process.
    
    Glad the kitties are doing better.  I hope your vet can stay in
    business charging those prices  :-)
      Nancy DC

    So glad Vernon & Shirl seem OK now. The worst thing about animals
    being sick is that they can't tell you how they feel - at least
    not in words. When my two boys are ill I can't think of anything
    else and don't always know what to do to make them comfortable.
    A trip to the VET is sometimes more painful than the problem.
    Some things get better on their own and others need professional
    advice quick. Your VET sounds really good. I suppose the trick is
    not to panic because the animals pick it up.
    
    Good luck
    
    Rosemary, Pip & Domino