Conference misery::feline

    
    Wow, thanks for the info. Any idea if the toxin from the abscess
    can be removed or neutralized before major damaged is done? Would
    it stand to resaon that the bacteria produces the toxin, the anti-
    biotics kill the bacteria, but leaving behind the toxin unchecked?
    Just curious...
    
    Eva

    Eva,
    
    The bacteria does cause the toxin, and killing off the bacteria stops
    production of the toxin, but it needs to happen before the toxins cause
    fatal damage.  Having had a raging infection from a brown recluse and
    nearly going into septicemia, I can say that the toxins are a real
    killer.  It took over 4 weeks of antibiotic therapy and care to get the
    liver, kidney, and blood profiles back into something near normal, and
    most of the summer to get back to my normal level of activity.  Cats
    are smaller, and as such can be overcome by the toxins much more
    quickly.  
    
    meg

    I'm not too sure what happened, but back about 5 years ago or
    so, her teeth came out - of course they were bad from the time
    she was a kitten so there wasn't much they could do.  It didn't
    stop her a bit from eating, in fact she seemed much better all
    around after the teeth came out.  Since then, there have been
    no problems.  The abcess appeared very suddenly on a Sunday,
    and she went to the vet the following day, and began  antibiotics,
    which she was on for a full 3 weeks, both oral and injected.
    
    But this information about toxins seems to make sense.  I
    have no idea how the infection came about, where it came
    from, nor were there any symptoms until I saw the little
    spot of blood on her chin that Sunday afternoon.  By 
    the time I discovered it, it may have already begun spreading
    throughout her system.
    
    I'd have sawed off my right arm if I thought it would've
    made her feel better.  She went to the vet every day for
    8 days, then stayed at the vet for 8 days, then they said
    she was ready to come home.  I don't know what happened.
    I was sort of looking to the vet to give me some clue,
    but that didn't happen either, and it really upset me,
    given that I gave them a virtual blank check to get to 
    the root of the problem, no matter what the expense.
    
    I realize they may not have been able to save her, but
    it would really have helped me to deal with this better
    if they could've suggested some reasons as to why I lost
    her.  "Sometimes these things happen" isn't really the
    kind of answer I was looking for.
    
    I've gotten much more information and help in this
    notes file than I got from the vet.
    
    Gail

    Gail, you might try calling the Cornell Vet hotline at
    1-800-kittydr.  They may be able to tell you more than our
    guesses in here.  There is a charge ($25?) for a consultation
    with the vet, although the assistant, at least when I've called,
    has been very knowledgeable and has not charged me when she
    was able to answer my questions.  I know how not knowing
    exactly what has happened can really bother you;  I think it is
    part of the "If only I could have done something" response that we all
    have to work through,
    
    Karen
    

    I may do that.  Another noter sent me a note today and said
    that she had an almost identical situation with 2 of her
    cats, and lost them as a result of abcesses in the mouth.
    Her vet, like mine, was shocked that this happened.
    
    This does help me to know that it wasn't neglect or
    ignorance on my part or the vet.  Apparently these abcess
    situations are very dangerous to small animals.  It
    certainly doesn't make me miss her any less, or mourn
    any less, but I'm beginning to realize it was just out
    of our hands.  We didn't waste any time with treatment,
    etc.
    
    Thanks for the info on this.  I may give Cornell a call.
    
    Gail

    
    Thanks all for this discussion. 
    
    What puzzles me is after all the teeth came out, what
    other parts can become the target of infection. My vet
    like Gail's had no clue when my toothless cat came down 
    with a swollen face in a matter of hours. The vet could 
    not find the actual abcess or the source of infection.
    
    Eva 

    I think pieces of root can be left in place after
    a tooth extraction, if the root shatters.  Also, (I think) sinus
    cavities can become infected.
           

    Has kitty been tested for FELV recently?  I overheard a conversation the
    other day in which they were linking bad/chronic gingivitis to signs of
    FELV.  I don't know if it's true or not but I thought it might be worth 
    mentioning if it gives you another lead to what might have happened.
    
    Jan

    Jan, I know chronic gingivitis can be associated with FIV -- I
    never heard of it in connection with FeLV.
    

    
    I don't remember what tests was done, but this 12 year old cat 
    has all the vaccines under the sun given on schedule since he 
    was 8 weeks old as he likes to go outside. I know feline
    lukemia is one of the vaccines he gets. Is that for FeLV or FIV?
    
    Eva

    FeLV is feline leukemia.  FIV is (sp?) feline immunodeficiency
    virus.
    

A cat can get the Felv vaccine and still get the virus. My sister-in-law has
just such a cat.

						Trace

    I just overheard the conversation.  It could have been that they said
    FIV but it sounded like FELV.  I just can't be 100% sure.  I'm very
    sorry that I didn't get more detail. 
    
    Jan
    
    

    One of my daughter's two rescues is FELV+.  He has really bad teeth,
    although some of that could have been from a rotten diet during the
    years he was abandoned.