A Sad Day in Naples
Today is Friday, September 19th already. Time is flying by and even way down here in southwest Florida, a change is in the air. The days are getting a bit shorter and (thank God) cooler. I am really REALLY looking forward to October and then a couple of months to have the windows open 24/7 and letting the fresh air in!
My closest buddies here on DS already know that I have been through Hell and back with my cats the last couple of weeks. I will spare you the gory details, but let's just say that I have spent about $1,000 on vet bills so far. This morning, I took Jake back to Dr. Sisco with a diagnosis -- he apparently has the Calicivirus -- and she put him on an oral antibiotic to be given 2x a day for the next 5 days. She clipped all his toenails for "damage control" LOL -- he's not all that bad about taking medicine, BUT the Calicivirus causes little ulcers in a cat's mouth, so he's touchy touchy to begin with. This new antibiotic follows a shot of Convenia which was administered on Sept. 8th when Dr. Sisco was out of town at a veterinary convention. She says that 5 days of Clindamycin will "kick the infection in the butt." I sure hope so!
TWO weeks ago, Woody went into a medical crisis (with an inconclusive diagnosis) on a Saturday afternoon and I had no choice but to take him to the Pet Emergency Room -- knowing full-well what a rip-off those places can be. While the staff was very attentive and kind (and there's no doubt that Woody may have expired had I tried to wait it out until Monday) I had to swallow hard when I paid the bill $508. Ugh. There went my "fun money" for the month. But at least Woody got better and is back to his normal self again.
Now for the sad news...in my last Journal, I wrote about the two kittens I was fostering from the Naples Cat Alliance. Graham came out of his shell pretty quickly and after finishing treatment for the parasitic infection he had, is now ready for adoption. The Director assured me that "he won't last long -- we have people in here all the time specifically looking for Red Tabby kittens!" The little gray kitten that I was calling "Salty" remained with me and I was surprised at how much more outgoing he was after Graham left! After just a few days, I was able to sit by him while he ate (when he would eat) and pick him up and do some towel therapy with him. But I was still concerned about his lack of appetite. He was a "capture" for the Alliance and was picked up with his mother and siblings, but he was still painfully thin. I had guessed him to be much younger than Graham just because he didn't ACT like an older kitten -- he showed little interest in toys or food.
On Monday this week, after consulting with Megan again, I brought home a supply of kitten milk replacer and baby rice cereal to do syringe feeding a couple of times a day. While he took it willingly, he still refused to eat even the expensive canned kitten food! So yesterday (Thursday) I packed him up and took him down to the Cat Alliance for Megan to have a look at him.
She gave him some subQ fluids and a liquid vitamin, but asked if I would drop him off down at their vet so they could do a more thorough exam and some blood tests. All kittens are tested for FVP and other fatal diseases before they are brought to our shelter. He had been de-wormed and given all his age-appropriate shots, too. We were both kind of puzzled by why he wasn't thriving.
Two hours later, Megan called with some sad news. Harborside Animal Hospital ran an antigen-specific test on the little guy and discovered that he had what is called "a mutation of the FVP virus." This is NOT CONTAGIOUS, but there is no cure and it means a slow and painful death due to organ shutdown. Megan told me that she gave them permission to euthanize the little fellow and I had all I could do NOT to break down in tears. I told her, "This is so hard -- I can't imagine doing what you do as Director." She said, "But we know that he was LOVED in the past few weeks thanks to you." And it's true -- hard as it was NOT to get attached, I was getting a little attached. While I had looked forward to getting him fattened up and well socialized so he could get on the "Adoptable" list, I had already decided that I wasn't going to foster any more kittens. Partly because I DO get attached, but also because I'm pretty sure that Graham brought the Calicivirus to my house.
So today there's a new little kitten soul at the Rainbow Bridge. I know I will see him again one day and I know that I did the very best I could.
My closest buddies here on DS already know that I have been through Hell and back with my cats the last couple of weeks. I will spare you the gory details, but let's just say that I have spent about $1,000 on vet bills so far. This morning, I took Jake back to Dr. Sisco with a diagnosis -- he apparently has the Calicivirus -- and she put him on an oral antibiotic to be given 2x a day for the next 5 days. She clipped all his toenails for "damage control" LOL -- he's not all that bad about taking medicine, BUT the Calicivirus causes little ulcers in a cat's mouth, so he's touchy touchy to begin with. This new antibiotic follows a shot of Convenia which was administered on Sept. 8th when Dr. Sisco was out of town at a veterinary convention. She says that 5 days of Clindamycin will "kick the infection in the butt." I sure hope so!
TWO weeks ago, Woody went into a medical crisis (with an inconclusive diagnosis) on a Saturday afternoon and I had no choice but to take him to the Pet Emergency Room -- knowing full-well what a rip-off those places can be. While the staff was very attentive and kind (and there's no doubt that Woody may have expired had I tried to wait it out until Monday) I had to swallow hard when I paid the bill $508. Ugh. There went my "fun money" for the month. But at least Woody got better and is back to his normal self again.
Now for the sad news...in my last Journal, I wrote about the two kittens I was fostering from the Naples Cat Alliance. Graham came out of his shell pretty quickly and after finishing treatment for the parasitic infection he had, is now ready for adoption. The Director assured me that "he won't last long -- we have people in here all the time specifically looking for Red Tabby kittens!" The little gray kitten that I was calling "Salty" remained with me and I was surprised at how much more outgoing he was after Graham left! After just a few days, I was able to sit by him while he ate (when he would eat) and pick him up and do some towel therapy with him. But I was still concerned about his lack of appetite. He was a "capture" for the Alliance and was picked up with his mother and siblings, but he was still painfully thin. I had guessed him to be much younger than Graham just because he didn't ACT like an older kitten -- he showed little interest in toys or food.
On Monday this week, after consulting with Megan again, I brought home a supply of kitten milk replacer and baby rice cereal to do syringe feeding a couple of times a day. While he took it willingly, he still refused to eat even the expensive canned kitten food! So yesterday (Thursday) I packed him up and took him down to the Cat Alliance for Megan to have a look at him.
She gave him some subQ fluids and a liquid vitamin, but asked if I would drop him off down at their vet so they could do a more thorough exam and some blood tests. All kittens are tested for FVP and other fatal diseases before they are brought to our shelter. He had been de-wormed and given all his age-appropriate shots, too. We were both kind of puzzled by why he wasn't thriving.
Two hours later, Megan called with some sad news. Harborside Animal Hospital ran an antigen-specific test on the little guy and discovered that he had what is called "a mutation of the FVP virus." This is NOT CONTAGIOUS, but there is no cure and it means a slow and painful death due to organ shutdown. Megan told me that she gave them permission to euthanize the little fellow and I had all I could do NOT to break down in tears. I told her, "This is so hard -- I can't imagine doing what you do as Director." She said, "But we know that he was LOVED in the past few weeks thanks to you." And it's true -- hard as it was NOT to get attached, I was getting a little attached. While I had looked forward to getting him fattened up and well socialized so he could get on the "Adoptable" list, I had already decided that I wasn't going to foster any more kittens. Partly because I DO get attached, but also because I'm pretty sure that Graham brought the Calicivirus to my house.
So today there's a new little kitten soul at the Rainbow Bridge. I know I will see him again one day and I know that I did the very best I could.
Replies
I\'m late to this--haven\'t been on DS for a few days. So very sorry about little Salty, but at least the little got some love and good care.
Hope Woody and Jake are better. Sending a big hug!
I am so sad to hear all this. I also know how hard it is to loose our pets. I am also a cat lover. I have 2 that I have rescued from the wild. If I would ever loose them, (which I know I will one day) It will be a horrible day for me. I know there isn\'t really anything anyone can say to make things feel better, but just to know that you have friends out here that are thinking of you. You are a good person who has a big heart. At least the little one didn\'t have to go through all the pain and he knew he was loved. Hang in there!
Big hugs from your dog-loving friend in Canada! I am allergic to cats, but I think they are the \'coolest\' of creatures...hence the term \"cool cat\" I suppose! Any person who loves animals is alright by me - they (read YOU!) are always the warmest and most empathetic of people! hugs
I know how hard it is to lose a pet. I lost my Kit when I was in the hospital. i still miss him, but Sofia has become my little purr kitty.
All my best to you.
I am just catching up. I am so sorry. I know that this is a reality with animals but it always makes me sad and cry.