Distemper kitty

Hi, TAB, I’ve also emailed this response to you. You might want to edit out your address (you have an hour from when you first posted to do it) or word it so that you don’t get a whole load of spam from your post.

I’m really sorry to hear about your kitten. Bless you for trying to help him. First of all, did the vet actually diagnose him with distemper or is that what you think he might have? And if he does have distemper, did the vet give you an idea of his prognosis — his chances, in other words? None of us here is a vet and so your vet is still your best resource for looking after this little one, and I have never dealt with distemper.

I take it you don’t have other cats or if you do, that they have had all their shots? The last thing you want is to infect any other cats. If you do have other kitties, please keep the kitten quarantined away from them.

If you don’t know what it wrong with him, yes, I think I would want to administer more fluids. Dehydration is one of the biggest dangers with small kittens (well, any sick cat) and it’s great that you know how to do it. Normally we suggest syringing pedialyte to make sure kitty doesn’t get dehydrated but sub-Q fluids are much faster and more effective. The fact that he reacted well last time — and ate — seems to me a good sign! Do you know the hydration test? pick up a fold of kitten’s skin and let go. If it snaps back, kitten is hydrated okay. If it goes back more slowly or if it stays up (tented) for a little while, kitten is dehydrated. This website is good for explaining that: http://www.kittenrescue.org/pages.php?pageid=15 and these other two are also useful: http://www.fanciers.com/cat-faqs/orphans.shtml

http://www.feralcat.com/raising.html.

Very young kittens and sick kittens often have trouble regulating their own body temp. Is s/he on a heat pad, or a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, in a box, with enough room to crawl off if they get too hot, or are you cuddling them against you and giving them some of your own body heat? Basically, keeping them warm and comfy is important, and my own personal feeling is that gentle contact, touch and reassurance in a gentle voice is also very important, to keep them fighting.

It’s great news that he’s eating but if he stops, Nutrical is a high-calory paste that you can smear a little of along his gums/mouth — not a blob, nothing he could choke on, it may give him a little more energy to fight. Karo corn syrup is another thing you could try. But definitely eating is a good sign!

Click on the pink tag ‘sick’ in the top left hand corner of the thread and you will see previous threads on sick kittens and advice given, as well as first aid methods for animals. I hope this helps a bit, but again, please bear in mind that none of us are vets, and your vet is the best person to advise you. Please get back to us and let us know how kitty is getting along, we worry about them on this site. Good luck!

Okay, well he has probably told you what to expect but these sites on distemper (FPV) may help:

http://cats.lovetoknow.com/Distemper

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2139&aid=222

http://ezinearticles.com/?Owners-Guide-to-Distemper-in-Cats&id=1695566

It looks like the virus takes a week to run its course and I am afraid, it also looks like many animals do not survive. Looks like pushing the subQ fluids is the best thing you can do for your kitten, dehydration seems to be one of the main causes of death. Secondary infections are also a cause, which is why you have the antibiotics. One of the websites mentions vitamin B, you could perhaps ring your vet and ask if he thinks that will help.

One of our TDKers also recommends lysine to help sick cats.

Poor darling, thank you for looking after this baby. Even if he doesn’t make it, you are making him as comfortable and loved as he could be, that’s a huge amount when you’re sick. Bear in mind that this is a very contagious virus to other cats.

In case it helps, here is an earlier thread on this topic: http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/16245

Feline distemper is not a zoonosis so you and the baby are safe. However you need someone else to take litterbox duty as there is a toxoplasmosis that you can get. If you must change the box, dustmask and surgical gloves are a must.

*bump* Welcome to TDK, TAB, please keep us posted on his progress…..