Member

Posts: 260
From:MO, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-13-2003 01:36 PM         

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Please help! I came home from work last night and found one of my foster kittens with a cut in his stomach the size of a half dollar. It looked as if he had been skinned in that area. I figured that one of his brothers had snagged him pretty good and that it was just an injury. I took him to the vet and when they scruffed him to take his temperature the skin under his ears and down to his shoulders just sloughed off. also the hide around his rectum had sloughed off as well exposing an inner layer of skin. He was not bleeding and he did not show any physical signs of pain. The DVM said she had no experience with this and made some phone calls and then recommended euthanizing or seeking a specialiasts help. The kitten is still at the vets office and they have not been able to do anything for him. His area on his abdomen has spread and is sloughing off more here and there.
Has anyone ever seen this or know what causes it?
This kitten has had a very extensive medical history since he was taken into rescue. When we first pulled his litter they had a distemper like virus that had claimed one of his littermates. They were on gentimycin injections and penicillin injections as well as albon and sub cutaneous fluids of LRS twice daily. On top of that they broke with feline upper respiratory which we treated with clavamox.
Then once we thought they had a clean bill of health he was the only one in the litter that came up with hairloss. He tested negative for mange and ringworm. The vet didnt know what was causing it so she prescribed amoxicillin and eventually all the hair grew back and none of his litter mates ever showed any problems. THEN! one day it looked as if he had dislocated both of his hips, when taken to the vet and xrayed it showed nothing. He was given a steroid shot and it cleared up over the next day. His coat has always looked dingy. It has never glistened or shined. He is a very unique color chocolate and white. He is 13 weeks old and only weighs 1.8 pounds. (when we first got him he was only .8 where the other kittens where almost 2 pounds) Every time I get him healthy something else happens. Has anyone ever had anything like this happen. I do not want to put him through anymore pain if everything that has happened to him in his short life is all linked togethor. Please help me, no one seems to know what is going on with this poor baby. I just dont want to make the wrong decision. I dont think I can make it alone.

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Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 11-13-2003 11:11 PM         

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I would be hesitant to put him down just yet. I would call around to other vets and explain what his skin is doing and see if they have ever heard of anything like that. Some vet out there has to know what it is. I have never heard of such a thing. I don't believe in putting animals down unless they are obviously in pain and can not get better. I think vets recommend that sometimes as a textbook answer, not taking into account the kitty's will to live. I would try to find out what it is before you decide to put him down.

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Member

Posts: 260
From:MO, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-13-2003 11:13 PM         

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I guess no one knows either. The vet just called. She said he seems to be doing ok right now. Besides the fact that he looks like he has been skinned alive. I pick him up tomorrow to take him to the specialist. I am afraid to even see him. I dont even know where I would pick him up or pet him without hurting him. I just keep replaying it over and over in my head. It almost seems like something straight out of a horror movie. My poor little baby.

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Member

Posts: 260
From:MO, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-13-2003 11:30 PM         

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I called a few of the other vets that work with our rescue. I didnt find out any answers. They had asked if I had ever given him dextrose solution SQ bc that could sluff off his skin but it has always been LRS and its been awhile since he has recieved any fluids.
Im just going to keep my fingers crossed that the specialist has a clue to what is going on.

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Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 11-13-2003 11:36 PM         

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That is so strange. I did some research on the internet and all I came up with that can cause skin sloughing is frostbite, and some infections. Although it sounds like infections cause localized sloughing. Maybe if some one local can't help you could do a phone consult with a pet dermatologist.

[This message has been edited by fleafly (edited 11-13-2003).]

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Member

Posts: 260
From:MO, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-14-2003 12:16 AM         

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One of the vets suggested that since he is such a rare color that it is possible that the gene that caused the mutation in color is causing defects else where in the body. He also suggested that it could be some sort of immuno deficency. I dont think he has ever been 100% well. This is so hard. Ive never had anything this tramatic happen to one of my kittens before.

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Member

Posts: 173
From:Murfreesboro, Tn, USA
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 11-14-2003 10:01 AM         

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I wish I could help! I know that must be hard not having a clue as to what is going on! Well keep us posted on what the specialist says. i hope everything goes ok

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Member

Posts: 260
From:MO, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-16-2003 07:34 PM         

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The specialist couldnt offer me any solutions. Moxi quit eating and drinking over the weekend. We are waiting on the results of the blood tests.

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Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-02-2003 11:20 PM         

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Have you heard anything new about Moxi? I am baffled by this and would like to know what caused it for future reference.

I hope Moxi is doing okay.

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Member

Posts: 260
From:MO, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-03-2003 12:40 AM         

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They said it was due to auto immune defiency and it was a constant virus attacking his body (although they said they could not name it). Each time we had gotten him better we were just preparing him to get sick again. He had gotten to the point where his organs started being attacked and almost eaten away. We had to put him to sleep.
His remains were sent to the veterinary school in our state for a necropsy (autopsy) to see if we can find some answers.
Moxi came from a whole nother litter than my kitten with the seizures. I am gravitated towards the sick ones, whether they or I know they are sick at all.
At first I thought I was doing something wrong, that maybe my house was contaminated. No matter how often the vet assures me its not, I am still taking a long break from fostering once I place the rest of my fosters.
I need some emotional healing time.
I have no faith in vets who tell me that they did not have a will to live. If they dont have a will to live, than why do they fight and suffer for so long?
I have no faith in vets who cant give me answers countless numbers of times.
Moxi, Gemini, Fishface, Rodeo, Bronco, DaVinci, Igor, Musina....Just some of the kittens who just didnt have a will to live? How can that many have immune defeciencies? Are all bottle feeders doomed from the very beginning? Should we even try?
All reasons I need to take a break, a long break, I need to remind myself again why I do rescue and re-evaluate if I am actually helping any of them or just prolonging their suffering even more.

Sorry to unload on you all like this. I just need to get it off of my chest.

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Member

Posts: 152
From:Ottawa, Ontario
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 12-03-2003 01:36 AM         

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*hugs* I wish there was something I could say.

Take it easy, keep your head up.
I am sorry for your loss.

[This message has been edited by Auspetian (edited 12-03-2003).]

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Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-03-2003 01:12 PM         

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I am sorry to hear about your kitty. I know that he had a good life while he was here with you. If you find out anything from the autopsy, let us know.

I think the not having the will to live line is a bunch of crap. Most bottle fed kittens die from infections. They are so much more prone to infections when they don't have their moms antibodies. I have had two that I bottle fed from birth. One died of an infection b/c she didn't get antibiotics in time, the other one almost died. By the time that you recognize that they are sick, it is almost too late for them. I think all bottle fed kittens should get anitbiotics as a precautionary measure to keep them from getting infections. My little one that made it was on antibiotics the first 3-4 weeks of her life. I think if all bottle fed kittens got antibiotics the survival rate would increase greatly.

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New Member

Posts: 9
From:Canada
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-03-2003 06:30 PM         

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i'm soooo sorry about what happened i dont really know what to say...maybe it was for the best, he is not suffering anymore, and at least while your kitty was around he had someone great like you to take care of him. hope u feel better soon take it easy

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