In this picture it is pretty mild, at times that white cover would cover 1/2 of her eye. Milo and Bigs got a touch of it but Simon was the next to get it and he got hit pretty hard by it. The third eye lid, fever, and diarriah, lots of it. We took Simon to the vet and had a DNA test done to find out what it was. Well it had a long name that I can barley say much less spell. Anyway know knowing what it is we were able to research it. It is aquired by a cat drinking dirty water (or eating somthing with the bacteria in it). Sadie came from a colony so likley she was drinking dirty water and eating God knows what. And it matches with all of our babies symtoms and then some. No way to treat it just support the symptoms. It is also long lasting with intermitent reoccurance. So Simon begins to show improvement. Then my Tigger gets it... this is not good because to say that Tigger is not a good vet kitty is an understatement. Tigger went to the vet a few months ago for a regular check up. He was hissing and growling and swatting at the techs. He pooped himself... finally my vet looks at me and says the only way to get a really good exam on him would be to sedate him. They can do a light sedation and then do a reversal so that he can go home with me, so I agree. They get him sedated and bring him back in the room put him on the exam table and start checking him over. Next thing we know we hear him growling and hissing, UNDER SEDATION!!! then the little turkey swipes at the vet... she jumps backwards and comments somthing like "amazing he still has that much spunk with sedation".
Knowing all of this about my little man I really did not want to take him to the vet because he gets so stressed and I did not want to add to it but about the 3rd day in I could tell he was not doing well and I was worried about dehydration so I loaded him up and off we went. On the way to the vet he howled and peed in his crate which then got all over him. Got to the vets office and they open the crate and pretty much stick him with the sedation needle, 2 seconds later he has diarryha all over himself.
Just as he is showing improvement from this yucky virus he gets a cold, Thank God for L-lysine. It is a vitamin/herb from the health food store. My vet has always recommended to start with this and if no improvement is seen to then bring in the babies. He is on the mends and beging to act like himself again. I could not be happier. Now just waiting for another one to get it, it is highly contagious so it is to be expected. What Fun!!
Did you know:
You can check a cat for fever by touching the tips of their ears. If they are warm (or hot) you might want to call a vet. You can also check your cat for fever with an ear reader thomometer, they tippically run normal at around 101/102 degrees. (Sadie was 105 when I took her in)
You can tell if a cat is dehydrated (just like with people) pull up on their skin if it goes back slowly they could be dehydrated.
Cats gums are typically pink, if they are white that means that the cat is pale.
Showing of the third eye lid is a sign of illness in at cat.
