moodynudie
Lairian
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2018
- Messages
- 11
- Points
- 14
I'm worried sick about my Sphynx kitten, Fig, and would really appreciate some suggestions. He has been vomiting and having diarrhea for three days now.
On January 1st, I picked up my beautiful 13 week old Sphynx kitten from a breeder who has been breeding Sphynx for over 20 years.
On January 2, my mother and I took him to a local vet for his new kitten check up. I have never seen this vet before, as I am new to the area. The vet does not have much, if any, experience with the Sphynx breed. She was unfamiliar with their specific needs as a breed (i.e. bathing, ear cleaning, etc.). The vet told us that Fig needed his first FeLV vaccination, so we went ahead with the vaccine.
On January 4th, Fig simultaneously vomited and had diarrhea outside of his litter box. The vomiting and the diarrhea continued for the rest of the day, though he was able to make it to his litter box to poop. He's still playful, and eats and drinks small amounts. He doesn't appear to be all that stressed with his new environment: he plays like a wild man, purrs nonstop, and seems to absolutely adore me, so I am fairly certain that he is having a reaction primarily to the vaccine versus stress, though I know how sensitive Sphynx cats are to change.
(My breeder says that Fig shouldn't have gotten the FeLV vaccine and was shocked that the vet would recommend it. She does not believe kittens need this vaccine, and its side effects are too harsh on Sphynxs' sensitive systems.)
On January 5th, my mother took Fig back to the vet in the morning to have him assessed. He had no fever and wasn't terribly dehydrated yet, so the vet saw no need to give him fluids. However, my mother insisted that he be given fluids regardless. The vet also gave him anti-nausea and steroid injections, special diet food (Royal Canin Gastro Intestinal Veterinary Diet), a probiotic (FortiFlora), and, upon our request, Amoxicillin.
He didn't vomit again that day, but he did have diarrhea, and it was basically water. On January 6th, around 5:30pm, he threw up again. It was a light, brownish-tan liquid. He also had diarrhea again.
He wasn't eating or drinking as much, and I was very concerned. He wouldn't eat the veterinary diet food, so the breeder suggested I give him a/d Urgent Care wet food and continue with the kibble he is used to, Royal Canin Babycat. I took her suggestion and last night, he gobbled down a fair amount of both canned and dry food.
Today (January 7th), around 6am, I woke up to see that Fig had had diarrhea in his litter box and that he had thrown up in his bed. This time, the vomit was an orangey-brown color and had pieces of undigested kibble in it. As I was typing this, Fig had more diarrhea. Again, it was water.
I got him to eat a few bites of his canned food, a little bit of his kibble, and a little bit of water about an hour ago. As I was typing this, Fig had more diarrhea. Again, it was water.
Obviously, I am worried sick. Fig is not only my first Sphynx cat, but my first cat of any breed. My lack of experience is leaving me feeling helpless. He still has bouts of playfulness and appears to be aware of his surroundings even when he is in his bed, but I'm terrified for my poor baby boy. I can see in his eyes that he doesn't feel well, and I just want to make sure that I'm making the right decisions for him.
Here is where I really need to hear your thoughts.
My breeder is adamant that Fig should only have Amoxicillin for this bout of diarrhea and vomiting while the local vet was very adamant that we NOT use Amoxicillin because of its tendency to cause vomiting and diarrhea. I chose to follow the breeder and give Fig Amoxicillin. The vet also prescribed .25ml twice daily for 14 days while my breeder told me to give Fig .50ml twice daily for 5 days. Again, I followed the breeder.
However, this morning, I decided to discontinue the Amoxicillin, so his last dose was last night. The vet told me to discontinue the Amoxicillin if I didn't see improvement by Monday (today), and so far, I haven't seen any improvements. I called the vet earlier today, and they said they'd get back to me as soon as they could.
The breeder seems to know what is best based on her 20 years of owning and breeding Sphynx, but I'm very conflicted and don't know who I should listen to-- the vet who has 8 years of medical education (though admittedly has not had experience working with Sphynx) or my breeder who has history dealing with Sphynx.
What do you recommend that I do? I just want my little guy to feel better, and I'm frightened for his well being.
If any of this was confusing or you would like additional information, please let me know. I would be more than happy to clarify.
Thank you.
On January 1st, I picked up my beautiful 13 week old Sphynx kitten from a breeder who has been breeding Sphynx for over 20 years.
On January 2, my mother and I took him to a local vet for his new kitten check up. I have never seen this vet before, as I am new to the area. The vet does not have much, if any, experience with the Sphynx breed. She was unfamiliar with their specific needs as a breed (i.e. bathing, ear cleaning, etc.). The vet told us that Fig needed his first FeLV vaccination, so we went ahead with the vaccine.
On January 4th, Fig simultaneously vomited and had diarrhea outside of his litter box. The vomiting and the diarrhea continued for the rest of the day, though he was able to make it to his litter box to poop. He's still playful, and eats and drinks small amounts. He doesn't appear to be all that stressed with his new environment: he plays like a wild man, purrs nonstop, and seems to absolutely adore me, so I am fairly certain that he is having a reaction primarily to the vaccine versus stress, though I know how sensitive Sphynx cats are to change.
(My breeder says that Fig shouldn't have gotten the FeLV vaccine and was shocked that the vet would recommend it. She does not believe kittens need this vaccine, and its side effects are too harsh on Sphynxs' sensitive systems.)
On January 5th, my mother took Fig back to the vet in the morning to have him assessed. He had no fever and wasn't terribly dehydrated yet, so the vet saw no need to give him fluids. However, my mother insisted that he be given fluids regardless. The vet also gave him anti-nausea and steroid injections, special diet food (Royal Canin Gastro Intestinal Veterinary Diet), a probiotic (FortiFlora), and, upon our request, Amoxicillin.
He didn't vomit again that day, but he did have diarrhea, and it was basically water. On January 6th, around 5:30pm, he threw up again. It was a light, brownish-tan liquid. He also had diarrhea again.
He wasn't eating or drinking as much, and I was very concerned. He wouldn't eat the veterinary diet food, so the breeder suggested I give him a/d Urgent Care wet food and continue with the kibble he is used to, Royal Canin Babycat. I took her suggestion and last night, he gobbled down a fair amount of both canned and dry food.
Today (January 7th), around 6am, I woke up to see that Fig had had diarrhea in his litter box and that he had thrown up in his bed. This time, the vomit was an orangey-brown color and had pieces of undigested kibble in it. As I was typing this, Fig had more diarrhea. Again, it was water.
I got him to eat a few bites of his canned food, a little bit of his kibble, and a little bit of water about an hour ago. As I was typing this, Fig had more diarrhea. Again, it was water.
Obviously, I am worried sick. Fig is not only my first Sphynx cat, but my first cat of any breed. My lack of experience is leaving me feeling helpless. He still has bouts of playfulness and appears to be aware of his surroundings even when he is in his bed, but I'm terrified for my poor baby boy. I can see in his eyes that he doesn't feel well, and I just want to make sure that I'm making the right decisions for him.
Here is where I really need to hear your thoughts.
My breeder is adamant that Fig should only have Amoxicillin for this bout of diarrhea and vomiting while the local vet was very adamant that we NOT use Amoxicillin because of its tendency to cause vomiting and diarrhea. I chose to follow the breeder and give Fig Amoxicillin. The vet also prescribed .25ml twice daily for 14 days while my breeder told me to give Fig .50ml twice daily for 5 days. Again, I followed the breeder.
However, this morning, I decided to discontinue the Amoxicillin, so his last dose was last night. The vet told me to discontinue the Amoxicillin if I didn't see improvement by Monday (today), and so far, I haven't seen any improvements. I called the vet earlier today, and they said they'd get back to me as soon as they could.
The breeder seems to know what is best based on her 20 years of owning and breeding Sphynx, but I'm very conflicted and don't know who I should listen to-- the vet who has 8 years of medical education (though admittedly has not had experience working with Sphynx) or my breeder who has history dealing with Sphynx.
What do you recommend that I do? I just want my little guy to feel better, and I'm frightened for his well being.
If any of this was confusing or you would like additional information, please let me know. I would be more than happy to clarify.
Thank you.