Any Veterinarians Out There? I Need Help.
NOT FOR U IF YOU GET SQUEEMISH!
Ok I need some advice....
Yesterday I found a kitten. I stopped my car thinking she was dead, gonna move her out of the road. She kicked her legs and popped her head up. She hadn't been hit! But I knew there was something severely wrong with her. I picked her up and brought her home with me. First, she had a collar that was way too tight so I removed it, it had been clawed at and frayed to peices anyway. I noticed a hole in her neck, looked closely and realized there were maggots in it. I shaved it and removed the maggots and there was also a HUGE one in there (think it was a "warble") and my husband and I removed it as well. We rinsed the hole with peroxide and have been keeping a check every 2 hrs for anymore maggots to surface - there have been none. I've also put neosporin on it twice. I gave her a flea bath and then later last night, I noticed another 2 holes. One in her leg and one in the fold between her leg and abdomen area. I had to manually remove maggots from them as well, rinsed with peroxide, then put neosporin. Those two holes are closed today. The one is her neck was pretty big, but it is healing quite well evenhough it isn't closed yet. I've tried looking her over for more holes, but haven't found any. She doesn't want me to lift her tail though. She growls and twitches when I do it. It stays very wet around her vaginal/anal area. There were 2 maggots under her tail I can't find any wounds. I did pour peroxide and it bubbles like crazy all over under there.
She maybe weighs a pound soaking wet. She has no muscles and her head is fixed in a sideways position, probably due to the warble/maggots. Her balance is off and she is very weak. She has fallen in her food bowl trying to eat. She looks terrible. I have no doubt in my mind that when she laid down before I found her, she would've never gotten back up.
Since she hasn't wanted to drink anything at all, I got a kitten bottle and some kitten formula and have been bottle feeding her. This should keep her hydrated along with giving her some much needed nutrients.
I know all of this sounds really REALLY bad, but I don't want to give up on her. If there is a vet or a vet tech that can give me some advice, I would more than appreciate it. I've recently spent a ton of money on vet bills with another cat. I absolutely cannot afford anymore vet bills. My local shelter will just put her down. I don't have the heart to do that.
Bright side:
She has been eating like crazy today. Yesterday she wouldn't do it. She has also walked around (just a little bitty bit). And, she PURRRED today! I was holding her and bottle feeding her and she kept purring in between swallows. It made me feel great. At least if she dies, she won't die alone. She knows she has someone there that cares and wants to help her make it :) Though it makes me cry to think about her not making it. I'm already attached. Sounds kinda pathetic, but I am such a weenie. I fall in love with animals, and it would break my heart if she didn't pull through.
What I need help with:
1) will the holes heal or close if there are maggots in there? I can't imagine the holes closing on top of them, so hopefully they are gone. I am almost certain that I got them all out, but I can't ever know for sure. I don't want to re-open the holes to check. And if there are some still in there, what harm could they do? They are supposed to vacate the body when they are finished feeding. Some websites say it takes up to 72 hrs.
2) Her paws and ears are cold. I am keeping her wrapped up with "HotHands". Not directly on her skin, of course, but i have them placed around her blanket. Does this mean her temp is below normal or is this a big issue for her to be so cold? She does shiver, but she may be nervous. I have 3 cats. They aren't bothering her but I can tell she is uneasy around them. This may be why she shivers. Or because she doesn't know me very well.
3) Is there anything else that I can be doing for her (that I can afford)? Please don't ridicule me about not being able to take her to a vet. I'm still on my payment plan from my cat with asthma.
4) I have an antibiotic (amoxicillan) that the vet perscribed me for one of my cats when he had a sinus infection. It is not expired. Will this help her fight off any infection? The dropper for my full grown cat was 1.0 so what dosage, if any, should I give the warble kitty? Keep in mind she is weak, small, and young.
If you all can help me, I will forever be in debt to u! I really want to save this kitty.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by 3equ3cp1fsw0n on -
One time at work, I overheard this guy laughing about how someone he knew left anti-freeze out to poison a cat that was coming around. He thought this was clever and funny.
It was all I could do not to jump over my cubicle wall and.... well never mind what I wanted to do.
I love the pictures of your fur baby.
-
Permalink Reply by scLovely on -
I know it sounds awful for me to say it, but someone should poison him so he can see how it feels. The world has no use for people that find humor in harming animals.
-
Permalink Reply by Kairan Nierde on -
People like that are pretty twisted. Keep your distance Flower, you don't know how far that disregard for life goes.
-
Permalink Reply by scLovely on
-
Since you've told me about the possibility of her being blind, I've been testing it. I think she may just be smelling the other animals instead of actually seeing them. She also must hear me when I walk over to her - or she is using some other senses - because she doesn't respond when things are moving right in front of her face, so I am thinking you are right. I don't think she can see at all :(
-
Permalink Reply by Kairan Nierde on
-
That's a shame but I'm sure she'll do just fine as an indoor cat.
-
Permalink Reply by Scarlette Blues on -
awww Becky, I'm so proud of you! You saved this little kitten's life! It sounds like it's doing well now, considering the condition it was in when you found it. Wow, I don't know what I would've done in your position! [Maggots freak me out lol]
Well, it looks like you're getting some good advice too! I just thought I'd pop in to tell you I think you're doing a great job! Good luck and keep us informed on her progress!
-
Permalink Reply by scLovely on
-
Thanks girlie! Maybe if we get the volunteer group up, you will get to meet her one day!
-
Permalink Reply by scLovely on
-
Hi Larisa! Thank you for caring about this sweet baby. My husband and I don't have children (we don't think we are capable, but we don't plan on them even if we are), so my cats are like my babies. If someone were to hurt one of them, it would be as if they were harming my child. The maggots were scary and I was worried they were a really bad sign, but they must not be as bad as I was thinking. Glad this site was here to help me through this.
-
Permalink Reply by Bitterroot Wire on -
I am not a vet but I grew up with one. My grand father would be flushing out the holes with a sterile saline solution and an empty syringe until they were a healthy pink and began to get smaller and close. Purring is also done when cats are in pain. Keep that in mind if she becomes lethargic refuses to eat or use the litter box. L-lysine will help her immune system (I don't know if I spelled that right) Make sure the the hair around the area is trimmed and gently shaven to help keep it clean as the wounds close. Watch for loose stool and blood in the stool.
If you have any doubts about her actual ability to heal from the maggots you really need to take her to a local vet. That will give her the best chance for survival. It seems she was incredibly fortunate that you stopped to help her. It is okay for a small amount of tissue sloughing but for the most part healthy tissue is pink without signs of inflammation. I really hope that helps. (c: good luck. You are a great person. Most would have left her, I don't know how many times people simply brought pets to my papa for him to put down when they were tired of them, and he was a large animal/livestock vet. He took care of them and gave them new homes when he felt it was unreasonable to put them down. (Sadly that was 95% of the time) You make me so happy I just joined this site.
-
Permalink Reply by Chris G on -
Someone from Blue Mountain Wildlife might have suggestions.
-
Permalink Reply by Donald S. Chase on
-
I suggest you take her to Peter Popoff
What's new today
Forum
Are people stupid?
Started by Elon Johnson in Miscellaneous Sciences. Last reply by dataguy 41 seconds ago. 61 Replies 0 Likes
Blog Posts
How Jesus' Views on Marriage Proves Yahweh's Laws are NOT Absolute OR Jesus is Mistaken
Posted by Cathy Cooper on May 17, 2013 at 10:00am 3 Comments 0 Likes
Events
Services we love
Check out our new mobile/tablet version of Think Atheist! www.ThinkAtheist.com/m
© 2013 Created by Morgan Matthew.
