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
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Permalink Reply by Doug Reardon on -
I'm not a vet, but:
Antibiotic: Medicine dosage is usually prescribed by weight, what did the adult cat weigh, and divide by the weight of this one (adult cat 10 lbs, this one 1 lb. 1/10 dosage). Maggots are used in medicine: they eat the necrotic flesh and leave the healthy.
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Permalink Reply by scLovely on -
So will they remain and feed off of healthy flesh if the dead flesh is gone?
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Permalink Reply by Ron V on -
See my botfly comments below
In So America, people actually put dead meat over their wounds to draw out the botflies
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Permalink Reply by Dustin on -
awww you are so sweet , I wish prayer would help you right now!
I got sad reading this. But if it's eating and walking and purring , it sounds like it's doing well!
But my question is - why was it in the road with a tight collar? perhaps it's neck inflamed and grew bigger ?
Just keep taking care of it and give it a name and let us know how it turns out :)
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Permalink Reply by scLovely on
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I think maybe it wandered away from home, got sick, and couldn't find its way back. It may have grown a lot since then. She seems to be pretty sick so I'll bet she has been gone for quite some time now. She may have outgrown the collar or the owners simply didn't care for it. Who knows. They may have tossed her out the window like she was trash. It would explain the other cuts on her skin.
I'll post a pic of her.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Glickman on -
Becky, that's so kind of you to try to help this kitten. I'm an animal lover, but not a vet, so I wish I could help more. Couple thoughts:
1. Have you posted this on a forum that would definitely have vets on it? Maybe you'd get an answer quicker than here.
2. I volunteer at an animal shelter. If you don't get an answer soon, I can go over there and inquire with some of their personnel to see if they have any advice.
LMK if you don't get your response soon. Good luck to you and the kitty.
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Permalink Reply by scLovely on
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Please let me know where to post this. I have no idea which other sites to go to. I tried to google and see if there were any but they people that post stories like this get fussed at and told to "go to the vet"... "animal abuse"... "be better with your money"...etc.
I don't want to be lashed out at.
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Permalink Reply by Randy Rickwood on -
Sorry not a Vet but just wanted to how you could possibly be an Athiest as you are obviously not an evil deviant! Thank you for being an earthly angel to the wonderful creatures that are less fortunate!
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Permalink Reply by scLovely on
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This is her. I am thinking of "Maggie". If she overcomes it, it will be a cute name but have a meaning behind what she had to overcome. My heart is broken for her. I don't want to leave her side to go to work tomorrow :*(
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Permalink Reply by scLovely on
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oh, and she isn't losing her hair. I have shaved most of her to look for infestations. They are hard to spot in her gray hair and it also helps with the fleas. I am waiting on placing the chemicals on her until the last wound heals, but I already have the flea killing medicine. I did give her a flea bath, but it didn't kill all of her fleas.
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Permalink Reply by Corey Hoaglund on -
I am also not a vet. However I want to commend you on helping this kitten. She looks so sweet!
If I'm not mistaken, the loss of balance and tilting of the head is a good indication of an inner ear infection. Hopefully some antibiotics will help her pull through. I hope that helps. Please keep us posted on her condition.
P.S. "Maggie" is a perfect name for her :)
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