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 scLovely on -
I can't believe how many people have a heart big enough to be touched by my story. I know she makes me cry, but I am a softie. I had no idea that you all would feel the same :) It gives me hope in the world because you people care so much. I have had so many of you willing to help me, and you don't know how grateful I am to know that if I (or Maggie) needed it, you guys would be there.
I'm taking Maggie to the vet Monday morning. My vet is just charging for the services as he does them and not for the actual visit itself, which is wonderful. She is getting her FeLV test and seeing if she is stable enough for her vaccinations Monday. I'll keep you guys posted on her progress.
I am certain she can't see at all. Since yesterday, we have been testing it to see. She only flinches or responds if something touches her whiskers. I have waved fingers and strings in front of her and she doesn't respond. She does, however, respond to string when I run it across her face. She will sometimes try to paw at it. As for now, the last (and by far the biggest) hole has almost closed. It is still a nasty looking hole, but I guess that is to be expected. She is still very clumsy and falls a lot. No purring today, and not much exercise either. Can't wait to get an actual examination Monday, but for now I believe she may be permanently blind.
Thank you all so much for caring. I hope that no one has intentionally done this to her, though I have a suspicion that they have. It would make my sadness even worse. People in general suck, but the ones on this site are wonderful. It really does show how atheists are, in fact, great people, and I am so glad that none of you that have responded to my forum would ever treat an animal unkind. You are all so great :)
I wrote day 6 yesterday, but I was wrong. Today is the 6th day bc I found her last Saturday. This is her today (day 6) modeling her favorite website... Think Atheist lol!
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Hess on -
I am neither a cat person nor a vet, but I'm nonetheless touched by your compassion and Maggie's story. Side note: I had a kitten with a girlfriend once, and I named her Maggie, so I approve of your choice.
Do you have a PayPal account that you can use to accept donations for vet care? I would be more than happy to build you a page on my website, using your photos and story, that can send some funds your way. I am pretty broke myself, but I'd could start you off with $5. Let me know.
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Permalink Reply by scLovely on
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I do have a paypal account, but I don't know that I would be comfortable with taking donations. I feel she is my responsibility because I found her. The vet bills will be tough, but I don't want to put the burden on anyone else. Donations probably would help me get her the treatment she needed faster than I can afford it myself, but I would want to eventually pay everyone back or something. I'm weird lol.
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Hess on
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I get what you're saying about not wanting to burden others, but I think there are limits to that. You're doing a great, selfless thing and if people want to help, it might be a good idea to let them.
The offer stands indefinitely.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Glickman on -
Becky: Maggie is clearly now the TA kitten. We (and she) are lucky to have you as her custodian. You should accept donations and not even think of paying anyone back. The whole idea is that a donation makes people feel like they have some way to help in a situation that is somewhat helpless (except by you). Maggie's plight has touched so many of us and we just want to help you--who is the one doing the heavy lifting--help her.
Thank you for all you have done. Let us help you take one of the steps along the way...just keep the pictures coming:)
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Permalink Reply by scLovely on
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You guys are seriously making me cry right now. No one has ever offered to do anything like that for me before and especially not for a kitten that they don't even know. The response that I have gotten from the people I know is "eww" or " you should've just shot that thing" or "I'da had to pretend like I didn't see that and kept going".
How can people be that way? I am so amazed that you all care this much. Honestly, I am speechless
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Permalink Reply by Billy on -
Set up the paypal Becky, if you promise the money will go toward the kitty cat's vet treatment I will pitch in a few dollars. No big deal.
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Permalink Reply by scLovely on
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O and another positive update:
Her paws and ears have been warm all day. My husband thinks that she was so cold before because she had lost some blood. We took about 8 big ticks off of her after we found her, so that would make sense. Since she has been getting some food in her, she may be replacing some of the blood she has lost. Just thought u guys would be happy to hear that she is doing better in that area. Hopefully her body temp. won't drop anymore.
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Permalink Reply by Merlin Mercer on -
Becky,
You have done an amazing job at caring for a cat that was on her death bed. You've got on this site and got advice from vets, non-vets and animal lovers. You have set a precedence. There is no such thing as burden when it comes to assisting the helpless. And you have given a prime example of showing compassion to the one who needs it most. Above all else, you did it in THE ABSENCE OF A GOD. I feel more burdened NOT giving you money to care for Maggie. Please, it is NOT a burden for us to give money for a cause such as this. I insist, even though I don't have much money, I will give $5 to your paypal account with the expectation of NOTHING in return. It goes like this: what one person cannot do, many can make possible. We can give Maggie the life she deserves without the dependence on a 'guy in the sky.' Please accept my insistence, and that of all who have insisted before me. Maggie deserves it.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Glickman on
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The kitty version of "It's a Wonderful Life" = Becky + Maggie...how can you not love this story?!
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Permalink Reply by scLovely on
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I have a paypal account but I have no idea how to set anything like that up.
I was looking through the pics of her and you can visually see a change :*)
I'll upload day 2 and then I'll upload one I just took of her on the chair with daddy.
Day 2:
Day 6:
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Stanley on -
In your PayPal account, go to the Merchant Services tab, then towards the bottom of the page, click the 'Donate' link. It will walk you through setting up a link that you can use so we can give you what we can towards Maggie's treatment. :)
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