Dear Dr. Forsythe: I woke up on Thanksgiving morning to find a shoebox on my doorstep with a small gift inside: a tiny black and white kitten with a runny nose whose eyes had just opened. I looked at her carefully and could see small sores in her mouth, like ulcers. What could this be? Also, please let your readers know, there are better ways to find homes for small kittens.
Foster Mom
Dear Foster Mom: Thanks for taking in a new life, and a life that sounds like it had a difficult start. The person who abandoned an innocent kitten on your doorstep should have contacted Pets Lifeline, the Humane Society or even one of the many local veterinarians in town for help or advice. If he or she still has the unsprayed queen, or other kittens, please contact one of us for help.
If the little kitten’s eyes were just opening, she was probably no more than two weeks old. From the description you gave, the kitten is most likely suffering from feline calici virus (FCV), which is common, especially in shelters and catteries. Clinical signs of acute disease include oral ulceration, eye and nose discharge, fever, and occasionally, lameness. After recovery from the acute disease, we estimate that about a fourth of cats continue to shed the virus persistently from the nose and mouth. They are not symptomatic, but they MAY be a source of infection for other cats. Some affected cats develop effects, including chronic gingival/stomatitis, a red, painful infection on their gum line.
FCV is rarely fatal unless the cat is a young kitten with upper respiratory disease. Since this is a VIRUS, not a bacteria, the treatment is supportive, but a visit to the veterinarian would be wise, to make sure the little kitten is not beginning to succumb to secondary bacterial respiratory disease. The good news is that you have received this special little blessing for the holidays and earned your wings into heaven at the same time. Good luck with the little tuxedo princess.
Dr. F
Dear Dr. Forsythe: The cost of paying my vet bills for my dog, two cats, ferret, and pot-bellied pig are putting me in the poor farm. I have considered pet insurance, but what does it cover? One of my dogs already has arthritis, would that be covered?
Overwhelmed on the farm
Dear Overwhelmed: It sounds like insurance might still be a good idea for you to consider. There are several different companies offering policies that help pay for office visit, lab fees, hospitalization, medications, treatments, X rays and surgery. Most policies have a vaccination and wellness rider that can be added to allow basic wellness to be covered as well. This adds coverage for physical exams, vaccines, flea and heartworm control, spays/neuter and dental cleanings. Policies are available for dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, reptiles, exotics, and yes, even pot-bellied pigs! With these policies, you can go to the veterinarian of your choice or switch veterinarians if you choose (not every veterinarian who will treat your dog or cat will be equally excited about caring for your ferret or piglet).
Only about 20 percent of my clients have insurance for their pets, but these are excellent clients who generally want the finest care at all times for their animals. Having the insurance coverage frees them up enough to allow them to be worry free about costs and simply focus on the best medical care for their pets in all situations at all times. You can type in “pet insurance” online and you will have your choice of several sites to look at. Good luck.
Dr. F
Dear Dr. Forsythe: Why is it important to feed special food to a diabetic? Isn’t it really important to give the insulin to my cat?
Jake’s Mom
Dear Mom: Insulin is very important, and most doctors agree that the important thing is for a cat to eat something at the time he gets his insulin. Remember to roll the insulin bottle, never shake it, and do not let if freeze inside the fridge.
But food is also an important aspect. I often prescribe Diatetic Management for my feline patients, but there are other excellent foods as well. An increased concentration of high-quality protein provides the cat’s essential amino acid requirements and a substrate for glucose production. With this taking place, the carbohydrate content of the diet may be reduced, and the result is a more consistent, steady release of glucose and the potential for reduced insulin requirements. Since diabetes is a difficult disease that can fluctuate, keeping a cat regulated and healthy by nutritional as well as medicinal means is a valuable thing to keep in mind. Good luck!
Dr. F
