Conference misery::feline_v1

    Cricket is just teething.  When Honey was about that age, I also
    noticed blood, and I found a tooth.  Naturally, I called my very
    understanding vet, who explained to me how babies loose their teeth
    and new ones come in.  I was very embarrassed....
    
    You might want to check with your vet, but unless she's not able
    to eat, or is showing some signs of distress, I'd assume it's just
    baby teething.  At least she doesn't keep you up all night crying!!
    
    Mary
    

    
    
    	I called my vet, and he wants to see her right away. I wouldn't
    be so worried about it, but it's been 24 hours of steady bleeding.
    They got all worked up about it at the vets and said if it was
    teething, she would've done it at 4-5 months. And it's not just
    a little bit of blood, when she sleeps, her mouth fills with it
    and she leaves pools wherever she sleeps. I'm so afraid it's something
    serious! She does seem to have trouble eating her kitten chow, so
    I gave her some tender vittles, which she ate carefully. She wouldn't
    let me open her mouth this morning, either. I will be taking her
    to the vets this afternoon, so we'll see what they say....
    

    
    
    Please let us know how Cricket makes out today.  And hang in 
    there.
    
    Carole
    

    A few months ago, Justa lost some kitten teeth.  She looked _so_
    funny when one of her little "fang" teeth was sort of hanging by
    a thread and sticking out of her mouth at a wierd angle.  Sweet
    little snaggle tooth!
    
    Marion

    
    
    	Well, the vet says it's teething. :) He gave her an injection
    of coagulant to help stop the bleeding, and I'm supposed to dab
    iodine solution on her gums (anyone wanna help hold her down for
    me? :) ). She looks so pitiful, doesn't play or anything. How long
    will this last? I hate to see her like this! (my poor baby.....)
    

    
    
    Sherry, that is good news!
    
    C.
    

    Thank heavens .. the poor little baby..
    regards
    kate

    
    
    	Thanks for the support - I was so worried about my poor baby!!
    She's still really down  - I even let her sleep in my room last
    night because she didn't play with Rosie at all, so I knew she was
    bummin. Poor kid. She looks like she has the mumps! 
    

	 Neither Josh  or  Becky  bled  when they lost their fangs, but,
     Josh  had  double fangs for a while until the 'baby' ones fell out.
     Becky  lost  all all her fangs and had to wait until the 'grownups'
     grew in. Boy was she at a disadvantage in the tussels!!

    
    
    	I had to rush Cricket back to the vets again last night because
    she was crouched down, staring at the floor all day, didn't eat
    or drink, and cried when I tried to pick her up. Her gums were very
    swollen and white. She was just miserable. He gave her another vit
    K injection, then vit C, and put her on tetracycline/prednisone.
    He says he's never seen a kitten get this bad while teething. I
    think she looks a little better this morning - she looked up at
    me instead of just looking at the floor, anyways. I guess she'll
    be okay, I've just never had an animal get sick on me before
    (obviously!). :) 
    

        Poor Cricket!  Could she have an impacted tooth or something (is
    that what you call it?)?  Are xrays in order?  A visit to a vet
    who specializes in dentistry?  Please keep us informed
    about what's happening.  Hang in there.
    
    

    
    
    I am worried about Cricket.  If her gums are "white" as you said,
    as well as all swolen, perhaps there's more to it.  Have you considered
    getting a second oppinion?
    
    Marion

    
    
    
    	If she's no better tonight, I'll have to do something!! It sounds
    more serious than just teething to me, too. He asked me if she could've
    gotten into any rat poison, but she never goes out, or into the
    cellar or attic. There are no plants around she could've eaten...
    I don't know what else to do.                                  
                                                                   
      
    	Okay, I just called home, and she did eat a little bit this
    morning, but she's been sleeping all day.(I don't blame her). At
    least she's eating something. 
    
      	Is it possible that she might be hemophilic? He gave her a shot
    behind her shoulder, and she bled from that for awhile, too. 
    	

    I agree here.. maybe you need a second opinion... Poor baby...
    keep us posted..
    regards
    kate and pookie

    
    Cricket was admitted to the hospital this morning after being up
    all night, panting and crying. She is having a much-needed blood
    transfusion. Her leukemia test came back negative, but her blood
    cell counts were extremely low. She has less than a 50-50 chance,
    but they're going to do what they can for her until it becomes 
    apparent that she definitely wont make it. It all happened so fast,
    they think it might be liver dysfunction. 
    
    I am completely heartbroken. I don't know what to do with myself!

    I am so sorry to hear that if you feel the need to talk to someone
    or if you need someone to gowith you to the the drs,, I WOULD BE
    very willing to come with you.. my home phone #603-8884426
    my dtn is 264-4040..
    regards
    kate

    I am so sorry to hear about this.  I have been worried about cricket
    ever since you first put your note in.  I to am extending my shoulder
    to cry on or an ear to listen if you need one.  my DTN is 273-3402
    if you just want to talk.  
    
    Mine, Tabbatha's, and Silver's prayers are with you and cricket.
    
    Holly

    
    
    Looks like it's time for me to give St. Francis a call and see what
    he can do for Cricket.  In the meantime think positive and remember
    that old wives tale about 9 lives.  Cats can make some remarkable
    medical turnarounds.
    
    Marion

    Hi Sherri, make sure you visit Cricket in the hospital if
    you can, I think it helps in the recovery.  Did Cricket's
    blood chemistry show any organ dysfunction or was that not
    tested for in the initial blood test?  I'm always confused
    as to how a vet can assess chances for recovery, when they
    don't really know what's wrong with the cat?  Well, at
    least she's not at NEICM, right!  What vet do you go to now?
    
    I will have my three fabulous felines send their get well
    vibes to Cricket tonight.  Please keep us posted on her
    progress.
    
    Donna
    

    We three send our love to Cricket.  I am wondering about what is
    actually wrong.
    
    Karen, Sweetie, and Holly.
    

    
    Cricket is now at the Northboro Veterinary Clinic under the care
    of Dr Roy. They did a felv blood test, and a quick blood cell 
    count. I think the chance of her recovery was estimated according
    to her condition and the fact that she was also passing blood in
    her urine. (on top of everything else!). She said that just putting
    the catheter in her could be enough of a strain to `push her over
    the edge'. She was so weak this morning. If she doesn't reject the
    transfusion, and if there was no permanent damage, she might recover.
    Another thing, her temperature was down to 97, so they were going
    to set her up on a heating pad.                                
     
    When I called at noon, they were in the process of giving her the
    transfusion. They said to call around four. I will definitely try
    to visit her on my way home. 
    
    She just died. 
    

    Sherri,
    
    Very sorry to hear this.  Although it is hard to think about right
    now, have a postmortem (autopsy) done immediately to determine what
    the cause was.  A kitten shouldn't have this happen.  If I recall
    from your previous notes, Cricket had been a healthy kitten until
    this incident.  You will need to know if it was anything infectious
    should you decide to get another kitten to help you.
    
    Frank

    I'm so terribly sorry to hear about this.  I know it is so hard
    for you.  At least she was in safe and loving hands all the time;
    I'm sure she knew that.
    
    I know you probably don't want to think about this, but I second
    Frank's suggestion of an autopsy.  My Pussycat died of leukemia
    very rapidly (from no symptoms to death in one week), and it has
    turned out to be a small comfort to know what was actually wrong.
    It is also why I have Sweetie and Holly innoculated against leukemia,
    even though they are indoor cats (as Pussycat was for 8 years before
    he died);  perhaps my knowing this has saved their lives.
    
    

    Sherri, my heartfelt sympathy.  I really thought Cricket
    would hang in there.  I third the suggestion for an autopsy.
    The vet suspected poisoning at some point didn't he?  If
    Cricket did die from some accidental poisoning, you would
    want to know this too, to prevent it in the future.  You
    might ask the vet if they normally check the blood and
    organs for poisonous substances.
    
    I will have my beloved Doodies (who left me for kitty heaven
    3.5 years ago) take care of Cricket.
    
    Donna

    Sherri,
    
    I feel so badly for you over your loss.  No words or notes can make
    you feel better right now.  Our thoughts are with you....
    
    Mary
    

    Sherri,
    
    I am so sorry.  I've read these notes with tears in my eyes and
    trying to think of something to say.  Well, I can't think of
    anything except that I'm very, very sorry.  
    
    Kathy

    You can add my sympathies to the list also. It is always very painful
    losing a friend and loved one, even if they are furry and walk on
    four legs instead of two. We just want you to know that all of our
    prayers go with cricket on his journey and we know that he will
    find a place that is just as nice as the one he left. There is
    definitely a kitty heaven and I'm sure that cricket now resides
    there along with all of the other kitties that have had to leave
    us, even though they wanted to stay with us. I know that there is
    no way to lessen the grieving caused by his passing but you do have
    the support and sympathy of everyone in this note file.
    
    						Geoff

    Oh Sherri, I am so sorry to hear this.  At least cricket didn't
    suffer for too long.  The poor baby.  I'll tell Jingles and Button
    to take care of cricket for you, too.  she'll have a lot of big
    sisters and brothers up in kitty heaven.  Reading this note also
    made me want to cry.  
    
    Holly

    I'm a bit misty-eyed myself typing this in, but...
    
    My heart goes out to you.  It's hard to say which is more difficult:
    losing a friend so quickly when there's nothing you can do, or watching
    a friend suffer when there's nothing you can do.
    
    Cricket certainly will have quite a ready-made family in kitty-heaven
    from the DECcats alone -- I can vouch for Aslan, Nimbus & Jezebel
    in the big brother/sister category; and if she wants to play I'm sure
    that my Norman [Bates, the shower fetishist] and Miko from the
    under-one set would be happy to oblige.
    
    Just remember that love never goes away.  Cricket will always own
    a piece of your heart, but I know she'd be glad to make room.
    
      Annie

    Add us to the list...
    
    Edd & Aja

    my deepest, heartfelt sympathy.
    
    Deb

    
    Sherry,
    
    I am so sorry.  Cricket was (and is) a special little kitty.  Having
    lost little ones too, I know how painful it can be.  Please know
    that there are those in spirit that love animals and take care of
    them.  If you want to talk, let me know....
    
    My prayers and thoughts are with you and Cricket, and the rest of
    your family.
    
    Carole
    

    Sherri,
    
    I'm shocked to see this. Just wish to express my sympathies, and
    wish you courage with this loss. 
    
    Ad 
    

    Sherri,
    
     I want to express my heartfelt sympathy to you also -- 

			/Marian
    

    
    	Please excuse any typos, I'm a little teary-eyed this morning....
    
    	I had the autopsy done last night and the results show that
    she was hemorrhaging from neary all of her internal organs, including
    her muscles. It was definitely a clotting factor deficiency triggered
    by her teething. Once she started bleeding, it wouldn't stop, weakening
    her whole body. They did complete a transfusion, and she perked
    up a little bit, but then she began pulmonary hemorrhaging, so they
    called me and asked for permission to euthanize. That yes was the
    longest word I've ever said. I know it was the right thing, though,
    no matter how much it hurts. 
    
    	Wed night when I went to bed, I `knew', somehow. I had been
    writing a letter earlier, and she had gotten onto the table and
    sat next to my elbow the whole time I was writing. At four-thirty
    that  morning, Rosie came into my room crying and making me follow
    her into the hall, where Cricket was. It was like she knew Cricket
    really needed me, so she came and got me. I'm glad I spent that
    last night giving her comfort.
    
    	I want to thank you all for being so supportive. Even though
    I cry again with every reply and mail message I read, it does feel
    good to know you're there. Thank you.
    
    	Sherry