Vet recommendations

[evilaphrodesia]

My kitten is sick-- some specifics: he's been coughing and gagging and I was just feeling around his belly and gently touching it and he started making these weird breathing noises and gurgling sounds, still purring. It freaked me out. We think he's been eating things that he shouldn't be (like we believe he may have eaten some of the filter that

Comments

[enragedpetunia]

Poor kitty. I hate when my critters are sick

[evilaphrodesia]

Thank you for your insight. I am not familiar with that place, but will check it out. After I posted this he had another bout of hacking and gurgling, and his tongue was hanging out. I thought maybe hairball but it should have come up by now. He's being lethargic. Usually he's running around terrorizing the girls (our other two cats) with all his energy, but he's been very low-key this week.

He is strictly indoors. I went through his adoption paperwork and he did have a URI when he was brought into the SPCA back in March, and since then we've treated him for pink eye, twice.

I'm not exactly sure what the filter is made of but it has carbon in it and feels a bit like a scrubber sponge. I am sure we should get a stool sample to take in wherever we end up going. It does seem respiratory though. He's just not himself and we're very worried.

Thanks again for your help. You might not be a vet but being a vet tech I'm sure you see a lot of this type of thing. By the way, do you know if there's any way to tell if he has a fever?

[enragedpetunia]

Is his color okay? Does his tongue look normal color? What color are his gums? Both should be pink. If you are in doubt of himhaving any trouble breathing, he needs to see a vet ASAP. Any open mouthed breathing in a cat is not good.
You can take his temperature. Norma cat temp is around 100-102.5F. You can use a regular human oral digital thermometer. I use plain vaseline to lubricate it. Just go slow and don't rush it, he will relax his sphincter muscles eventually!
The phone number for Orchard Park Veterinary Medical Center is 662-6660. They have a website as well.
Keep me updated, okay? My laptop is resting so I am using the computer of the downstairs folks but I will try to check at least once more tonight.

[enragedpetunia]

PS Sorry for any typos. Downstairs folks need a new keyboard!

[longnwindngroad]

So sorry to hear your little one is having problems. :( We go to Georgetown on Sheridan. We love Dr. Newman Sr. He is so kind and gentle and wise. He is especially fond of our old lady Cloe. She wouldn't be alive today if it wasn't for Dr. Newman. If you do call there to get an appointment with him, you have to ask specifically for Dr. Newman Sr because his son also is on staff there. Nothing against his son but Sr Newman is our hero.

[ghstlady1522]

Oh hun *HUG* OP Vets are really, really, good. They are known for going above and beyond (IMHO sometimes more than they should) so I'm sure they'll make him well.

Keep us all posted!! (PS: you're right down the street from me, call if you need ANYTHING, I can run it over to you guys!)