Spoke Too Soon

I can’t tell you how happy I was to be able to write yesterday’s post.  When Dora came to me healthy, I was still plenty cautious.  I know from lots of experience that no matter how good a kitten looks one day, it can be deathly sick the next.  But this is different.  When I blogged about Dora early yesterday morning, she had been with me a week!  And she showed no signs of ANY problems.  I fed the three (Jaws, Violet, and Dora) about 6:00am and all three ate great.  I ate breakfast then grabbed my coffee and headed to the computer to post my happy story about Dora.  I raced around doing a few more things in the house before getting ready to start the work day at my kennel.  Stepped into the bathroom to pull my hair up and started talking to the three little kittens.  Violet was chasing Jaws all over the place and Jaws was loving it.  Dora was watching from one of the beds.  As I was twisting my hair up into a pony tail, something started feeling wrong to me.  What was it?  Something was lurking around in the back of my mind while I was running a mental checklist of some of the tasks I needed to do when I got to the kennel.  Then the background thought suddenly slammed into the front of my brain.  Dora wasn’t moving.  I dropped to my knees beside her.  She didn’t move.  I said her name and put my hand on her.  She was way too warm.  If I hadn’t needed to race to the phone I probably would have sat there in shock with my mouth open.  WHAT?!?!  How could this even be happening?  She was JUST eating two hours before – standing right beside her two friends.  

Her temp was 105.  I got A on the phone at my vet clinic who said – Can you be here by 9:30?  My response – Yes, I’m on my way.

I’ve explained that my vet clinic is a solid half hour from home.   I rode with Dora in her bed on my lap.  No need for a carrier – she wasn’t moving.  During the trip I talked quietly to Dora and sometimes we rode in silence.  I thought back through everything I had JUST written about her on this blog.  It had been a week.   I was convinced that I had the only kitten EVER who didn’t go through something critical.  I wrote all about it.  But I spoke too soon.  

 When I got to the clinic with her, Dr. C took her temp and it was high.  He gave a fever-reducing injection and we talked about what to do.  I said that she had been in a room with two other kittens, one of whom had been very sick.  However, I explained that the sick kitten had completely recovered before Dora was introduced to her.   Dr. C made me feel much better when he said he wouldn’t have advised keeping them apart at that point anyway.   There was no way to know exactly what was wrong or why it happened.  He sent us home with medication.

Dora was lifting her head on the way home.  There she was – this tiny little love on her bed in my lap.  I knew the fever-reducing medication was taking effect.  She stood once and rearranged herself.  And then she looked straight up at me and a tiny little meow came out.  I told her how much I love her and that she didn’t have to worry.  I’ll take care of you little Dora.  Just PLEASE get better.  PLEASE be one of the ones who makes it.  She stretched her tiny little legs out and made a couple of muffins on the side of her bed.  Here I was again – hoping and praying that a tiny little creature would survive and thrive. 

Yesterday she didn’t feel good but she did keep eating.  I’m terrified that today when the fever-reducing medication wears off (it’s supposed to last 24 hours) she will go downhill.  Dr. C gave me a second dose to use today only if absolutely necessary (it’s a medication that is only used sparingly in such tiny kittens).  She HAS to keep eating and I will have to base the decision about fever on how it’s affecting her appetite.  Once a kitten stops eating, there is a huge risk that the kitten won’t re-start eating.  And then you lose them. 

  

before she was sick

 

Friends, I’d sure take some thoughts and prayers for tiny little Dora.   I’ll keep you posted.

Comments

[Goldie Goodwin]

Sending Prayers for Dora

[Cynthia Prentice]

Prayers being sent for little Dora, thank God she has you!

[Random Felines]

ok you furry monkey - knock that off....

[Cat's Cats]

Sweet Dora, we are praying for you!

[Lori Lemon]

Prayers & healing energy going out for sweet little Dora. I pray that her fever & whatever else is ailing her disappears just as quickly as it appeared. Poor baby.

[Andrea and the Celestial Kitties]

Oh Dora! Please bounce back fast! Eat, little one, eat! Sending prayers your way and hoping this was just a freak thing that wont be repeated! We're with you, Chrystal, in hoping and praying and willing this little one to get better!
Friends, lets think positively! Let's find a home for Dora and Violet because we KNOW they will be well and ready to go before too long! (after being spayed and growing a little more!) Lets find homes for lots of kitties so there's more room to save more!
Lets not forget the FUNdraiser! Lets not forget the wish list! Lets help where we can!

[Renee Phelps]

Oh no! I heard you were in with her yesterday! Prayers for sweet Dora!!

[The Poupounette Gang]

Oh Chrystal, that is just not fair. We are sending every good thought and crossing every paw, hoof and finger for little Dora.

[virginia wells]

Prayers are coming to Dora from me and all I have told to pray. She might be sick from weather and allergies. She is such a sweet pretty baby. We all love her so please keep us up to date on her condition. She could have been out side for days. She is in good hands now, she is warm and safe and has food and vet care. Rest easy dear Dora and recover.

[da tabbies o trout towne]

dora...hay ewe wee one, we haz asked R pal St Francis two send az mannee healing blessings two ewe & then sum...pleez ta eat, regain yur strength , stop havin a feverz pleez & bee well ♥♥♥♥♥

[Caren Gittleman]

purring and praying with everything I have that this precious little one makes it!

[Karen Lucas]

I saw a card recently that said something like - Dear God: Dude, wtf! That's how I'm feeling right now. Dora, you MUST get better and go on to be either Chrystal's kitty as someone already suggested or someone else's heart kitty, you just must. We are all hugging you in love and prayers.

[Ellen Pilch]

We are praying and purring for Dora.

[Maria in CT]

Prayers and good thoughts coming your way for our sweet Dora. I choose to believe that she will be okay....and I believe that prayers are answered. Keep trying sweet girl!