Kitten neurological problem

[Michen]

So upset Bob has his first vaccinations a week ago. Was rightly quiet for a day then bounced back.

I noticed a couple of days ago he just seemed less exuberant. Still eating, drinking, purring as normal but more sleepy and not climbing curtains etc as much.

Decided to take him to the vet today after no improvement and noticing his back legs seemed a little trembly, though walking fine etc.

Only thing vet could find was temp on high end of normal range, vet advised bring back Friday for another check to see if it’s changed but if not it may be a neurological issue that’s coming apparent as he gets older

No way of saying if/how quick it would get worse. Feel really sad if this is the case as although he seems happy enough he’s definitely not the bounding around nutty fella he should be.

Has anyone had any experience of this?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

No but if I had taken a kitten with a high(ish) temperature, I would have expected the vet to prescribe anti-biotics. When they are so small, they can succumb to things very quickly.

I do have experience of taking an animal to the vet to be told, nothing can be found and then the animal's condition deteriorates. I think it is because the owner notices even the smallest signs. I would be prepared for a return visit tomorrow, OP, when his symptoms are more obvious.

Fingers crossed it's something easily treated, once the vet has noticed it.

 

[Michen]

No but if I had taken a kitten with a high(ish) temperature, I would have expected the vet to prescribe anti-biotics. When they are so small, they can succumb to things very quickly.

I do have experience of taking an animal to the vet to be told, nothing can be found and then the animal's condition deteriorates. I think it is because the owner notices even the smallest signs. I would be prepared for a return visit tomorrow, OP, when his symptoms are more obvious.

Fingers crossed it's something easily treated, once the vet has noticed it.

It’s still in normal range though, just the higher end of normal. She said you want to be careful about pumping a young kitten full of “off label” drugs without having real necessity to do so I can’t say I know enough about felines to be sure so feel I needed to be guided by the vet.

Fully prepared to take him back tomorrow if he seems even slightly worse. Vet did agree with me that he didn’t seem quite right.

It’s hard as right now he’s sitting playing with his ball but I KNOW he’s not what he was a few days ago.

 

[cobgoblin]

I would be wondering if it was a vaccine reaction.

 

[Michen]

I would be wondering if it was a vaccine reaction.

I asked the vet that but she said really unlikely given the time frame and the fact he has been fine in between

 

[BeckyFlowers]

Could it be that he's still just getting over the vaccinations? They can make cats go a bit funny, I remember my dad's old cat (this was in the 90s) would be so ill after annual vaccinations, as in he looked like he was dying and was subsequently hospitalised, they eventually stopped having him vaccinated. Cats (and all animals) can react idiosyncratically to drugs just like we can. My Daisy had a dose of Convenia antibiotic last year and she acted strangely for a couple of days afterwards - she acted like she had the stuffing knocked out of her and could hardly keep her head off the floor. She did have it a couple of months ago after dental surgery and she was fine though.

Hopefully he will just keep getting more and more back to his lovely little self in the next few days, and the fact he's eating drinking and purring (and hopefully pooping) normally is a good sign.

Can we have another pic please pretty please?

 

[cobgoblin]

I asked the vet that but she said really unlikely given the time frame and the fact he has been fine in between

Have a Google. Some effects take weeks.

 

[Michen]

I guess the vet thought unlikely as he was fine in between after an initial quiet day, totally normal and then went downhill.

I’ll have a google. Gutted if it is neurological, he’s such an energetic bouncy ball.

Only recent pic I have! He is king of the dogs. Was chasing them around the house and hiding behind stuff to swat them!

 

[BeckyFlowers]

Bob, King of Dogs. All hail Bob!

 

[BeckyFlowers]

That dog on the right's face 😂😂😂

 

[cobgoblin]

I guess the vet thought unlikely as he was fine in between after an initial quiet day, totally normal and then went downhill.

I’ll have a google. Gutted if it is neurological, he’s such an energetic bouncy ball.

Only recent pic I have! He is king of the dogs. Was chasing them around the house and hiding behind stuff to swat them!

View attachment 35726

The trembly legs could just have been because he's little and wasn't feeling well... A bit weak and wobbly.

 

[AmyMay]

If he’s no better tomorrow I would take him back and ask for antibiotics in the first instance, anti inflammatories and pain relief.

It’s too much of a coincidence not to be vaccine related, imo.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

That's what I would do, no idea why the vet was talking about 'off label' a-b's, I have had broad- spectrum a-b's administered when the vet didn't really know what was going on.

 

[Michen]

That's what I would do, no idea why the vet was talking about 'off label' a-b's, I have had broad- spectrum a-b's administered when the vet didn't really know what was going on.

I thought she meant because he was too young but google is telling me otherwise.

Now I’m really cross I might take him to my equine (small animals also) practice, I didn’t go with them originally as they are forty mins away.

Thoughts on changing vet practice for second opinion? No insurance here so makes no diff from that respect.

 

[BeckyFlowers]

I thought she meant because he was too young but google is telling me otherwise.

Now I’m really cross I might take him to my equine (small animals also) practice, I didn’t go with them originally as they are forty mins away.

Thoughts on changing vet practice for second opinion? No insurance here so makes no diff from that respect.

If you're still worried then yes go for a second opinion 👍

 

[Shady]

I thought she meant because he was too young but google is telling me otherwise.

Now I’m really cross I might take him to my equine (small animals also) practice, I didn’t go with them originally as they are forty mins away.

Thoughts on changing vet practice for second opinion? No insurance here so makes no diff from that respect.

I would ask for a second opinion and in particular ask that his heart is checked thoroughly. My first thought would be this rather than the vaccine but totally agree that the connection is too obvious not to dismiss tho I would expect any reaction to stop after a few days not start. Could be that something else was lurking around and in a slightly weakened state showed itself
Not at all sure why your vet didn't prescribe a broad spectrum antibiotic, agree with Pearl and Amymay on that. I'd maybe want a flush through on a drip too. A raised temperature and signs of weakness/ tiredness/trembling in a kitten is not normal.
I'm sorry Michen, i'm sure none of that is what you want to hear but i'm not convinced at this point from what you are saying that it's neurological.
Do hope he is better tomorrow xxx
Let us know? x

 

[Michen]

I would ask for a second opinion and in particular ask that his heart is checked thoroughly. My first thought would be this rather than the vaccine but totally agree that the connection is too obvious not to dismiss tho I would expect any reaction to stop after a few days not start. Could be that something else was lurking around and in a slightly weakened state showed itself
Not at all sure why your vet didn't prescribe a broad spectrum antibiotic, agree with Pearl and Amymay on that. I'd maybe want a flush through on a drip too. A raised temperature and signs of weakness/ tiredness/trembling in a kitten is not normal.
I'm sorry Michen, i'm sure none of that is what you want to hear but i'm not convinced at this point from what you are saying that it's neurological.
Do hope he is better tomorrow xxx
Let us know? x

I think something neurological would be the worst case scenario? So anything else has to be better than that?

I have no idea what to think now as he’s currently charging around the house again which he hasn’t done for 48 hours.. despite having been really flat a mere hour ago...

I am stumped.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

Both of mine were poorly after their vaccination but one had a delayed reaction a day later than the other. My ginger kitten also had a noticeable limp after his first vaccinations but it disappeared within a few days and I took him to the vet to check him. The second vaccination didn’t have any noticeable effect on them.

It seems too much of a coincidence that it appeared after the vaccination and agree anti-inflammatory/ ABs may be appropriate.

 

[Shady]

I think something neurological would be the worst case scenario? So anything else has to be better than that?

I have no idea what to think now as he’s currently charging around the house again which he hasn’t done for 48 hours.. despite having been really flat a mere hour ago...

I am stumped.

Yes within reason regarding anything else being better! There are health problems that only start showing themselves as the kitten matures and the heart is one of them. Of course there are viral ones too but I mentioned it because of the sleepyness and trembling back legs so i'd want to rule it out before considering just a vaccine reaction .

 

[Michen]

He just clawed the s*** out of my hand, normality resumes 🙈

 

[Shady]

He just clawed the s*** out of my hand, normality resumes 🙈

Lol, there's nothing quite like tiny needle claws!!!
See what he's like in the morning, watch his breathing and how much he eats. If you think he seems totally normal maybe monitor tomorrow or monitor for the bulk of the day if you can with an optional early evening appointment that you could cancel if he looks ok.x

 

[Michen]

Lol, there's nothing quite like tiny needle claws!!!
See what he's like in the morning, watch his breathing and how much he eats. If you think he seems totally normal maybe monitor tomorrow or monitor for the bulk of the day if you can with an optional early evening appointment that you could cancel if he looks ok.x

Really odd though, can a poorly kitten really just resume normality like that? He seems totally back to normal, like a switch has been flicked. Long may it continue but in the mean time I’ve been on the edge of tears all evening thinking his brain was not growing correctly (thanks vet!)

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I'm glad that he seems to be feeling better, as Shady says, monitor and if you are at all worried take him immediately for a 2nd opinion. Fingers crossed it was just a delayed reaction to the vaccs and he's over it now.

 

[SusieT]

For all those recommending ab just because - lets hope none of your relatives ever have antibiotic resistance because of irresponsible use! The vet is quite right to not randomly give out ab unless a suspicion of bacterial infection is seen- they should not be given out just because the patient is young,etc. - that's no more reason to give them
OP absoloutely get a second opinion if you need to, but be glad your vet is responsible and not just giving a jab of 'this and that'to please the client..

 

[Shady]

Whilst I do take your point about AB's, a raised temperature in a kitten can and often does indicate there is an infection present even if there are no visible symptoms. Kittens can go down hill very, very quickly and if the temperature had elevated rather than reduce Michen could have been looking at an emergency . I know because it has happened to me. Personally ,given the symptoms I would have asked for AB's and an anti inflammatory .
Many of my cats have been stabilised/saved because I insisted on AB's .

 

[Michen]

t

Whilst I do take your point about AB's, a raised temperature in a kitten can and often does indicate there is an infection present even if there are no visible symptoms. Kittens can go down hill very, very quickly and if the temperature had elevated rather than reduce Michen could have been looking at an emergency . I know because it has happened to me. Personally ,given the symptoms I would have asked for AB's and an anti inflammatory .
Many of my cats have been stabilised/saved because I insisted on AB's .

The vet did say several times that the temp was considered normal, just on the higher end of it and that she wanted him back to retest so that if it was outside that range she would treat.

Very happy with him this morning, his toys are all over the place so he’s clearly been playing in the night too. I’m still not understanding what changed last night in the space of an hour!

 

[Mule]

t


The vet did say several times that the temp was considered normal, just on the higher end of it and that she wanted him back to retest so that if it was outside that range she would treat.

Very happy with him this morning, his toys are all over the place so he’s clearly been playing in the night too. I’m still not understanding what changed last night in the space of an hour!

Glad to hear it. I have found that they improve from illness and injury much quicker than we do.

 

[scats]

Hope it is just a reaction to his vaccine.
He’s a gorgeous kitten!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I'm glad he seems to be over whatever it was.

On this occasion the vet's action was correct BUT, like Shady, I have had experience of things going rapidly the other way. I would have expected the vet to say bring him back tomorrow, if he is no better, if she really thought that a-b's were not indicated at that stage. Kittens are so tiny that they have no reserves to fall back on.

 

[Michen]

In hindsight I think probably being hard on the vet. She said book in for Friday if the same or if any worse tomorrow (today).

As I keep saying his temperature was considered normal, just on the higher end of it.

I don’t know enough about kittens to know whether vet was correct or not to not immediately prescribe drugs but now that I am less upset and worried I can see that her process made sense.