The vet advised me to bring Juno in this morning so I did.
The fecal examination showed no more coccidia today, so this might mean the Baycox did its work. But no test gives a 100% certainty since it was just a sample of fecal matter. Yesterday’s test showed “a few” coccidia. Today, no more. That’s all we know.
To cover all our bases, the vet also did a parvovirus test. Because some of Juno’s symptoms could be related to parvovirus. I waited with trepidation as the test was going on. What a relief that the test turned out negative. But can we rule out parvovirus? Not yet, the vet explained. Sometimes, in the beginning stage, the test will be negative. But later, it may turn out to be positive.
But the ear-prick PBF showed more elevated WBC. For parvovirus, the WBC would be very low and can even go to zero. So, we may rule out parvovirus for now. Still, this is not with 100% certainty.
But something was truly alarming – Juno’s temperature. It took three tries before we got her temperature (because she is SO fierce and three people were needed to get it done). Juno’s temperature is 41 degrees, which is life-threatening. And this was taken with her moving about so much (which usually results in a lower reading than what it is). And yet, Juno did not even feel warm to the touch. She just felt “normal”.
The vet said to hospitalise. Juno needs to be on drip with IV-antibiotics to bring down the fever and address the diarrhoea.
While at the clinic, Juno had diarrhoea twice too, after the thermometer was inserted into her rectum. Probably due to all the stress as well.
Attempts to insert the IV-port was done. Again, Juno was so fierce, so one paw failed and the vet had to try on the other paw. Now, she has two paws shaven.
Without traumatising her too much, we settled her in the isolation ward (one small room to herself). The vet would do the blood test later to check for other concerns. She did mention possible organ failure because of the high temperature.
I just got the blood test results now. Thankfully, all is “still okay”. No organ failure. Her kidneys and liver are fine. The other readings are also okay. Only the PLT is low, but this happens when blood is drawn.
The vet has started treatment for the diarrhoea. She explained that Juno probably has a secondary infection in her gut now, may or may not have gone up to the small intestines. But the colon is very inflamed resulting in her severe diarrhoea. For coccidia infection, normally, there is only the diarrhoea and no loss of appetite. But Juno has other symptoms too – she has vomiting, loss of appetite and weakness.
The vet also mentioned that maybe the previous mycoplasma infection has returned. Oh dear…. Juno had that suspected infection on 1st October 2024. That is a bacterial infection.
But whatever it is, we are doing everything we can for Juno now.
I will be visiting Juno again later this afternoon.
Please get well soon, Juno. We are here for you.