Burt is discharged...and readmitted (Norshidah's)

Poor Burt…he had been undergoing treatment at the vet’s for more than a month now, for sporotrichosis, but the vet has informed Norshidah that Burt isn’t getting better and there is nothing more he can do for Burt now.

So, Nor texted me for advice and I thought it would be best to discharge Burt and bring him to another vet.

I also spoke to the vet who had treated Burt and he explained that Burt did show promising signs in the first two weeks of treatment, but he had some complications after that and deteriorated. This vet has tried everything he knows and he has nothing more to offer for Burt. Hence, it was only fair that Norshidah be informed of the situation.

I asked the vet if Burt could be tested for FIV and FeLV and if so, perhaps RetroMAD1 can be used. The vet had not heard about RetroMAD1 but after explaining how it works and how it might help, he said it was possible.

This evening, Nor discharged Burt and brought him over to our panel vet for another opinion and I met them there.

Our vet said it looked like the stubborn sporo wound on the nose is healing after all as there is some “hardening” on the perimeter of the wound. However, she suspects there could be organ deterioration in Burt as he looks quite thin. She agrees that the FIV/FeLV test would be useful.

Unfortunately, Norshidah cannot foster Burt and our panel vet does not have any isolation ward to take in sporo cats, so we had to source for another vet.

I suggested a vet I know, and our panel vet called to explain the case. The vet over there said if Burt was friendly and easy to handle, they could take him in.

Hooray!

So, Nor brought Burt over and the short story is, boarding and treatment would be RM30 per day.

Burt is there now, and the FIV./FeLV test will be done soon.

We have sponsored RM200 for Burt’s initial treatment while PetFinder.my sponsored RM500. The total bill was RM1428 and the balance was covered by Nor herself and friends.

Nor has now requested for further sponsorship for Burt at this clinic. We have pledged a further RM300 as our maximum for each case is RM500.

We hope Burt will get well this time. Our vet told us that in some cases, sporo patients only show improvement after 20 weeks of medication (that’s 5 months!). No wonder many vets are reluctant to treat sporo cases and would rather suggest euthanasia, especially when sporo is zoonotic and if there is no fosterer for the cat. Treatment is prolonged and in some cases, not rewarding. Previously, FIV or FeLV positive sporo cases were regarded as terminal and “would not heal at all”, but now, with RetroMAD1, we have some hope.

Get well soon, Burt.

Burt is discharged…and readmitted (Norshidah’s)

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