Finally Home Animal Haven in Scottsville, Virginia

Nov 15th

10:00AM UPDATE - THACKERY IS BEING HOSPITALIZED

He has lost some weight since Wednesday since he will not eat and they want to keep a close eye on him. Being only 1.2lbs he is such a little baby. He is receiving IV fluids and being administered meds through an IV.

Current estimate is $350. Keep sending healing prayers his way!

8:00AM UPDATE on Thackery-Headed to the vet again

We took him straight to the vet Wednesday and had him started on antibiotics. He wasn’t running a fever which was great news even though he was coughing quite a bit. The vet did hear a crackle in his lungs suggesting he was working on pneumonia but we were relieved that we brought him in before it got worse. The vet decided to prescribe him worming meds in addition to FortiFlora to help his immune system start fighting this virus off.

Yesterday morning he had even more draining and was unexcited about eating or drinking whatsoever. We moved him into the bathroom where we could run hot water and steam up the room to help with his nonstop coughing. We also ran a heating pad in to keep him warm. We tried warming his food and choosing really “smelly” foods (a trick to entice sick cats to eat) but he is still completely uninterested. (Not even baby food which is a sure bet typically in most sick cats!) We knew it was a “wait and see” game as we had to give him time to allow several doses of antibiotics to kick in and hopefully turn him around.

Due to the fact that he has been completely uninterested in food or water in over 24 hours we are beginning to worry about him becoming dehydrated and weak (which can happen very quickly in kittens). He’s only been able to be started on his antibiotics so far since he is unwilling to eat. He is beginning to mouth breathe with exertion. He is just so little and despite being so fluffy, his ribs are very prominent under all his fur.

We are headed back to the drawing board today to see if the vet can help him feel better. We are expecting he will at least need IV fluids and anti-nausea meds. Hopefully we can get him feeling well enough to eat and drink on his own. Please keep this boy in your thoughts and prayers!

Bills pile up as always and this is the 3rd time we’ve been to the vet in a week, but we will not give up!

These animals lives depend on kindhearted souls like you and I and the hands that help us at FHAH!

If you’d like to help in his care, anything is greatly appreciated and goes directly to helping him get the medical care he needs!

Nov 20th

Thackery update:

This little fella was able to stay out of the ER this past weekend thanks to the wonderful staff at Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic!

They hospitalized him Friday and gave him IV fluids, antinausea meds and IV antibiotics. (They reported that he was not a fan of the cone though!)

He was kept on a course of antibiotics all weekend and will continue throughout this week along with probiotics. Frequent steam and a humidifier did wonders for his nasal passages and although he still had a significant wet cough, he was able to stop mouth breathing.

He has maintained a bigger appetite the past several days (which was nonexistent in the beginning) and is even trying to play! We are so happy he is feeling better and things are turning around for this adorable guy!

Dec 1st

Thackery update:

He has been doing so well since he was hospitalized 11 days ago! Originally his refusal to eat had caused him to lose weight and we worried about him being so small already. We were trying all types of food that would entice him to eat and thankfully his antinausea meds made him so hungry! We worked very hard to get him to gain weight and we succeded as he has since reached 1.74lbs (a gain of a 1/2 of a pound!!) He finished all of his antibiotics and probiotics and returned to the vet last week to make sure he was still improving. They were so happy with his progress and he’s finally been cleared from being contagious! They even gave him his first vaccine to jumpstart his protection from other viruses. We are excited and encouraged that he will continue gain weight. Hopeful that his journey will only get brighter from here!