MJ to another vet.

Took MJ to the vet (again) for some consultation.

Apparently, they don't give Ivermectin injections, unless for severe cases where topical treatment does not show effects, as an injection may cause additional stress to the cat's body.  With ear mites and fur mites, they would recommend for Frontline Spot On and Ear Canker.  MJ was given some vitamins, as he looked a bit weak, which probably was due to the injection.

After doing some research and consultations.  I've decided to not go for the 2nd Ivermection.  After all, it would be too troublesome for me (alone with 9 cats).  And if it does cause additional stress to the cat's body, then I'll opt out.  I would like to minimize the possibility for stress on them as I think the traveling and quarantine they'll have to go through will be highly stressful for them.

So Frontline Spot One and Troy Ear Canker for the 9 of them.  This calls for another project with the cats.

I had been looking for this from the 1st time we had an ear mite attack.

I got it for RM18 each.

I got 3 boxes of this Frontline Spot On for my 9 cats.

but am wondering, why it looks different from the ones I have bought previously.

and the pipet is in blue

as compared to the previous box

and the pipet was in green

a new problem has arise =(

Initially, I found YUMIEKO to have bald spot on her ear (*suspected ear mites that had never been completely resolved).  Then I found MJ to hava a bald spot on his ear (*which appeared overnight).  Then the peak was when I found MJ had bumps on him, about 4 if I recall correctly, 2 on the right side and 2 on the left side.  There were red ones, and there were pale ones that were just about to pop out.  OF COURSE, I freaked out, did research on the net and headed for the vet.  I took both MJ and YUMIEKO.

Through the microscope, mites were found in the sample taken from MJ's ear and fur.  So the answers are ear mites and fur mites.  Ear mites? yeah I believe it had been there all the while (since SUNSHINE introduced it to the others) and was probably never resolved completely.  Fur mites? I can't be too sure of where this might came from, as the cats are completely indoor, so I suppose I am to be blamed :-| I could have been the medium carrying it with me into the house after I'd been in contact with other cats ( including strays).  And I'd have to admit that I do let people touch and carry my cats when we visit the vet, which (duh!) would be a good source for many kinds of illness.

MJ was given shots of Ivermectin & Methylpred.  While YUMIEKO was given a shot of Ivermectin.  And since all 9 of them live together at all times, it was assumed that the rest of them would have the same things on them, so off we went and took the other 7 in for their shot of Ivermectin (luckily my Mr Fiance was around to help me out, so we were done after only 2 round of trips).

Ivermectin:  it is a broad spectrum anti-parasitic medication

Methylpred: it is used for its anti-inflammatory effect, in the treatment of allergic reactions and inflammatory diseases *in this case, it's allergy to the bites

We were told to come back for the 2nd and 3rd dose of Ivermectin, in a gap of 2 weeks  BUT by then, I'd be on my own with 9 cats (that means at least 4 round of trips).  And as for the 3rd dose, it'll be so near to our travelling date, so the vet said I can use the Frontline spray to replace.. Ermm.. 

 Review on the vet:

*The vet and assistants handled the cats so gently, that it helped with the cats' anxiety :)

*The injection was a breeze for each one of the cats.  We didn't need to spend so long a time at the vet to get 7 cats injected (on the 2nd trip)

*it's a yay! on how the cats were handled =). no additional stress for the cats on top of the already stressful car rides, the new environment with probable scents of other cats and dogs and also dogs barking..

BUT:

*vet said the 3rd dose, can be replaced with Frontline, heeee how about the 2nd?

*vet mentioned 'owh, the others look ok huh' to the other 7 cats.

this calls for some research on the net!

**It was on Friday noon, and I was rushing to catch with my due date by 4 pm.  But when I found MJ with the bumps on him, immediately dropped everything, texted my supervisor about not being able to meet the due date and off we went to the vet.  After we were done at the vet, went to see my supervisor and handed in half of my stuff and the rest will come in on Monday. Phew! Thank god, for such a considerate supervisor =)

and again another visit to the vet..

This round: SUNNY / BELLA / MJ / DONNA

I didn't initially plan for this visit, but i) I left all their pet ID (wt microchip numbers) at the hosp, and I need to apply for their import by early next week, so I'd have to pick those up anyhow and ii) I don't want to have long gaps between their rabies shot, ( so that it'll be fine to have their yearly booster at one go), so I have to get all of them done within this 2 weeks.  I can only go at most twice next week and for each trip I can take a max of about 8 kg, so do the maths.

the number of trips for rabies vacc: (4 trips in 2 weeks=2 trips in 1 week)
i.   BULAN (4kg) + SUNSHINE: microcip (4kg)= 8 kg.
ii.  4 kittens (3.4+3.0+2.9+2.0) = 11.3 kg (overloaded)
iii. BINTANG (est: 4kg) + YUMIEKO (est: 4kg) = 8 kg
iv. MICHIKO (est 4 kg) + SUNSHINE (4 kg) = 8 kg


So I had to go today.  Was I happy to see the kakak treat my cats =).


SUNNY: he was ok, though moving around.
BELLA: she was absolutely fine
MJ: he didn't like it, he resisted the shot and had to be injected twice.  but single dose ya ;-)
DONNA: was absolutely fine

-I've collected their pet passports/ID thingy.  I'll post them up when I get the chance to, or I've a complete collection of all 9.

-3 more passports to go (BINTANG, MICHIKO, YUMIEKO)

-4 more rabies shot to go (BINTANG, MICHIKO,YUMIEKO, SUNSHINE)

planned visits: 2 more vet visit.  spaying BELLA & DONNA.  final vet visit for export permit.

the 4 siblings to the vet!

This would've been a great shot, if it wasn't blurry.

Reasons for the vet visit: (i. microchip, ii. deworm, iii. BELLA's eyes)

i. microchip

The microchip was done PLUS I also had their 'passport' done.  The cats had their pictures taken and it wasn't easy: front view, left, right, back and so oooon....  I haven't seen the outcome of these passports as it was already late and I was rushing off, so I'll collect the passports when I take the next ones in line to the vet.

Here are info about this pet passport, actually here is the brochure to be exact.  For the time being, they've only started this in Cheras, and I heard that they will soon expand to Shah Alam and eventually throughout the country.  Yay! now no one can claim my kucing kampung as theirs!

It was funny that they had a cross on the table, supposedly that's where my cat should sit, unfortunately my cats are not trained that when you say 'sit' he/she would walk about.... hehehe.... but thanks to the guy who ssnaped their pics, for being patience about it.

SUNNY consistently wanted to jump down and if i didn't stop him, he actually jumped down and he was frightened by the new environment.  MJ did not appear too nervous, but he consistently walked about and couldn't stay still.  BELLA was fond of the camera, that she would always face and moved toward the camera.  DONNA didn't like the camera, she would alwasy face and move away from the camera.  And she was anxious that she wouldn't walk properly.

As stated in the brochure.  The pet passport is RM 7 excluding microchip, physical examination and the picture.

-RM25 for the microchip

-RM7   for the passport

-RM5   for the rest (promotional perhaps as I heard they mentioned it.)

-RM37  total cost per cat.

ii. deworm

All four had been fine =)

SUNNY @ 3.4 kg

BELLA @ 2.0 kg

MJ @ 3.0 kg

DONNA @ 2.9 kg

iii. BELLA's eyes

BELLA's eye had always been like this.  It would be momentarily better when I applied some eye-meds in her eyes, but never did this disappear completely and yet she looks perfectly well, though she's the smallest in size among the 4 of them.  Because of her eyes, she's given antibiotic, I hope it's nothing really. and I think it really is nothing.

While I was there, I managed to get further info regarding my import-export procedure. =)

vet visit

The 4 kittens went for their 2nd vaccination

and the 4 seniors, went for their microchips...

while SUNSHINE stayed home, as she has just recovered from the operation.

BULAN: 3.9 kg
BINTANG: 4.0 kg
MICHIKO: 4.2 kg
YUMIEKO: 3.5 kg
SUNNY: 2.3 kg
BELLA: 1.5 kg
MJ: 2.0 kg
DONNA: 1.9 kg

with 8 cats in hands, of course I didn't have the chance to snap pictures... Oh it was my first time getting microchip for my cats.. I was told that they use quite a big needle for that, I was so anxious, but it was fine. The needle was bigger than the usual one for vaccination, but it was ok since they applied local anaesthetic on the spot where the needle goes in. What & Why microchip? well, a more extensive post on that later, and yes microchips are a 'need' for my cats not just a 'want'.

Overall, I'm so so so so glad, each one of them was fine after this vet visit. Nothing unusual at all!

Kittens off to the vet!

The kittens have turned exactly 3 months on the 18th Dec 2009, and they looked healthy and ready for their vaccination, so off we went!

SUNNY @ 1.8 kg
BELLA @ 1.38 kg
MJ @ 1.74 kg
DONNA @ 1.6 kg

vaccination & deworm-done! and here they are sleeping and resting.