A person shared their troubling experience with their 3-month-old kitten, Otis. They got him on October 11, and up until his first vet visit, he appeared to be a healthy and lively kitten. Otis had a hearty appetite, consuming multiple bowls of food and water daily, and was engaged in play. The only concern was his loose stool, which left some streaks sometimes. The owner took him to the vet for a checkup, vaccinations, and to address the stool issue. During this visit, the vet provided a deworming pill and medication for the diarrhea.
After receiving the medication, Otis’s condition changed dramatically. Instead of eating and drinking as he had before, he started to consume very little. Over the next four days, he showed little interest in food or water, only drinking tiny amounts and occasionally eating when hand-fed. His energy levels dropped significantly, and he spent most of his time sleeping. The owner noted that Otis was hardly recognizable compared to the kitten they had brought home.
They returned to the vet, where they were presented with two choices: consider euthanasia or pay $1,500 for diagnostic tests to determine the underlying issue. The owner opted for the tests, feeling unable to make the decision to euthanize a young kitten that had seemed in good health just days prior. They expressed confusion about how Otis could go from having a minor issue to facing such a serious situation shortly after a routine vet appointment.
The owner asked if anyone else had similar experiences following deworming or diarrhea treatment for their kittens. They also mentioned the costs associated with the first vet visit, which included $120 for the consultation and listed specific medications prescribed: a probiotic, an antibiotic, and a dewormer. As next steps, they planned to take Otis to another emergency vet for fluids and further evaluation, which would be less expensive than the initial estimate.
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Reddit source: Reddit, shared by u//u/cucumberhateaccount