Milton's Story (2007)

We have a new kitten who is up for adoption. The kitten, a brown tabby, was found on a trail ride,collapsed at the side of the trail, panting and almost dead. We picked it up and took it in the barn. It was about 4 weeks old, barely old enough to eat, but still willing to try. We put food and water down the poor kitten’s throat and left it to rest a while. When we came back to see the kitten, we examined it and found that it had a swelling on it’s throat. I saw a movement when I squeezed the lump and it rang a bell in my mind. I had heard about “worms” embedding themselves in the throats of kittens. It looked like a worm under the skin, with a small opening for an air hole.

I called Krause Vet Clinic in Armada I was told that it was, indeed, a worm. The vet on call had just removed 3 similar worms that week (a “grub,” he called it, with a scientific name I can’t remember. He said that during this time of the year, it was a fairly common malady of kittens! And then he told me how I could remove the worm by making 3 small incisions, extracting the worm (which was the size of a quarter) and cleaning out the worm “hole” in the kitten’s neck with peroxide, which I did. The kitten was lethargic, but ate and slept for the next 3 days. It was, of course, the hottest week of the year - close to breaking records.The kitten survived and a kind-hearted boarder took it home to a cooler environment and a visit to her vet for a check up and worming. “Milton” is now 7 weeks old and healthy. Since he is a long-haired kitten we are looking for a home for him, other than the barn.

UPDATE ON THE KITTEN WITH A “WORM” IN HIS THROAT

Tthe kind-hearted boarder who took Milton home adopted him. She reports that Milton enjoys running back and forth in the vertical blinds in the master bedroom. He also enjoys sleeping in boxes and it doesn’t matter WHAT is in the box, as you can see in the photo below.

Milton relaxing in his wonderful home.