Feline distemper?

[Rain30]

I have a litter of kittens who are now 8 weeks old. They haven't been vaccinated yet. Last week, the weather was nice, so I let them go outside for a while to play. Then a couple days ago, one of them started acting very lethargic. She slept for 24 hours straight, she wouldn't eat or drink anything, and she was getting progressively weaker as the hours went by. When I would pick her up, she would meow weakly, and when I set her back down, she just layed wherever I put her, limp as a noodle. She wouldn't even raise her head. She also felt a little feverish to me, she was shivering, and her eyes were dull and watering. I was obviously very worried. I would have taken her to the vet, but the office was closed.

So, I did what I could, magically speaking, along with some TLC and within a couple hours she perked up. It was very strange. I worry that if it was distemper, the other kittens will fall ill, too. I would take her to the vet, but she's acting perfectly normal, good appetite, running around the house and fighting with her siblings like always. Do you think I should still take her to the vet? Should she be under quarantine? I do have an appointment for a week from Wednesday to have the kittens vaccinated, but maybe I should take them in sooner? Thanks for any advice you might have. I'm kind of clueless when it comes to sick kittens. :o

[Gwenhwyfar]

sounds like what happened to one of my puppies when I dewormed them...he was allergic, the vet figures, and had to be given some fluids under the skin...hopfully whatever it was buggin your kitten has passed!

[Shanti]

I would take them in sooner if you can and just keep everyone indoors till they are fully immunized. The first shot doesn't give full immunization. It takes more than one. Ask your vet when they are fully immune and tell him/her what happened.

Distemper is airborne so quarantining now prob wouldn't matter.
It could of been many things that caused this including poison/chemical/bacterial/plant/etc from something it ate outside.

[Pinion]

Shanti said just about everything I was going to post...

I'm assuming you own the mother? Is she vaccinated for FelV? You may want to have the kittens tested for Felv and FIV...if for nothing else, it makes it easier to find homes if you have vet records stating they are negative.

[magic_promises]

i would expect distemper to have had a more serious outcome in such a young kitten. the symptoms would suggest a tempratur or dehydration these affect younger kittens very quickly and with a runny bum in 24 cam be serious however proper distembe wouldnt clear that quick.

i am glad she seems a bit better now but dont get that vacc till shes fully well as these knock the immune system and can make sick animals worse.

fiv and felv can be tested for but at this stage she seems good. keep doing what you are you sound like such a caring mumma cat. xxx