Upper Respiratory Infection - HELP

Upper Respiratory Infection - HELP - I'm DESPERATE!

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desiree - 01 Apr 2004 16:49 GMT

I've had my cat for almost 2 months now. She's about 9 months old and
has been congested since I got her. She's extremely congested and
wheezes, but other than that, she's fine! She runs around, eats,
drinks, uses the litter box - all normally. She's been to the vet a
few times and is currently on day 13 of her THIRD antibiotic. She has
another week to go on this one, but I don't see any noticable
improvement in her congestion.
This is already costing me a lot of money, and the vet suggested I
bring her in again for a re-check.

Should it take this long to get rid of it?? Could it be something
else? Anyone else had this problem???

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Gail - 01 Apr 2004 18:23 GMT

It could be allergies. I would see another vet.
Gail

> I've had my cat for almost 2 months now. She's about 9 months old and
> has been congested since I got her. She's extremely congested and
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Should it take this long to get rid of it?? Could it be something
> else? Anyone else had this problem???

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Annie Wxill - 01 Apr 2004 20:46 GMT

>...> Should it take this long to get rid of it?? Could it be something
> else? Anyone else had this problem???

When we adopted Cinder from the shelter, she came down with an upper
respiratory infection that lasted at least two months with some residual
coughing and hoarseness for another month or so. It's just awful having to
cram medicine down them for such a long time when they are new.
Annie

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Ginger-lyn Summer - 01 Apr 2004 22:36 GMT

>I've had my cat for almost 2 months now. She's about 9 months old and
>has been congested since I got her. She's extremely congested and
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>Should it take this long to get rid of it?? Could it be something
>else? Anyone else had this problem???

I'd agree with the suggestion to check with another vet first.

I adopted a shelter kitty who had a terrible problem with an URI for
a couple of months, and we went through at least three different
antibiotics. I got to the point where I thought that perhaps he had
built up an immunity to the meds, having been on one of them for quite
some time. What I decided to try was to "steam" him. Every time we
took a hot bath, we took him into the bathroom with us. It probably
took about a week, but it did finally clear up. It probably also
helped that we were in spring weather by that time.

Best of luck to you and your kitty.

Ginger-lyn

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~*Connie*~ - 02 Apr 2004 01:53 GMT

what antibiotics has she been given? We use several different kinds
depending on the severity of the URI.. some are viral, others are
bacterial.. Clavamox isn't the best choice when it comes to hard to fight
URI. We switch between Doxycycline, zithromax and baytril.

You can use steam to help loosen her up.. saline nose drops, or pediatric
nose drops to help loosen up the congestion. I used it on my URI cats, and
they would immediately sneeze out huge wads of phlegm. It will give some
relief, but you do need to work on the underlying cause.

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Mary - 02 Apr 2004 04:42 GMT

>Should it take this long to get rid of it?? Could it be something
>else? Anyone else had this problem???

It could be allergies. Is nasal discharge clear and liquidy? that would be
allergies. If it's green, yellow, then it's an infection. Maybe he needs a
different type of antibiotics. How about trying some olive leaf extract also.
Some people in kitty rescue just use this for URI's instead of antibiotics.
I've used it with squirrels and it does work. Does your cat have a pushed in
face like a Persian? It takes them longer to get rid of URI. When he starts
blowing green boogies on you, he's finally getting over the infection.

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zuzu22@webtv.net - 02 Apr 2004 06:07 GMT

URIs are usually caused by the herpes virus. Antibiotics that are
prescribed will do nothing to cure the symptoms caused by the virus, but
are generally used to treat/prevent secondary infections that can occur.
In conjuction with the treatment your cat is getting, you need to start
giving your cat 250 mg of L-Lysine twice a day. Get the form that comes
in capsules as it is relatively tasteless and can be mixed with canned
food. Lysine works to prevent the herpes virus from replicating which in
turn can prevent or minimize infections and will help a cat to recover
from a full blown infection. It would be wise to continue
supplementation until your cat is completely symptom free for at least a
week or two. HTH.

Megan

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~*Connie*~ - 02 Apr 2004 12:47 GMT

one should get a definite diagnosis before treating as there are actually
many causes of URIs

> URIs are usually caused by the herpes virus. Antibiotics that are
> prescribed will do nothing to cure the symptoms caused by the virus, but
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>
> - W.H. Murray

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zuzu22@webtv.net - 02 Apr 2004 15:56 GMT

Connie wrote:

>one should get a definite diagnosis
>before treating as there are actually many
>causes of URI

The cat has a definite diagnosis of URI and the fact that it has been
going on for so long suggests it is viral. Supplementing with Lysine
poses NO risks and may very well help. The OP got this cat when it was 7
months old and it became ill immediately so, considering those two
factors, it is likely it came from a shelter environment where URI's are
common and mostly caused by the herpes virus. Money is becoming an issue
for her as well and instead of doing more costly diagnostics when she's
pretty much run the gamut of meds and dealt with the vet numerous times,
she can try the simple and inexpensive treatment of adding Lysine, which
is proven to help herpes related URI's and eye issues. She is obviously
running out of options and this is one she can try that is not harmful
and may very well help.

Maybe you should pay attention to what's going on before nixing a
workable solution to the OP's problem. Or go back to alt.pets.cats where
people accept your mostly poor, useless advice without question. Advice
like a recent post here where you told someone it's fine and dandy to
give up an *18 year old* cat because it has some health issues and
"sometimes it must be done." Your posts often make me cringe and I was
really hoping you wouldn't find this group.

Megan

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~*Connie*~ - 03 Apr 2004 04:02 GMT

I was paying attention thank you very much.. Its you that doesn't seem to
be.. I said a definite diagnoses.. not of URI but of herpes as you were
suggesting it was. Its amazing how you can diagnose over the internet..
when a vet who has looked at the cat three different times has not..
STUNNING.. you should get your own TV show..

And frankly, giving up an 18 year old cat if you can't take care of it is a
far better solution than keeping it and letting it suffer. There are lots
of people out there looking to help out older pets..

And most of my "poor, useless advice" comes directly from the vets I work
with on a daily basis, and the shelter I have been volunteering for for
years that has one of the best reputations in the area. Its amazing how any
of us could possibly survive with out your wondrous insight.

> Maybe you should pay attention to what's going on before nixing a
> workable solution to the OP's problem. Or go back to alt.pets.cats where
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> -Edmund Burke

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zuzu22@webtv.net - 03 Apr 2004 05:33 GMT

Connie wrote:

> I was paying attention thank you very
> much.. Its you that doesn't seem to be..
> I said a definite diagnoses.. not of URI
> but of herpes as you were suggesting it
> was. Its amazing how you can diagnose
> over the internet..

Suggesting (*your* word) herpes as a possibility is not tantamount to
making a diagnosis. You should pay attention to what you write before
hitting the send button.

>when a vet who has
> looked at the cat three different times
> has not..

You obviously haven't been paying attention. The OP did not give
specifics about the diagnosis so the vet could have said it is herpes
related. You also aren't paying attention as I did not make a diagnosis
of what her cat's issue is and wouldn't presume to do so. The OP asked
for suggestions, I explained the common cause of URI's and told her what
she should do for a herpes related URI.

>STUNNING.. you should get your
> own TV show..

You're not too far off...

> And frankly, giving up an 18 year old
> cat if you can't take care of it is a
> far better solution than keeping it and
> letting it suffer.

You obviously weren't paying attention. It wasn't an issue of not being
able to care for the cat. It was an issue of laziness and convenience.

>There are lots of
> people out there looking to help out
> older pets..

If you really believe this you are either incredibly naive or living in
an alternate universe. Older pets, especially those with health issues,
are the first to be sacrificed because there aren't people beating down
the doors to take them in. The majority of cats that are killed in
shelters are adults and those with health issues. Apparently you haven't
been paying attention.

> And most of my "poor, useless advice"
> comes directly from the vets I work with
> on a daily basis, and the shelter I have
> been volunteering for for years that has
> one of the best reputations in the area.

Your useless advice comes directly from *you.* Don't blame vets and
shelters for your lack of comprehension and failure to pay attention.

Megan

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Lotte - 02 Apr 2004 06:39 GMT

She may have allergies, or a mass in her sinus passage. Your vet would
likely have found a mass -- if she hasn't checked for that, ask her to. I
have a cat that is allergic to house dust and she gets sneezy & wheezy if
the house gets too dusty. I recently discovered I'm also allergic, so I've
invested in a HEPA vacuum, and got rid of a lot of dust-gathering items
(rugs, carpets, old books, fabric upholstered furniture, drapes all hold
dust). If she's having a really bad day, I give her a 1/4 tab of
Benadryl -- but please check with your vet before giving your cat
anything -- Lotte

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