Lethargy Returns After Antibiotic Term Finished

Hello everyone!

I read through many of the posts about lethargy in cats and didn't find anything that was like my case.
My kitty is an outdoor / indoor cat and he came home 10 days ago and puked up all his food. I thought he just ate something bad or was just being a cat; I wasn't concerned.
The next day he was lethargic, wouldn't eat (not even wet food or treats) or drink water, wanted to hide and had really bad balance.
I took him to the vet and they did blood work, xrays and everything came back normal except his white blood cells were a little low and he did have some inflammation precursors in his blood. He was on antibiotics for a cut that got infected a couple weeks before so they thought that he had gotten salmonella from eating a bird because the bacteria in his gut was knocked out by the previous term of antibiotics. He also has a minor ear infection.

Now, while on the antibiotics he was back to his normal self. Totally fine. I was keeping him inside durning the antibiotic course and was planning on monitoring him for a few days after his medicine was done to make sure he was okay.

So, antibiotics finished two days ago and he is sick again. Same symptoms as before. I am waiting for the vet to get back to me and I'm really concerned.

Has anyone had the same experience? Perhaps he needs a longer course of antibiotics?

I would take him back to the vet. Just like with us, one round of antibiotics is not guaranteed to take care of his problem. He may need a longer round, or even a different prescription. I would take him back in for a visit as soon as you can. Best of luck to him, and do keep us updated on how he is!

Exactly what duckpond said. Sometimes it takes more than one round of antibiotics and/or a different one to knock out the infection completely.

duckpond said:

I would take him back to the vet. Just like with us, one round of antibiotics is not guaranteed to take care of his problem. He may need a longer round, or even a different prescription. I would take him back in for a visit as soon as you can. Best of luck to him, and do keep us updated on how he is!

Click to expand...

I am already doing that - Still waiting for the vet to call me back. I was just hoping someone had the same experience and could provide me with some insight into what was wrong, other than just needed more antibiotics. Thanks!

robinmiles said:

I am already doing that - Still waiting for the vet to call me back. I was just hoping someone had the same experience and could provide me with some insight into what was wrong, other than just needed more antibiotics. Thanks!

Click to expand...

This happened to Lacey. She just needed more antibiotics.

Sorry that there isn't a definitive answer, but 9 times out of 10 that's just... all the answer is.

My cat had the same thing with his first URI flare up. It took two different types of antibiotics (each was about 2 weeks) to fully recover. And even then I had to supplement him with a bit of lysine every day. So yeah, another vet visit is a must. But I sincerely hope he gets well soon.

robinmiles said:

...
Now, while on the antibiotics he was back to his normal self. Totally fine. I was keeping him inside durning the antibiotic course and was planning on monitoring him for a few days after his medicine was done to make sure he was okay.

So, antibiotics finished two days ago and he is sick again. Same symptoms as before. I am waiting for the vet to get back to me and I'm really concerned.

Has anyone had the same experience? Perhaps he needs a longer course of antibiotics?

Click to expand...

Did you by chance let him back outside again in the last two days?

If so, do you think there is something around outside that he is perhaps getting into, like a toxin or poison, or eating any vegetation that he is reacting to (e.g. allergic reaction, or toxic reaction)?
What To Do If You Think Your Cat Ingested Poison