Any Advice? Insight? Ideas?

Jem

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***YES, Lily is under a vets care, and we have a follow up visit soon. Just hoping for some new ideas, different perspective, things I can discuss with my vet that we may not have thought of.***

This is going to be long, so thank you for reading. I adopted 3 kitties from the same shelter but this post is about Lily.

Backstory, according to info from shelter:
  • Adopted by us on Dec 30th 2018
  • Up to date on shots
  • Treated with revolution (ear mites)
  • Had (and still does) a URI - had antibiotics in shelter, was also sent home with some.
  • Very timid, prone to stress (getting MUCH better)
  • Described as depressed and "failure to thrive" type situation in the shelter
  • Rescued preggers, had litter in shelter, now spayed.
  • Overgrooming
What we've noticed and have done since adopting her, while under the shelter's care:

  • Continued with URI treatments w/ antibiotics - has had, clavamox (did not help/minimal improvement), Baytril (helped, but not completely and worsened when TX was done), Antirobe, did not help. - All this treatment was provided by the shelter/shelter's vet.
  • Food trial (elimination diet), for possible allergies (overgrooming) - did not help.
  • Noticed she had Chin acne - has gotten better with change in food bowls and regular cleaning
  • Ears are a bit dirty
  • Was finally sent to get a URI culture, but have not received the results from shelter, at this point, I don't think the culture was done and they simply did an exam. Their advice was to separate my cats (actually remove one of them from the home, second cat also presented w/ URI symptoms, but not as severe) to see if that would get rid of the URI. No other treatment or medical intervention was recommended. Uh....No thanks!
  • Decided to just suck it up, and bring them to my vet (medical costs were payed by shelter, IF I used them)

What has happened since bringing them to MY vet, and what my vet has said. FYI - both cats with URI symptoms were brought in, the second cat has responded well to the vets treatments, but not Lily.
Vets treatment included:
  • 20 day course of Doxycycline for both (helped Bynx, not Lily, only MILD improvement), still has about a week of treatment left.
  • was switched to a prescription diet for stress, believed that stress is a huge factor to why she is not getting better, has helped with overgrooming and she does seem to be even less timid (even though she was slowly improving without the food).
  • Bring back for follow up when treatment is done.

What the vet noticed about her health

  • Agreed that she is a very timid kitty
  • is a VERY small cat at only 6 Lbs
  • Said she almost looked sickly due to a lack of muscle development in her spine and hind legs and her fur is a bit disheveled (still not grown back from overgrooming, but it's starting) - believes her lack of nourishment (prior to being rescued) and the pregnancy really took a toll on her.
  • Believes that we are probably dealing with Feline Herpes as well as an active infection
  • Noted that her ears need to be cleaned, asked if she was treated for mites (she was)
  • Agreed that she is VERY congested

Her current symptoms, and new things we noticed (BAD)
  • Still has URI, nasal discharge and congestion only (eyes are fine), does reverse sneeze sometimes. Mucus is viscous and light green, has sometimes presented w/ blood (has had raw spots periodically on her nose from irritation).
  • Still has MILD chin acne.
  • Recently noticed that her back claws are dirty.
Her current symptoms (GOOD)
  • Chin acne has improved although not completely gone.
  • Personality not as timid or fearful - becoming more trusting with every passing day.
  • Overgrooming has almost stopped, has some fuzzy fur growing in - obviously NOT dealing with food allergies.
  • Antibiotics seem to help but very little - reverse sneezing not as often, viscosity of mucus is a bit thinner.
  • Still, and always had, a great appetite, drinks and uses litter box perfectly fine.
  • Has gain some weight since being in our home
  • Has improved physically (muscles), more confident with jumping (doing bigger/longer distance jumps), legs are more stretched out when walking, gait seems more stable and not as stiff in her movements while walking.
My next steps?????

  • Possible yeast infection? - dirty ears, dirty back claws, chin acne??
  • Possible fungal infection in the nasal cavity that could be related to the possible "yeast infection"?
  • Now in a Chronic Rhinitis situation???
  • Severe Feline Herpes flair up from stress?

The only test I can think of doing at this point is a PCR panel, and will try (again) to get the "culture" results that "was done" from the previous vet/shelter.

Any thoughts on what I may be dealing with? Do you see any connections with any of her symptoms? Any other home care that I can try to help her?

Things I've done and am currently doing
  • Bring her to vet
  • Antibiotics
  • Humidifiers (terrified of the shower/bathroom steam room thing)
  • Air purifiers
  • Saline nose drops
  • Stress reliving (calming) food
  • Chamomile tea on skin and orally
  • Clean nose regularly and apply vaseline to help raw spots from developing.
  • Massage throat to help with reverse sneezing (although it does not happen as often anymore)
  • Physical therapy for legs and spine muscles
  • Keep chin acne and ears clean
  • Although I'm thorough, I try my best to not stress her too much with all my manhandling (medications, cleaning, etc...)
  • Engage her in play and lots of love!!!!!
  • Am currently keeping my eyes out for a sale on an upholstery steamer to help with allergens and dust mites in my home.

If you're still here, you're a trooper!!!!so thank you!
Any advice would be great!!!!!
If you need clarification on anything don't hesitate to ask, I kept this point form as I knew it would be long.
 

FeebysOwner

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Of course, and as usual for me, I can't help any. Just wanted to tell you I am sorry Lily's URI hasn't improved as you had hoped. I am heartened, however, to hear about the other improvements that she had made. And, I do think the PCR panel is the way to go at this point.

I sure hope others can offer some insight for you, but I am telling you I have no idea how they can come up with much more than you are doing/have already done. You have been super thorough and diligent!!
 

Furballsmom

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Was the revolution a one-time application, and she's not being treated for fleas?

I was wondering if maybe that would/could be causing issues for her...?
 

She's a witch

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Your post is so organized that it doesn’t feel long at all :)
I’d be somewhat worried that she’s developed some sort of a resistance to antibiotics having been on them so intensively. Hopefully I’m wrong (I’m not an expert) but I know that I wouldn’t try any new meds before you have PCR done to see it’s the right treatment. I also think yeast infection is possible, so I’d check that possibility too.
 
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Jem

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Was the revolution a one-time application, and she's not being treated for fleas?
As far as I know it was a one time application when she was still at the shelter. Was told it was for ear mites. She does not have fleas. Don't think she had fleas at the shelter either, and if she did, they did not tell me.
 
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Jem

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One thing I had thought of doing was to give her probiotics, I feel kinda sheepish for not doing it sooner considering how often she was put on antibiotics, but we just were never able to get around to doing it and when the opportunity presented to get some or ask about them, I just kept forgetting. So, does anyone have a recommendation on type/brand of pro-biotics to use? Would I also want to look for prE-biotics also? I know they each do something a bit different.
 

She's a witch

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One thing I had thought of doing was to give her probiotics, I feel kinda sheepish for not doing it sooner considering how often she was put on antibiotics, but we just were never able to get around to doing it and when the opportunity presented to get some or ask about them, I just kept forgetting. So, does anyone have a recommendation on type/brand of pro-biotics to use? Would I also want to look for prE-biotics also? I know they each do something a bit different.
I actually use probiotics, not really for GI track, but to manage my cats’ FHV and FCV chronic symptoms with great success - the eye discharge stopped completely. I currently use this:
Pet Ultimates Probiotics for Cats...
 
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Jem

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I’d be somewhat worried that she’s developed some sort of a resistance to antibiotics having been on them so intensively.
I'm kinda worried about this also, but the antibiotics never really worked well to begin with, so I'm thinking either what she has, was already a resistant/stubborn strain of something and her not getting better is not cause by our continued treatment (she was getting different antibiotics as well, not always the same one, not sure if that matters). Her immune system and health is obviously compromised so she would have it worst. OR. Stress and feline herpes is playing a major role. OR. It's possibly fungal.
OR..... It's all three, and Lily and I are f:censored:ed. :sigh:
 
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