Cat has URI but does not seem to be improving

[justjoe906]

Took my 5 month old cat to the Vet and he gas an upper respiratory infection.

Doctor gave him a shot and put him on .5cc Clavamox twice daily.

After 5 days I really do not see much improvement.

He does eat well and drinks water.

He is stopped up, coughs, sneezes, hard breathing and virtually has no energy.

I've taken him into the bathroom and turned on the shower and it does seem to help, however that is a temporay fix.

About how long does it take for it to run it's course?

Any suggestions on what I can do until it clears up?

I am thinking about a vet return if no improvement in a few days.

Thanks

 

[stephanietx]

What kind of shot did the vet give him?  If it's been 5 days and you're not seeing any improvement, he needs to go back to the vet, or you need to call the vet and ask for a different medication. Also ask for some eye drops that can also be put in the nose (such as Gentamycin or Tobramycin) to help his eye and his nose.  You could also use plain baby saline drops such as Little Remedies Little Noses saline drops (not nose spray).  Just one drop in each nostril twice daily will help clear out the nose.

 

[jr70895]

Called the vet and gave an update to my cats condition. Instructed to continue .5cc Clavamox twice daily for a total of 10 days.

Today is day 10, he does seem to breathe a little better.

All he wants to do is sleep all the time and has no energy.

He does eat but not like before.

His nose stays plugged up, have been using Little Remedies nose drops twice daily.

For what ever reason as mentioned his energy level is minus zero. Normally he is a typical 5 month old kitten but here lately just can't stay awake.

I plan on another vet trip tomorrow to see what is the next step.

 

[stephanietx]

Most definitely time for a second opinion!  Glad you're taking him in tomorrow. Let us know what you find out.

 

[justjoe906]

My 5 month old cat has been having Upper Respiratory Infection now for 2 months and has been to the Vet 3 times. 

1st Visit: Given a shot and Amoxicillin .5cc twice daily for 10 days (not much improvement)

2nd Visit: Another Shot and changed medication to Clavamox .5cc twice daily for 10 days (not much improvement)

3rd Visit: Blood work ruled out leukemia/aids Virus. Changed medication to Orbifloxacin .7cc once daily and 1/4 tablet of Chlorpheniramine for sneezing.

Gave him his 1st dose today and he seems to be very lethargic and has stated sneezing like crazy. He does eat and drink water but his energy level is zero.

This medication is to be taken for 28 days. Has anyone had any experience with Orbifloxacin (Orbax)?

This Vet also told me if this medication does not make him better in the 28 day period that I need to take him to a Specialist that can scan his nasal tract to see what is going on.

I really do not want to wait 28 days and thinking more like a week to 10 days if no improvement noticed.

 

[foxden]

Did anyone else notice that there are two separate posters here?

@jkbr9800
I agree that I would not want to wait another month. In 10 days, contact your vet for a referral to a specialist.

While you are watching and waiting, keep track of all the symptoms and responses to the medications in a notebook or log so you have data to present to the specialist.

I would also start doing research on specialists who are available in your area. I believe you will make a good choice with good information

 

[stephenq]

 
My 5 month old cat has been having Upper Respiratory Infection now for 2 months and has been to the Vet 3 times. 

1st Visit: Given a shot and Amoxicillin .5cc twice daily for 10 days (not much improvement)

2nd Visit: Another Shot and changed medication to Clavamox .5cc twice daily for 10 days (not much improvement)

3rd Visit: Blood work ruled out leukemia/aids Virus. Changed medication to Orbifloxacin .7cc once daily and 1/4 tablet of Chlorpheniramine for sneezing.

Gave him his 1st dose today and he seems to be very lethargic and has stated sneezing like crazy. He does eat and drink water but his energy level is zero.

This medication is to be taken for 28 days. Has anyone had any experience with Orbifloxacin (Orbax)?

This Vet also told me if this medication does not make him better in the 28 day period that I need to take him to a Specialist that can scan his nasal tract to see what is going on.

I really do not want to wait 28 days and thinking more like a week to 10 days if no improvement noticed.

The standard dosage for clavamox or Amoxicillin is 1ml (1cc) not 0.5cc, 2 ties a day regardless of the cat's weight.  I'm concerned your under-dosing your cat and i'm concerned that your vet would prescribe .5ml.  See link for dosing info, i would want a second opinion.  The other thing that can be done especially given the length of the illness is to take a sample of infected mucous and run whats called a "culture and sensitivity" test to see exactly what antibiotic is effective.

3 Links that all give the same dosage info.

https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinar...lDrugProducts/FOIADrugSummaries/ucm064728.htm

https://www.petcarerx.com/article/dosage-info-for-clavamox-for-dogs-and-cats/1038

http://www.1800petmeds.com/Clavamox-prod3319.html

 

[jr70895]

I did see what I thought was under dosage however I went with what the Vet said thinking it was a weight thing.  Since he just started the Orbax 2 days ago I think I will see how that goes for at least a week. If not improvement will get a second opinion. He is taking .7cc one per day and weighs 5.5 lbs.

Thanks

 

[jr70895]

Originally Posted by jr70895  
NOT TRYING TO CONFUSE BY MY USER NAME BUT MUST HAVE REGISTERED TWICE....SORRY

I did see what I thought was under dosage however I went with what the Vet said thinking it was a weight thing.  Since he just started the Orbax 2 days ago I think I will see how that goes for at least a week. If not improvement will get a second opinion. He is taking .7cc one per day and weighs 5.5 lbs.

Thanks

'

 

[foxden]

'

That's ok, but usually the system won't allow 2 usernames and registrations.
I was trying to make sure there was not another sick kitty that was not getting attention.

 

[stephenq]

 
I did see what I thought was under dosage however I went with what the Vet said thinking it was a weight thing.  Since he just started the Orbax 2 days ago I think I will see how that goes for at least a week. If not improvement will get a second opinion. He is taking .7cc one per day and weighs 5.5 lbs.

Thanks

It isn't a weight thing. Unless he was a very small kitten the dosage is 1 ml (1cc) 2x day, your cat is being under dosed by a vet who seems to not understand basic dosaging.

 

[milsap35]

Take him back ASAP and has he been tested for Felv

 

[justjoe906]

I took my cat back to the vet for a 3rd trip as noted for Upper Respiratory Infection. He is about 6 months old now and has been on his 3rd antibiotic. .7cc of Orbax once daily. After 12 days of a 28 day routine but  I see no improvement, his energy level is zero and he has virtually stopped eating. He will sip a  little milk every now and then.

I called another vet that we have used in the past and was told to bring him in Monday (4 days from now) for a complete culture. The first vet took blood and ruled out Herpes Virus.

The vet I called today said not to worry when he gets hungry he will eat. However, no matter what I open and try to feed him he refuses to eat it.

I know milk is a no-no but I am just trying to get something in him. At this rate I do not think he will make it until Monday.

If no better in the morning I will take him to an Emergency Vet.

Any suggestions on how to get him to eat something.

I am thinking of buying a syringe and mixing up some pate with water and trying that.

 

[mingsmongols]

While it's true that cats will eat when there hungry, cats with URI's don't have an appetite and don't eat well. I'd suggest going to that emergency vet and running tests for fatty liver disease since he hasn't been eating. If he does have it an endotracheal tube could be a life saver as long as he's still strong enough to undergo the surgery. If his livers fine then you can definitely try syringe feeding while you wait for the cultures to come back to see what he's fighting. Here's a formula I use for sick kittys that don't want to eat. This is a days feeding so 24 hours worth.

Half a can of A/D
1 Can of a high calorie palatable wet food like nature's variety.
1 container of chicken or turkey baby food(meat as the only ingredient and absolutely no onion or garlic in it)
4 teaspoons of GNC Ultra mega high calorie booster per ten pounds of body weight.
1 to 2 mg per pound of body weight of vitamin B-1
1 teaspoon Karo syrup
500 mg l lycine
2 packets of forta flora
3 teaspoons of clam juice
1/4 cup of water

All blended in a mixer and then syringe fed with a bowl and spoon underneath them.

 

[stephenq]

 
I took my cat back to the vet for a 3rd trip as noted for Upper Respiratory Infection. He is about 6 months old now and has been on his 3rd antibiotic. .7cc of Orbax once daily. After 12 days of a 28 day routine but  I see no improvement, his energy level is zero and he has virtually stopped eating. He will sip a  little milk every now and then.

I called another vet that we have used in the past and was told to bring him in Monday (4 days from now) for a complete culture. The first vet took blood and ruled out Herpes Virus.

The vet I called today said not to worry when he gets hungry he will eat. However, no matter what I open and try to feed him he refuses to eat it.

I know milk is a no-no but I am just trying to get something in him. At this rate I do not think he will make it until Monday.

If no better in the morning I will take him to an Emergency Vet.

Any suggestions on how to get him to eat something.

I am thinking of buying a syringe and mixing up some pate with water and trying that.

Pate mixed with enough water is fine, there are many videos on youtube showing how to do it.  You're vet is wrong, your cat is very sick and needs food NOW, and may need all sorts of other support, probably sub q fluids etc.  

 

[milsap35]

Was he checked For Felv?

 

[justjoe906]

My cat quit eating Saturday morning, so we fed and watered him with a syringe 3x a day. He refused to eat or drink on his own. His energy level was zero, will not even acknowledge his brother. Both of his nostrils had constant discharge. Took him to the vet this morning and she said he had a 1" diameter polyp and removed it. Will keep him overnite and said he will be fine and can pick him up tomorrow.

She said it is possible that at some point in time it will grow back.

His brother is pacing the floor looking for him.

So not sure how it could be that he was treated for an Upper Respiratory Infection whae he had a polyp.

Perhaps that is normal.

 

[mingsmongols]

Polyps most often occur due to severe URI's like herpes.

 

[javi3]

Hi. Its detrimental that kitties eat within 1-2 days or they can easily develope hepatic lipodosis (fatty liver disease ). I'm really surprised your vet didn't warn you about this. All cat breeds, even skinny ones can get this disease. After one or two days of little or no eating, a cats liver can start to fill up with fat. This causes the liver to stop working and the cats appetite will go dramatically downhill and you'll either need to force feed on a regular basis for awhile or the vet will need to put him under anethesia and a feeding tube will be put in until the cat eats on their own for a while. If you dont do one of these things, the cat will die. Always remember FOOD is their medicine during this time. To treat this disease at the vets office, you could be looking at $1000-$3000 and sometimes they still do not survive. My baby has been going through this in the last several weeks and I'll tell you what has worked for her so far:

Spoon feed. I tried feeding with a shringe but for her, that seemed to tramatize her and took more time, and she was rarely eating on her own. I looked up how to spoon feed a cat on you tube and tried it and I found that it worked much better in her case. Its a very messy procedure, but much quicker than shringe feeding. Shringe feeding is great if you need to mix some medicine/vitamins in a liquefied food to get into them and I will do it for that purpose, but spoon feeding the straight (pate')food caused my cat to start eating on her own again that night. You will have to continue to do it if the cat isn't getting their daily quota of calories even if the cat has begun eating on their own, or they can start to go downhill again.I take a teaspoon or baby spoon (not flimsy plastic kind, it could easily break inside their mouth) and put a mound of cat food on it. Pry open the mouth, then quickly from the front, put it in then raise the spoon upward so that the food scrapes against the roof of the cats mouth, then quickly take the spoon out and the cat should swallow on their own. Sometimes you can hold the mouth close a little to encourage swallowing. Never try to put the spoon back towards the throat like you would a pill. Also, don't dilute the food. Keep it in its original solid consistency so it won't run over the side of the spoon or it will be hard to do. You may need two people to do this, but I was able to do this with a strong willed Siamese so it's possible. Just make sure to put a sheet down on a fabric chair or couch and wrap kitty up in a towel. Best to look on you tube to get a visual idea though.
After the cat starts eating again, you can focus on what caused the lack of appetite. Or if she has an infection, antibiotics need to be administered. Antibiotics can cause a low appetite too, so can pain meds like Tramadol.
Getting ready to go force feed mine right now (shhh!). Ps. I had my vet get me sub q fluids to take home and I gave her those at home. The vet can show you how. It seems very intimidating to do at first, but you will easily get the hang of it and it is great experience to have for the future. There are many you tube videos of doing this as well. Between the fluids and feedings, my cat is doing much better and I know this saved her life. She is not out if the woods completely, but much much better. Good luck.

Ps. You can get a high calorie food from the vet, but I've just used purina pro plan chicken and spinache or fancy feast kitten food. Make sure it is a pate' kind. If it has chunks or shreds of meat/veggies it will be harder for the cat to swallow at once. Also, my kitty sleeps right after a feeding and this is their bodies way of healing.

 

[javi3]

Ps..when your cat will start eating a little on it's own, in between any force feedings, try warming a few tablespoons of its favorite wet food in the microwave (5-10 seconds if it's been in the refrigerator ),swirl your clean finger around to make sure it isn't too hot, and go to wherever the cat is resting and hold the bowl in front of its face tilted towards his face so he doesn't have to get up. Gently encourage him to eat and wait a few minutes to encourage him to eat that way. That has worked well for my cat. I just put a tissue underneath the bowl if it's on the bed. Don't worry about spoiling him..eventually when his appetite is better he will naturally walk to where his food bowl normally is. Also, when force feeding with a spoon, only feed about a half of a small 3 Oz can per feeding or he may throw it right up.