How long before your cat recovered from an inner ear infection?

[seaturtleswims]

My poor kitten Sally is being treated for an inner ear infection. It's pretty scary- she can't walk normally due to her balance being affected by the infection. She is very wobbly and topples over easily, also her left eye (same side of body as infected ear) is all squinted/rolled up in the back of her head so the pupil is barely visible. 

Don't get me wrong, we were at the vet twice last week and are due back Monday and are on a colorful assortment of meds, but there is very little change in her. She is eating better and drinking on her own today (first time in 3 days) but how long before she regains balance or her eye becomes normal again?

It's also finals week, and I'm graduating college in less than a week, so I'm kind of a big ball of nerves and just need to hear a success story from someone else who has had a cat with an inner ear infection. It's so discouraging having to keep her locked in a bedroom so she doesn't fall down stairs and watch her stumble around all over the place with her poor eye.

 

[stephanietx]

Sometimes it takes a change in medicine before you see an improvement.  It can take a couple of weeks sometimes as well.  I'm glad you're getting her back to the vet tomorrow.  Be sure she keeps eating, drinking, and eliminating normally.  She'll probably sleep  more than normal because her little body  is trying to heal. 

 

[seaturtleswims]

Thanks for the encouragement Your kind words are helpful 

 

[ldg]

Oh poor baby! How's she doing now?

Our Flowerbelle had an inner ear infection - with no symptoms. It was found accidentally on MRI, looking for an explanation for other issues. She was on Baytril for three months. So I don't know how long it takes to resolve, as she never displayed any symptoms! I'm sure the vet answered your questions. :heart2:

 

[seaturtleswims]

Thanks guys! We are looking at a 1-3 month recovery time per the vet today. It could be sooner but she also has feline herpes so the pre existing compromised immune system could potentially drag out recovery time. We went today and go back Thursday. She is still wobbly and has the prominent third eye showing, but her eating habits and energy level are back to normal and the vet was please with that improvement so no additional meds! I think in time she's going to heal up just fine

 

[ldg]

Oh so glad she's doing better.

To help provide immune system support, ask your vet about giving her lactoferrin (or laktoferrin, which combines lactoferrin and colostrum). It has been proven, especially when combined with lysine, to resolve herpes faster. It helps resolve URIs in cats, even if not herpes-based, so it may help your kitty fight this faster.

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/267703/stubborn-herpes-infection-add-lactoferrin-in-addition-to-lysine

 

[seaturtleswims]

Wow! Thanks for sharing the article! Both of my cats at home were adopted with feline herpes, and they get lysine treats when the break out or before something that could trigger a break out (vet, moving etc) but this is great to know!

 

[ldg]

Yep. Having just been published in 2014, few vets are already familiar with the research.