I'm going to a vet next week, but would like some input on my situation.
Background:
Brought 1.5 year old male cat home from a local shelter in April. He was neutered 1-2 months before adoption. Received rabies and panleukopenia vaccines. Some eye discharge. Stinky breath and stool. Different grain free wet food, only liked Canidae.
Examined by a vet within 10 days from adoption (temp, listen to heart & lungs) - normal
Few days later - diarrhea. Normal appetite and very active and playful.
Food - Fancy Feast Classic, non fish - stool normal
June - dry cough 1-2 a day for 1-5 minutes episodes, mild lethargy, normal appetite.
Different Vet: Tonsils are swollen as well as lymph nodes. Trachea is very sensitive and raspy, but lungs are clear. Diagnosis: upper respiratory infection.
Treatment: Convenia injection, depo-medrol injection, pyrantel.
Was told to contact the hospital if no improvement.
Within 5 days cough was gone as well as bad breath and occasional diarrhea.
After a week without cough I started feeding him raw and a little canned.
He went from pooping 3/day to 1/day. Peeing from 5/day to 2-3/day. Became very active and playful. Good appetite.
In July, roughly a month after vet visit, bad breath and smelly poop returned. Parasites? No behavioral changes.
Last week cough returned. Started dry, turned to wet. 3-5 times a day. After deep sleep, after active play, and just for no reason. Drinks lots more water. Good appetite. Think, his breath smelled like ammonia a couple of times but not all the time. He really wants to play, but can't because of the cough. Picking him up can cause an episode. During a coughing fit can be distracted by C.E.T. toothpaste and stop coughing or by brushing, which he loves and purrs like crazy - also stops coughing.
I don't have any experience with vets & sick cats and reading about all the possibilities and side effects of vaccines and treatments, I'm just terrified.
I just keep thinking that it is something we did or do that is making out kitty sick.
Raw food? Chicken allergy? Clay litter? A bath? Something in the apartment? Pigeons' nest outside the window? Dust mites? Carpets? Pieces of sisal rope that he keeps biting on? to many treats?
Secondary upper respiratory infection? Asthma? Heart Condition? Lung worms? Bronchitis? something else?...
I understand that i won't know anything until i get him to vet and do some tests.
What should i expect or ask for? X-ray, CBC, blood chemistry, stool and urine test. Anything else? Should I go to the same vet, or try to get him to feline only practice that is way out of town? Should i tell the vet that i've been feeding him raw (and possibly get yelled at)?
Should i avoid antibiotics until we get test results back? I read about Convenia and this vet didn't even consult me, before giving kitty the shot. And when i asked for side effects all the assistant told me was possible increase in appetite... I'm not sure if i trust them to do the best by my cat.
Sorry for a long post and some rambling. I worried and scared and don't really know where to turn to...
Background:
Brought 1.5 year old male cat home from a local shelter in April. He was neutered 1-2 months before adoption. Received rabies and panleukopenia vaccines. Some eye discharge. Stinky breath and stool. Different grain free wet food, only liked Canidae.
Examined by a vet within 10 days from adoption (temp, listen to heart & lungs) - normal
Few days later - diarrhea. Normal appetite and very active and playful.
Food - Fancy Feast Classic, non fish - stool normal
June - dry cough 1-2 a day for 1-5 minutes episodes, mild lethargy, normal appetite.
Different Vet: Tonsils are swollen as well as lymph nodes. Trachea is very sensitive and raspy, but lungs are clear. Diagnosis: upper respiratory infection.
Treatment: Convenia injection, depo-medrol injection, pyrantel.
Was told to contact the hospital if no improvement.
Within 5 days cough was gone as well as bad breath and occasional diarrhea.
After a week without cough I started feeding him raw and a little canned.
He went from pooping 3/day to 1/day. Peeing from 5/day to 2-3/day. Became very active and playful. Good appetite.
In July, roughly a month after vet visit, bad breath and smelly poop returned. Parasites? No behavioral changes.
Last week cough returned. Started dry, turned to wet. 3-5 times a day. After deep sleep, after active play, and just for no reason. Drinks lots more water. Good appetite. Think, his breath smelled like ammonia a couple of times but not all the time. He really wants to play, but can't because of the cough. Picking him up can cause an episode. During a coughing fit can be distracted by C.E.T. toothpaste and stop coughing or by brushing, which he loves and purrs like crazy - also stops coughing.
I don't have any experience with vets & sick cats and reading about all the possibilities and side effects of vaccines and treatments, I'm just terrified.
I just keep thinking that it is something we did or do that is making out kitty sick.
Raw food? Chicken allergy? Clay litter? A bath? Something in the apartment? Pigeons' nest outside the window? Dust mites? Carpets? Pieces of sisal rope that he keeps biting on? to many treats?
Secondary upper respiratory infection? Asthma? Heart Condition? Lung worms? Bronchitis? something else?...
I understand that i won't know anything until i get him to vet and do some tests.
What should i expect or ask for? X-ray, CBC, blood chemistry, stool and urine test. Anything else? Should I go to the same vet, or try to get him to feline only practice that is way out of town? Should i tell the vet that i've been feeding him raw (and possibly get yelled at)?
Should i avoid antibiotics until we get test results back? I read about Convenia and this vet didn't even consult me, before giving kitty the shot. And when i asked for side effects all the assistant told me was possible increase in appetite... I'm not sure if i trust them to do the best by my cat.
Sorry for a long post and some rambling. I worried and scared and don't really know where to turn to...