So happy to hear that Cornell is going to assist!
Fingers crossed for a solution. . .
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Sick Ocicat Kitten...Pneumonia & URI
- Thread starter lenny & squiggy
- Start Date
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #22
You and me both! I am waiting to hear from my vet on how we are going to transfer his records. I was advised they want them ASAP so a proper review can be done before seeing him. Just to clarify...this hospital is affiliated with The Cornell Feline Health Center. I am not actually going to Cornell. Cornell did offer a telephone consult with records review (very reasonably priced too), but this local affiliate was willing to work with everything we have already done and see him too! Thanks for the push...it can get overwhelming at times.
Wanted to add about the nebulizer and URI, my cats seem to be able to breathe a lot better after the treatments. My cat Harley was very congested and wasn't eating (I was syringe-feeding) and both cats went and ate the dry food right after the first nebulizer treatment and they always sound a lot less congested right after they get the treatment. They're both improving.
The treatment they're being given with the nebulizer is gentocin and dex. When I had my rat with pneumonia she was given Albuterol nebulized.
The treatment they're being given with the nebulizer is gentocin and dex. When I had my rat with pneumonia she was given Albuterol nebulized.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #24
Thanks for the insight. They have not offered that treatment to date. Will bring up with the specialist.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #25
I am posting in order to help anyone else who has experienced such an ordeal with pneumonia and URI with a kitten.
We saw the feline doc. 4/4, had another full work up and she diagnosed him with a Wild FHV-1 strain with now...viral bronchitis (vs. pneumonia) and rhinitis or URI. She was impressed with his work up to date, felt he needed a different course of Rx. and advised this will be a trial/error attempt to restore his health. He was placed on a 10 day rx of Famciclovir by pill 2x/day, with Albuteral (1x/day) and Flovent (2x/1 wk, continue 1x), no antibiotics. We had a marked improvement with him. My guess, 90% symptom free. Back to kitten behavior, looking promising.
Upon finishing the anti-viral and reducing the Flovent, symptoms resumed within 72 hours. We tried to just resume full dose on inhaler and see response..he continued to get ill. 48 hours and we refilled the Famciclovir and reduced the inhalers to one and one per day. This was last Thursday, Friday he was seen by the vet with another full work up, and by Sunday we had him up and moving again. I am waiting on tests done on him, but there has been marked improvement in his symptoms on this medication. He is not "kitten" playing yet, but bright eyed and up and about.
Will let you know how the tests show up. She plans to include a long term antibiotic therapy with anti-viral, but not making decisions until tests are in. Possible additional diagnostics depending on results.
Keeping up the faith...we will get him healthy!!!
We saw the feline doc. 4/4, had another full work up and she diagnosed him with a Wild FHV-1 strain with now...viral bronchitis (vs. pneumonia) and rhinitis or URI. She was impressed with his work up to date, felt he needed a different course of Rx. and advised this will be a trial/error attempt to restore his health. He was placed on a 10 day rx of Famciclovir by pill 2x/day, with Albuteral (1x/day) and Flovent (2x/1 wk, continue 1x), no antibiotics. We had a marked improvement with him. My guess, 90% symptom free. Back to kitten behavior, looking promising.
Upon finishing the anti-viral and reducing the Flovent, symptoms resumed within 72 hours. We tried to just resume full dose on inhaler and see response..he continued to get ill. 48 hours and we refilled the Famciclovir and reduced the inhalers to one and one per day. This was last Thursday, Friday he was seen by the vet with another full work up, and by Sunday we had him up and moving again. I am waiting on tests done on him, but there has been marked improvement in his symptoms on this medication. He is not "kitten" playing yet, but bright eyed and up and about.
Will let you know how the tests show up. She plans to include a long term antibiotic therapy with anti-viral, but not making decisions until tests are in. Possible additional diagnostics depending on results.
Keeping up the faith...we will get him healthy!!!
I'm glad you've gotten some good help and that he's improved some, although there's been setbacks. Honestly, I cannot urge you enough to speak with your vet about a culture & sensitivity test of any type of mucous or discharge or fluid that he has rather than treating the symptoms with antibiotics that may or may not treat the underlying condition. (Over time, your cat will become resistant to the antibiotics and they will cease to be effective.) This was the best thing we did for our Hannah when she was going through her 8 month sick-well cycle. The culture accurately pinpointed the underlying pseudomonas infection that would've killed her if not caught when it was. The antibiotic the sensitivity test showed would most accurately treat the infection worked, even though we had to do 2 rounds of it. I really cannot tell you how much this one test helped find the root cause of Hannah's symptoms. Once that was cleared up, she's been healthy ever since.
Also, you might want to look into some herbal or alternative types of treatments such as a daily antihistamine (OTC which is not herbal or alternative meds), Evening Primrose Oil, and echinacea. Also, you might want to consider interferon treatments.
Also, you might want to look into some herbal or alternative types of treatments such as a daily antihistamine (OTC which is not herbal or alternative meds), Evening Primrose Oil, and echinacea. Also, you might want to consider interferon treatments.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #27
Thanks Stefanietx...that is part of this phase of testing, should hear by tomorrow or wed...
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #28
Received a call from the feline vet today, the culture has come back as normal respiratory bacteria, normal flora. I am told we are not dealing with any secondary issues here. Strictly a viral nature.
Treatment course is long term Famciclovir and inhalers: Flovent and Albuteral one time per day each. Rhinoscopy in the future if there is a relapse on meds.
Anybody have experience with Famciclovir? Or a wild FHV-1 strain? I dont have a prognosis yet, but hoping this is the right course for him.
Treatment course is long term Famciclovir and inhalers: Flovent and Albuteral one time per day each. Rhinoscopy in the future if there is a relapse on meds.
Anybody have experience with Famciclovir? Or a wild FHV-1 strain? I dont have a prognosis yet, but hoping this is the right course for him.
