Spica needs your help - Illness unexplained by two vets

[goholistic]

Okay, I have to get to bed, but I checked TCS from my phone real quick and just had to sign in and respond to you. I'm so sorry that Spica is STILL not well. 

I want to ask you about the x-ray. Did they x-ray her whole body (at least from hips to neck) and her face?

Did they perform a rhinoscopy?

I've read over this thread over and over to check what was tested and not tested, tried and not tried. What you describe sounds viral in nature. Have you tried the l-lysine, yet?

Since antibiotics had no effect, then that kind of rules out a bacterial infection.

Does it seem like the labored breathing is caused from the fact that she is unable to breathe comfortably from her nose/mouth or does it seem like it is coming from deeper within her body? (I really don't know how you'd know this, but I'm just typing out things as they come to me.)

I can tell you are doing all you can to help your poor baby and I want to try to help you make her comfortable. To help with her stuffiness and breathing, you can try a saline mist. Disclaimer: she won't like it! The one I have is CVS brand Sterile Saline Nasal Mist with NO preservatives. It's simply purified water and 0.9% sodium chloride (salt). Read the label carefully. It is a very gentle mist with a very tiny nozzle (most often used for babies) that you can aim into a tiny cat nostril. If you miss and a little gets on her face, its okay. It's gentle enough. Do not share Spica's saline mist with any other cat or yourself and always wipe the nozzle clean with a dry, clean tissue and recap. She may sneeze afterwards, but it will help clear out her nasal passages a little more.

By the way, I was born in Kentucky. 

 

[mservant]

So sorry Spica's still so poorly. It sounds like you have found a vet who is more willing to push and find out more about what's going on at least, but really hard when they seem at a loss too.

Has no one done a culture yet? It would seem that, plus rhinoscopy might give some answers as the odour and colouration suggest a bacterial infection - whether as a secondary to some viral infection or other cause or not.  And I agree it would be good to check our the extent of extra done.

I really hope you can get her more comfortable and find out what's causing this so she can get better soon.  Keep on doing what you can to comfort her, and to try and boost her immune system.  Look after yourself too, this must be really exhausting for you both.

 

 

 

[gothic_amethyst]

 
Okay, I have to get to bed, but I checked TCS from my phone real quick and just had to sign in and respond to you. I'm so sorry that Spica is STILL not well. 

Thank you, me too!

I want to ask you about the x-ray. Did they x-ray her whole body (at least from hips to neck) and her face?

No, he just did neck down. I asked him about that and he didn't seem to think it would do any good.

Did they perform a rhinoscopy?

No, we were focusing on getting her stabilized and weight up. He's mentioned a specialist in Louisville, but the procedures were not pleasant for felines.

I've read over this thread over and over to check what was tested and not tested, tried and not tried. What you describe sounds viral in nature. Have you tried the l-lysine, yet?

Not yet, but plan to.

Since antibiotics had no effect, then that kind of rules out a bacterial infection.

She's now on a stronger antibiotic and it worked wonders. Details in the second post after this once coming up in a few mins.

Does it seem like the labored breathing is caused from the fact that she is unable to breathe comfortably from her nose/mouth or does it seem like it is coming from deeper within her body? (I really don't know how you'd know this, but I'm just typing out things as they come to me.)

To me, it's more nasal than internal. She snores and sometimes sleeps with her mouth open. When her breathing is bad, there is strong chest and stomach movement.

I can tell you are doing all you can to help your poor baby and I want to try to help you make her comfortable. To help with her stuffiness and breathing, you can try a saline mist. Disclaimer: she won't like it! The one I have is CVS brand Sterile Saline Nasal Mist with NO preservatives. It's simply purified water and 0.9% sodium chloride (salt). Read the label carefully. It is a very gentle mist with a very tiny nozzle (most often used for babies) that you can aim into a tiny cat nostril. If you miss and a little gets on her face, its okay. It's gentle enough. Do not share Spica's saline mist with any other cat or yourself and always wipe the nozzle clean with a dry, clean tissue and recap. She may sneeze afterwards, but it will help clear out her nasal passages a little more.

I've tried steam and mists and she doesn't go for it at all. The moisture seems to bother her and doesn't seem to help symptoms. She's even done better since turning off the humidifier.

By the way, I was born in Kentucky. 

Awesome, me too! Hello!

 

[gothic_amethyst]

 
So sorry Spica's still so poorly. It sounds like you have found a vet who is more willing to push and find out more about what's going on at least, but really hard when they seem at a loss too.

Thank you, me too. Yes and it's done wonders despite still being unsure of the cause.

Has no one done a culture yet? It would seem that, plus rhinoscopy might give some answers as the odour and colouration suggest a bacterial infection - whether as a secondary to some viral infection or other cause or not.  And I agree it would be good to check our the extent of extra done.

He said the culture was very expensive and was unsure if it would be effective while on antibiotics. It's something I've been really pushing though.

I really hope you can get her more comfortable and find out what's causing this so she can get better soon.  Keep on doing what you can to comfort her, and to try and boost her immune system.  Look after yourself too, this must be really exhausting for you both.

 

 

Yes, thank you. I slept very little the days she was the worst and had been to the vet four times that week. It's a good 30-45 min trip (one-way) so we were both tired! I'd been babying her and hoping she'll feel the love!

 

[gothic_amethyst]

Hello everyone. SO sorry for not posting an update sooner. I've had a VERY stressful and busy few weeks. We returned to the vet several times the first week. Our primary goal was to stabilize her since she had been so near death when she arrived. She was then started on Azrithromycin. It was absolutely miraculous. Within a few days she was 360 degrees better. The Clavamox and Baytril barely had an effect. He was just as shocked and impressed as I was. The next issue was her weight. She had already lost weight and then more during the time of the vet adventures. She was down from almost 6lbs to 4lbs. So primary focus was to get her weight up and go from there. She was given an appetite pill, but I only gave her one. Sofar, she's had fabulous appetite and he did say to give 'as needed'. Looking online, the pill had fatal consequences in some cases and the risk was not worth it provided her appetite kicked in on it's own which it has despite being past the pill's 72hr effective window. Now she's past time for her antibiotic and the symptoms are returning. Primarily the snoring and noisy nasal breathing. She's still acting fine and eating fine. In fact, today she did something very frisky to a bag of carrots which was totally new and shocked my Husband and I! Now we must figure out WHAT is causing this and decide whether or not to go back to the antibiotics longer or what.

 

[mservant]

Hi, thanks for the update. It is good that Spica made such a good improvement with the change in antibiotic and that her apatite improved without having to continue with that scary sounding medication. What a disappointment and worry for you seeing some of her symptoms return.  Have you called the vet? It may well be that the infection had just not quite cleared and if the antibiotic was continued a little longer it would clear fully without her getting too sick again and needing more vigorous treatment?  I know sometimes my vet is willing to continue a treatment without a further examination if he has seen my cat regularly and has a good idea of what is happening. It is must be so hard when you have such a long journey even to get to the vet.   

for getting her fully well.