Update On Kitten With Uri (now Pneumonia)

[RKid]

Hi everyone,

My original post regarding my kitten Brodie is here: Cat Fever - Lethargic And Minimal Eating

I wanted to provide an update on Brodie's health. Brodie was hospitalized for 2 nights and 3 days because he had a severe URI and had stopped eating and drinking. On Friday the 26th the vet decided to do an xray since he was not showing many signs of improvement. The xray showed that Brodie had developed pneumonia and the vet started him on Baytril. The next day Brodie was noticeably improving, he was not as lethargic and was curious about what was going on around him, he was also eating by himself more.

We brought him home on Saturday evening when his fever had finally reduced. He is currently taking Baytril, Azithromycin, an anti-inflammatory called Metacam and Isathal eye ointment since he was starting to develop an eye infection because of the URI. His eyes have markedly improved since starting the eye ointment on Wednesday and he seems to be gaining strength everyday. He is more alert and is walking around the house more. He is drinking lots of water but still needs to be encouraged to eat. I wish he would start eating by himself as this would make my life much easier!

It seems that the Baytril is working. The only problem is that Brodie hates the taste of the medicine and he drools/froths at the mouth whenever we give it to him. I was obviously alarmed by this at the first but the vet has told me to continue giving him the Baytril as it seems to be doing much more good than harm.

I still cannot believe how sick this kitten became! It seems that this happened overnight but I am hopeful that we are finally on the right track towards recovery. I am just going to do my best to provide as much love and comfort as possible and hopefully he will be back to his old self soon.

Has anyone experienced the same issues with Baytril or any medicine that caused their cat to drool after taking it?

 

[margd]

Gosh, I love a story with a happy ending! When they get so sick, it's really frightening. Thank you so much for the update on Brodie. It's very good to hear that he appears to be headed towards recovery.

Yes, a known side-effect of Baytril is that cats drool and froth at the mouth. The bigger concern with Baytril, however is that it can also cause blindness. My antenna went up upon seeing that Brodie was having issues with his eyes. I'm glad they are responding to the Isathal ointment. That's a good sign.

Check this thread out - in addition to describing cats' pro and con experiences with Baytril it also contains some good links. Baytril and Blindness?

Here are a few more:

SPCAI :: Baytril, Blindness, and Your Cat
Enrofloxacin-associated retinal degeneration in cats. - PubMed - NCBI (Note that some cats recovered their vision in this study).
https://www.drsfostersmith.com/Rx_Info_Sheets/rx_enrofloxacin.pdf

I'm going to contact one of our members who learned a great deal about Baytril and its side-effects after losing her cat, Kitten. She knows far more about Baytril than I do.

I hate to sound so scary about this. Given the right dose, careful observation and a good vet, many cats take Baytril safely. Nonetheless it is dangerous enough that I wanted to emphasize how important it is to monitor everything when this antibiotic is given.

 

[stephanietx]

I would also caution you on using Metacam. That has some very serious side effects.

 

[kittens mom]

I'm going to repeat what I've said before. Baytril or enfrofloxacin and powerhouse antibiotics. Most veterinarians understand that it's hard to get a high enough dose without risking some of the side effects. These antibiotics are in the same family as Cipro. There are safer floroquinilones , pradofloxicin being one of them.
Enrofloxacin the name Baytril is owned by bayer must never exceed 5mg/kg/per day for a cat. Those restrictions are why veterinarians usually choose a different antibiotic for cats. When they do they usually give an rx for a lower dose.
We assume that because a drug is being used on our pets it's been tested but that isn't so. The side effect of blindness was not revealed until after it was on the market. It is my sincere belief that after doing 6 months of real research on these drugs that had the drug not cause blindness the real horrors of using this antibiotic on cats would have been revealed much like it has on humans.
Please understand my Kitten was treated my an absolute monster and incompetent fool and very few if any veterinarians are going to overdose your cat. However seldom do them make you aware of the side effects.
I want to emphasize I am not a veterinarian however i did become a near specialist on this one drug. It is a GOOD drug used for the correct infections and in the right dose for the right amount of time.
Understand the blindness is caused by the concentration of the antibiotic which can happen in a sick cat that is dehydrated or has impaired kidney function.
I will always advocate that this should be the last antibiotic a veterinarian should reach for when treating a cat.

 

[RKid]

Thanks for your suggestions and comments regarding the medications. Sometimes it's so tough deciding what to do since you hear about possible side effects but then you are hoping that the vet's are prescribing medication only if they believe the benefit will outweigh the potential risks.

Anyways I thought I'd provide another update on Brodie. He saw his vet on Jan 30th and at that time he was still not eating and still had a fever. She was concerned about possible toxoplasmosis and prescribed clindamycin. Last thursday I took him for a second opinion and that vet prescribed him prednisolone and advised that he should continue taking the clindamycin but stop the metacam and baytril. His prednisone dose was a tapered dose for 5 days. Brodie showed incredible improvement very shortly after taking the prednisone. His fever reduced back to the normal range and he started eating again. His congestion cleared up and he no longer had discharge coming from his eyes or nose. He stopped open mouth breathing and sneezing. He also started to be a bit more active. We saw his vet on Monday where she did another chest xray. The xray revealed that his pneumonia was clearing up. His one lung was almost completely clear and the other one was showing positive signs of improvement.

Brodie's last dose of prednisone was 3 days ago on monday morning. Since then he has continued to eat and drink a normal amount and use his litter box. The only thing I am worried about is his lethargy. He is still very lethargic and doesn't want to move around much. He is alert to noises and things going on around him and he always gets wide-eyed when he sees his laser pointer. But he is just not interested in playing or moving around much. I am not sure if this is just a side effect of the prednisone or if he is so exhausted from his body fighting this infection. His vet also mentioned that his pneumonia could be inhibiting his oxygen intake which in turn could be contributing to his lack of energy.

I am just so confused as this has been ongoing for 3 weeks now. Although I am happy he is eating and drinking and no longer has a fever, his lethargy is still a major concern. His vet is considering starting him back on the prednisone and has also recommended a tracheal wash to examine the cultures in his chest. He will need to be referred to the veterinary college at the university in order to have this done. I was so happy to hear that his chest was clearing up but I just wish his energy would return to normal

 

[margd]

Sometimes it's so tough deciding what to do since you hear about possible side effects but then you are hoping that the vet's are prescribing medication only if they believe the benefit will outweigh the potential risks.

Yep, that's the problem in a nutshell!

I'm so glad that you took Brodie for a second opinion. The prednisone was exactly what he needed. Since he was already suffering from lethargy before he started the prednisone, I think it's more likely that something else is making Brodie remain so exhausted. He could be very weak while recovering from pneumonia or he could be still affected by the underlying condition that led to pneumonia. I think Brodie's vet has the right idea, put him back on the prednisone and give him the tracheal wash. The prednisone should increase his activity again and identifying the cultures in his chest will hopefully answer, once and for all, what is wrong with him.

Please keep updating us about Brodie's condition. This poor little guy has been through the ringer and I'm so looking forward to hearing that's he's healthy again!

 

[RKid]

Thank you for your thoughts margd !! Brodie has an appointment with the internal medicine specialist this upcoming Thursday the 15th. I'm assuming they will be doing the tracheal wash then and I will definitely provide an update.

So Brodie started back up on his prednisolone 2 days ago. He is currently taking 2.5mg once daily. His previous dose was a tapered dose: 5mg for one day - 2.5mg twice daily for two days - 2.5mg once daily for two days. He is still eating and drinking normally however he is still very lethargic. Although he walks normally, I noticed that he doesn't want to use his hind legs to jump up onto the couch. Instead he will jump slightly and then use his front paws to basically pull himself up. I'm wondering if the weakness in his hind legs is just a side effect of his infection or perhaps it's just the lethargy? He doesn't appear to be in any pain since he is walking fine. This is something I will bring up with the specialist on Thursday however I am wondering if anyone has any thoughts or experience with this?

 

[RKid]

I really dreaded making this post. As each week went by I began accepting the possibility that Brodie might have dry FIP. Of course I didn't want to believe it. I kept thinking he just had a very bad strain of calicivirus or some other virus and that his pneumonia would take time to get over because he was a kitten and his immune system was not strong enough to fight the infection. When his lung xray showed that his pneumonia was clearing up, the joy I felt was indescribable. Every little sign that he might have been recovering was a small triumph for my family and I. Maybe he walked around more one day, or meowed once or twice. Maybe he just looked more alert one day or ate more food. It was the smallest of things that we found joy in. But this happiness was always short lived.

In the last few days of his life, he said goodbye to everyone in his own little way by sleeping or napping/cuddling up with us individually. He became more and more lethargic and rarely opened his eyes. When he did open them, he would squint and look uncomfortable. Just over a week ago he stopped jumping up onto the couch or bed so we knew he was becoming weaker. But through all of this he continued to eat, drink, and use his litter box. His toys remained untouched for 4 weeks.

Yesterday during his specialist appointment, my mom and I knew immediately when the doctor came in that the news would not be good. She had read his extensive file and knew that he should have been making progress by then. She said he looked like an 18 year old cat although he was only 7 months. She performed some cognitive tests and noticed that he was not responding as a normal cat would and that he was tremoring. She concluded that the FIP had affected his brain and that one side of his brain was already gone. We made the decision to put him to sleep peacefully so he would not have to suffer. Said our goodbye's and my dad held him while he left us. I have not stopped crying since.

A few thoughts I have:

1) I wish I never got him neutered since I think that triggered the stress. The guilt I feel is so painful. He showed no signs of illness before his neuter.
2) Will I ever be able to open my heart up to another cat. Brodie was my first cat and first proper pet. He made such an impact on everyone's lives in such a short period of time. I don't know if I'll be able to get past that. I'm also afraid of having another sick kitten and going through all of this again.
3) I tried to save him for 4 weeks. Multiple vet visits and opinions. Could I have done more...

Planning on writing a post in Crossing the Bridge. Thank you all for your support.


RIP Brodie - I loved you so much and I will love you forever <3

 

[Kelise]

I just finished reading your thread. I just wanted to extend my sincere condolences. <3 I've lost 6 animals in the last 1.5 years, three of them much too young, and I understand the soul-crushing pain of it.

I also want to assure you that it wasn't your fault, and that you made the right choice. It's easy to blame ourselves when we lose a young animal. But you did everything you could to save him. I know that I've had trouble getting past those feelings of guilt and regret for my animals. But in the end, this kitten was lucky to have you and what happened was nobodies fault.

Give yourself time to heal, and be kind to yourself.

 

[margd]

Oh, RKid , I am so, so sorry. Brodie was such a dear little boy. My own heart is aching from sorrow that he didn't make it. I just wish there was something I could say that would provide even a tiny bit of comfort to you who loved him so deeply.

You did absolutely everything that you could. This is one thing you need never question yourself about although you will. We all do. I know when I lost my Milo and Wesley, I tortured myself with the "what ifs". In the end, you can only do your best and if you do that, there is nothing to feel guilty about. And you did do that. You pursued every medical option presented to you and when you were uncertain of Brodie's progress and treatment, you posted here, looking for input that might give you even more ideas to help him. You of all people have no reason to subject yourself to the pain of guilt for not doing enough.

FIP is caused by infection with the feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), which is a mutated form of the feline coronavirus (FCoV). Most cats infected with FCoV never come down with FIPV. In Brodie's case, the question is: was Brodie's neutering so stressful that it triggered FCoV to mutate into the more deadly form? I honestly don't know if that's possible. I think it's more likely that he already was in the very early stages of FIP so that if the stress of neutering had any impact, it only would be to speed up the progression of the existing disease. Even then I'm puzzled. I've always thought that the kind of lowered immunological defenses that allow a virus infection to gain strength are only themselves caused by extended stress, not the short-lived stress of neutering. I'm just thinking out loud here - an actual virologist or vet would be able to provide a lot more information about this. In a way though, it doesn't matter. Again, you absolutely did what you thought was best for Brodie. No one could expect themselves to do more, especially when it comes to predicting the very complex and intricate interactions between a virus and its host.

Your concern that you may never be able to open your heart to another cat is also natural, especially since Brodie was your first cat and was so young when he passed away. There is something odd about that, though. Time after time I've read posts from people with a new feline member of the family - grieving people who never intended to have another cat or at least to wait for much longer. The cat has a strange way of coming to us. There are many ways they do this. Some actually walk through our front doors. In other cases, we learn of a cat who needs a home or...else. You won't always know if you're ready or not but no one has written in regretting their decision. Adopting another cat after Brodie will not detract from your love for Brodie, it just brings more love into an already loving heart. Having said all of the above, grieving takes its own form and its own time and if you really don't want another cat, there is nothing wrong with that at all.

Bless you for everything you did for Brodie. You gave him a loving home and loving hands. In the end you made a loving decision so he would be free of suffering. No cat could ever ask for more. Kelise (above) says to be kind to
yourself and she's absolutely right. You are in enough pain already without adding the undeserved pain of guilt.

RIP Dear Brodie.

 

[epona]

I'm very sorry for your loss.

I completely understand your feelings about whether you could love another cat, it's something that I wonder about every time I look at my boys and think about the things that make them unique and special.

I very much doubt that your decision to have him neutered made any difference - many thousands of cats get neutered every day with no ill effect. He was either already in the early stages, or would have been likely to develop the illness, regardless of being neutered.

My condolences to you.

 

[RKid]

Thank you all for your thoughts and wishes, I truly do appreciate them. These past few weeks and days have been the absolute hardest in my life and I am still grieving. But everyday my grief turns more to joy at the memories I had with Brodie. Brodie had a profound effect on my family. He changed my once pet-adverse parents into cat lovers in only a few short months. When Brodie first came into our lives, my dad used to close the door to the den so that he could watch TV without Brodie bugging him. By the end of Brodie's life, my dad spent every morning watching TV with him. When my dad came home, the first name he would call was Brodie's. I actually think my parents are taking Brodie's passing harder than I am and I would have never expected this to happen. Brodie brought something so special into our lives that words will never be able to express. And for that I will be eternally grateful.

I know my family has a void right now that they would like to fill with another cat eventually. Instead of a Brodie replacement we want to continue the love we had for Brodie with another cat. I am wondering what questions I should be asking a breeder or shelter when I get my next kitten. How can I ensure that I have cleaned everything in my home thoroughly before introducing another cat? I am planning on getting the couches and rugs steamed, but is there anything else I should be doing? I just want to do my best to adopt the healthiest kitten possible. I know there are some things we can't control, but I still want to do everything that I possibly can.