Upper Respiratory Virus

[Millie27a]

They are eating well. Definate lethargy although both still are alert and ask to go outside ?!

 

[Millie27a]

Just had call from the vets. Moses urea is slightly elevated but apart from that, everything else is normal! What the heck is going on with my boys? Please help. This is a mystery!

 

[di and bob]

I have used a cat medication called 'Nose Relief' that I got on Amazon for relatively cheap. It seemed to work well in two of my cats. I keep some on hand now. URI's can seem to last forever and can cause bacterial indfections later that prolong the illness and need to be taken care of with antibiotics. I also give Lysine treats with the immunity builder DMG in it to build up their immunity at the first sign of those third eyelids. (also purchsed on Amazon, but in pet stores too.) DMG is given to all my cats now to hopefully ward off illnesses, since they were diagnosed with leukemia. My cats did not have fevers also, but they were lethargic, eating less, and having a hard time breathing. I pray your little ones will get better soon, viruses are so hard to get rid of.

 

[Millie27a]

Thank you for your response di and bob.
I am just terrified that this is something worse than a uri now. We are up to 8 weeks for Moses and 5 weeks for little Winnie. I shall try the Lysine approach thank you. It it the neurological side of things that worry me. I have been googling constantly and come up with some nasty answers. I know it’s not a good thing to do but the vets have given me no answers whatsoever.
I am physically exhausted.

 

[di and bob]

I know how these long illnesses can take a toll on the caregiver......since there was no elevated white blood cells in the recent blood test, there must be no infection. It is getting to the point that I would bet their immune systems are too beaten down to help much. Definitely get the Lysine treats with the DMG in it, it couldn't hurt. I hope they eat the treats, if not, I would recommend crushing them or breaking them into tiny pieces and mixing in 'LickableTreats', found online or at Walmart. Get the stew, not the bisque. They go nuts for the tuna and whitefish. My cats have never turned that down, and in fact get their DMG every morning, I split a pack with three cats. Oh I hope you slowly start to see an improvement! PS the neurological symptoms could be caused by the buildup of congestion in the head and ears. We get dizzy with congestion and so can they. You might call the vet and see if some kind of decongestant can be safely given. Follow the directions/amounts carefully, it is easy to overdose a cat!

 

[Millie27a]

Hello again and thank you for your kind words and advice.
I am terrified this is FIP. I have been doing so much reading up on it and it says that lysine should not be given to cats that are suspected to have this disease? Do all cats with FIP have a fever do you know? Perhaps it would be worth trying them with lysine whilst they are still fever free?
I’m so praying you’re right about the neurological problems they are both experiencing. I could tend to deal with this more if they had a lot of discharge and sneezing, but they don’t. All I can hear is heavier breathing sounds.
Oh my goodness. I have never dealt with anything like this with any previous animal ever before and now I have two with exactly the same problems. I wish I had answers.

 

[Jem]

It is my understanding that FIP in itself cannot be transmitted. It is a mutation to the corona virus that happens in an individual cat. A cat can transmit the corona virus, but not the mutated version of FIP. So I would suspect that the likelihood of you having two cats with FIP at the same time would be very unlikely.
Again that is just my understanding, for what it's worth.

 

[Millie27a]

Thanks Jem. I appreciate your response and yes, after reading your post, think it would be unlikely. Especially within three weeks of each other.
This is all such a mystery and, I guess as a human being, I’m frantically scrabbling around for answers and making myself ill along with it.
First it was an upper respiratory virus, then I believed it was to do with recent painting I had had done in the house. I just don’t know. My cats are all I can think about at every waking moment.
The vets assured me yesterday that, as they presented, there was nothing fatal happening, then added “I can’t predict what happens after this tho”!
I think I’m turning into a neurotic crazy fool

 

[di and bob]

There is a corona virus that affects the gut and presents like the corona virus that causes FIP. Cats recover from that one. One of my cats has laboured, fast breathing too, he had distemper when he was a kitten and still living in the wild, and it scarred his lungs with the severe respiratory symptoms he had. He is 5 now and most likely has leukemia too like my other cat, the ONLY thing that helps him is a steroid injection given by the vet, it helps his breathing for months. It does say that steroid injections reduce inflammation in FIP cats too, so you might ask your vet.
In all my research it does mention that FIP cats have fevers not helped by antibiotics. Since yours do not have a fever, that is a hopeful sign. They don't have distended abdomens, do they?
Definitely get the DMG, although it is a lot more expensive then that in the treats. It couldn't hurt and has been proven to help the immune system. Call your vet and ask about the Lysine. There has been some studies that say it doesn't work, but it has helped MY cats. Lysine works by not letting the feline herpes virus replicate. I relly don't think it could hurt, the most harm it could do is not do anything.....My little Yammy came so very close to dying, the vet recommended euthanasia too, I refused. I took him home and he refused to eat for 3 or 4 days, just a couple of licks. he stayed under the bed the whole time, only coming out to use his litterbox, bless his little heart. His congestion was terrible, he had snot running and sneezed a lot. I humdified the air and finally found those 'lickable treats' at Walmart that he did eat. He lived on those for a month. A few licks at a time. He slowly started coming out to eat, etc, though it was a struggle and now has been completely normal for going on 4 months! 4 months of living! I am so glad too, I didn't listen to the vet. His white blood cell count was down to almost nothing, the vet said he diodn't know how he was alive. Now I have found out that cells in cats are made every 28 days or so as long as the bone marrow is still working. So he is still making them! So I guess what I am trying to say, is don't give up! Miracles still happen, I know how terrifying this can be. Jsut love tehm as hard and as long as you can, and try everything, don't give up!

 

[di and bob]

For my cat with teh laboured breathing, nebulizer treatments are recommended. Most vets have the machine and the meds, although many people with children have them, maybe you could borrow one. The vet could prescribe you the medication. i put him in a carrier push the nebulizer end into the front door and cover all with a blanket. It only takes 10 minutes at the most and helps their lungs tremendously. He just prescribed me an inhaler for him too, Iwill put him in a small cardboard box with a hole cut into it by his face and put the medication into the box through the hole for him to breathe. havn't tried that yet, doesn't sound like much fun!

 

[Millie27a]

Oh goodness! Dear little Yammy. I’m so pleased he’s improving. You are truly a wonderful fur Mumma. You’ve really been through it with your animals. I’m so pleased u didn’t listen the the vets....mine too recommended euthanasia thinking Moses had a brain tumour, yet 8 weeks later, he is still here!!
No, neither of mine have fevers, nor distended abdomens, nor anything wrong with their complete blood counts. They started off with the third eyelid (this has now disappeared on Moses) then they had more noticeably loud breathing, and a few sneezes. Their eyes look watery but no other discharge from noses etc. Moses is quite wobbly still, he has had two seizures since this all began, and Winnie is very jumpy....certainly more so than usual. They both still eat extremely well. Winnie has bad diarrhoea so am feeding him white fish as the vet recommended and giving probiotics.
I will certainly phone the vets and ask about the lysine. I just want it all to stop. Do you have any idea how long this can go on for?
Could you please send me the link for the DMG that you recommend?

 

[di and bob]

Sorry, I am pretty computer illiterate! I found it by going to the Amazon site and put in under Pet supplies instead of 'all', and searched for DMG for cats. There is one by Vetriscience for 21.00, the others are 35.00. Must be another supplier, because they are the same product. The Lysine treats with DMG are there too. I just found a site today, called Homeoanimal, that has everything under the sun. I am thinking of ordering the White Blood Cell medicine they have. They even have medicine that stops tumors from growing, for ALL kinds of respiratory ailments, I plan on looking into it, you might too!

 

[Millie27a]

Thank you so much. I shall have a search about and see what may be beneficial. I do also plan on calling the vets tomoro for sure. They are both very overdue on their defleaing, but I didn’t want to upset them further by adding more chemicals to their skin.
I have just made a tunnel out of my rug and Winnie is currently running through it chasing his mouse and Moses asked to go out. These boys are driving me crazy they really are!

 

[cataholic07]

Is it possible that they are getting into something? Especially if they are allowed outside maybe they are getting into toxins or eating something they shouldn't? URI don't usually cause neurological problems unless it's very severe. But FIV and FeLV can, have you tested them for that? Either one can cause the URI and neurological issues, and it's both contagious to other cats. If you allowed your cats to roam and there are other cats around it could for sure be the reason why the one had it first, and then gave it to the other. FIV is spread via biting/scratching, FeLV is spread via grooming or litter box.

 

[di and bob]

I wouldn't deflea them unless you actually see fleas. The easiest way to see fleas is to look at their abdomen at the junction where their back legs join the body. The hair is thin there. Right now with their immune system fighting whatever they have, don't introduce any chemicals,including deworming too. With my cats having Luekemia I'm not even going to continue vaccinations, especially where they are inside now.

 

[Millie27a]

Thank you for all your advice. I have not slept much at all. Winnie has been in the litter box all night and has also been sick.
My plan of action for today is to call the vets to get him something for his diarrhoea. I shall also ask them to transfer my records to a veterinary college that I have nearby and take him there. I need another opinion and, to be honest, I feel my vet has let me down severely. They have been making me feel there is nothing going on when I know in my heart of hearts that something is awfully wrong! Winnie is getting markedly weaker by the day.
Yes, both cat’s go outside but they certainly don’t go far, just in the garden and they do not fight with each other. This doesn’t mean to say that another cat has not come into mine tho? They have both been vaccinated for Felv (or so I believe).
I will hold off on the flea treatment thank you di and bob.
I’m a mess and now I have to get my tired self off to work.

 

[cataholic07]

I would honestly get them tested for FeLV the vaccine isn't a sure thing unfortunately, and its not a common vaccine that people do either. And with FeLV you need to do double snap test and IFA test. Hope your babies feel better. Have you looked into a specialist?

 

[Millie27a]

I am all set to call the veterinary college, when they open in 5mins. I shall keep you posted. We need serious help.

 

[Millie27a]

Booked in for 3.30pm. My regular vets have just called. They have been contacted to ask for my babies records. The lady on reception said “I was going to mention you should perhaps have a second opinion when I saw you Saturday”. I cannot put into words how angry and bitter I am feeling towards them right now

 

[Millie27a]

Update for you, just in case anyone out there is still listening to my ramblings? You have no idea how much it is helping me...just typing all this and getting advice.
Sooooo.....off we went to the vets. FIV and Felv negative I feel as tho a little weight has been lifted and they may have something that is treatable, rather than life threatening! Next stop is poo samples for analysis. Poor Winnie must be so sore, he’s had chronic diarrhoea and a thermometer up his bottom so many times now poor little fella!
I am so much more positive about this new vet....certainly more expensive but that means nothing right now.
I have been given Metrobactin to treat them with. Anyone had any experience with this?
ps....thank u all for being with me throughout this journey but I hope it comes to an end soon xx