Tips for Alfred's Awful URI? - Funny photo added

[KJ & Alfred]

Poor Alfred is really suffering. He has a horrible Upper Respiratory Infection. He's been to the vet twice, been on two courses of two antibiotics (still in the middle of the second) and seems to be really miserable.

After the first antibiotics, he showed some signs of it easing up (sneezing less frequently, nose stopped running, but eye occasionally weepy). But then about 10 days after that course was finished, the symptoms came back with a vengeance. The next vet gave him an AB injection and a topical AB ointment for his eye. They told me to see how he was doing in a week. Five days in and his nose is awful and although I've been trying to wipe it, its getting gummy/crusty at the nostril and even had a little bit of blood last night and this morning.

I've tried holding a warm, wet cloth against his nostrils. I've got the humidifier running round the clock and have tried twice to hold him in the steam after a boiling a pot of water. I don't have an unlimited water supply, so haven't been running the shower, but will put him in the bathroom with me later today when I take my shower. Anything else I can do for him? I plan to call the vet again today when they open, but thought I'd tap into the experience of the cat collective here.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

Re: Any tips for Alfred's Awful URI?

The AB injection by any chance was it convenia? http://www.catinfo.org/?link=convenia

Please read this about using convenia.

You could try L-Lysine - http://www.ehow.com/about_6330005_l_lysine-cats.html

Here is more information on this. You can purchase this online and/or in the store, such as vitamin shoppe, GNC and pet stores. It comes in treat formula and pastes. It is safe to use on a daily or as needed basis.

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

Re: Any tips for Alfred's Awful URI?

Ok i dont know much about cats UTI but I just nursed a sick rabbit through pneumonia and so maybe you can Google these and see what it says for cats?

1. continue the course for much longer - we had Bonnie on antibiotics for a month.
2. Was a culture done? Might need to change antibiotics - the bacteria can change as the antibiotic kills one another can take over. We dealt with 3 different bacterias causing the pneumonia.
3. Nebulization - we nebulized Bonnie with a mixture of antibiotic, saline, a bronchodilator and Mucomyst to loosen the mucus in the lungs
4. Oral fluids are good. Might want to look at Lasix to clear any fluids from the lungs if there is breathing issues coughing etc.

Wendy

 

[KJ & Alfred]

Re: Any tips for Alfred's Awful URI?

Thank you for posting that about Covenia. This was what the vet gave him. I'm still waiting for 8am to come so I can call.

 

[BJM]

Re: Any tips for Alfred's Awful URI?

Preservative free, moisturizing eye drops, if vet OK with it. The eye drains into the sinuses, so you'd be loosening the goo from above.

Maybe a touch of plain vaseline on the nose to make it easier to remove goo and keep it from cracking.

"Mom cat" - take a warm, wet, washcloth and give him a wipe down like a mom cat would do. If he feels crappy, he may not be grooming himself much. A bit of kitty massage and gently brushing may feel good too.

l-Lysine powder or chews for cats may help if this is partly feline herpes.

Check for dehydration:
Gently pull up skin at scruff of neck and release. If it stays pinched up, ie 'tented', the cat may be moderately to severly dehydrated
Lift lip and press finger on gums, then release. If it stays white, id 'blanched', the cat may be dehydrated mildly or more (time for it to pink back up indicates how dehydrated.

 

[KJ & Alfred]

Re: Any tips for Alfred's Awful URI?

Well, I talked to two different vets and I'm going to take him in this afternoon. Unfortunately, the only vet available is the worst of the worst. She obviously doesn't care for cats and doesn't hide it, but I'm desperate. Anything she says I will ask the vet I like about tomorrow when she's back. They are at different clinics in different towns.

Off to try the shower now. He's so miserable and hiding from me now after I came home and tried again to wipe the goo with a warm wet cloth. I tell myself he knows I'm trying to help, but it does break my heart a little to see him react this way to me.

Dang, this has been a rough road with this kitty lately. I'm trying hard to keep it together.
Thanks again for your support and ideas.

 

[KPassa]

Re: Any tips for Alfred's Awful URI?

2. Was a culture done? Might need to change antibiotics - the bacteria can change as the antibiotic kills one another can take over. We dealt with 3 different bacterias causing the pneumonia.

It might not even be an infection that caused the URI in the first place but an allergy that caused the infection. Has anything changed recently? Litter? Food? Even your own fabric softener or clothing detergent?

 

[Barb & Mr. Frog]

Re: Any tips for Alfred's Awful URI?

One of the things I do when my babies have a cold is gentle tapping/soft fingertip thumping on their chest/lungs area. They don't seem to like it a huge amount, but they always feel better much sooner when I do it, I believe it helps them cough up the gunk. (it is also known as tapotement, in human massage terms)

 

[KJ & Alfred]

Re: Any tips for Alfred's Awful URI?

2. Was a culture done? Might need to change antibiotics - the bacteria can change as the antibiotic kills one another can take over. We dealt with 3 different bacterias causing the pneumonia.

It might not even be an infection that caused the URI in the first place but an allergy that caused the infection. Has anything changed recently? Litter? Food? Even your own fabric softener or clothing detergent?

Nothing has really changed that I can think of. He did spend the night at the vet when first diagnosed with FD, so maybe there was another cat there with an infection.

He seemed to really benefit from hanging out in the bathroom while I showered. The local vet gave me some L-lysine goo to add to his food and said to keep up with the steaming and call back next week if he doesn't improve.

Barb - thanks for mentioning the tapping. The first vet we saw suggested that and I honestly have forgotten to do it since the first day. I'll try again.

Thanks, everyone for your comments. It is always so comforting to know you're not alone and definitely not the first person to deal with these cat ailments. Fingers crossed I can quit giving all my money to the vet for a while. I feel like I'm a regular fixture there!! :lol:

 

[Deb & Wink]

Re: Any tips for Alfred's Awful URI?

KJ,

Hope the l-lysine helps to boost his immune system.

Sending healing vines to Alfred and support vines to you KJ. Remember to take some time for yourself. Need to keep the caregiver healthy so you can care for your "sugarhunk", Alfred.

My sympathies are with you in dealing with a vet who doesn't like cats. Sometimes, you have no choice who you deal with. Keep yourself mentally, physically and spiritually strong. You can deal with this.

P.s. It didn't feel right to call a boy kitty a sugarbabe. ;-)

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

Re: Any tips for Alfred's Awful URI?

Now that you have L-Lysine, go online and do a search to buy more cheaper. you can get it in goo, paste and treat form.

 

[KJ & Alfred]

Re: Any tips for Alfred's Awful URI?

Deb - thanks! "Sugarhunk" made me laugh.

Hillary - The receptionist at the vet is bringing some of the lysine treats she gives her cats in for me so I can try before I buy. Sienne also linked to the powder she gives her cats. I figured I might as well start with the goo since I could have it right away. Living in a tiny town definitely is a challenge when you need to buy things!!

 

[KJ & Alfred]

Re: Any tips for Alfred's Awful URI? - Fun photo added

I'm double-posting just to share this silly photo of Alfred with you guys. Makes me smile, and who couldn't use an extra smile or two, eh?

 

[Deb & Wink]

Wait a minute! You've got identical quintuplets. ;-) Either that or Alfred has cloned himself. Or is using that magical kitty transportation system where they can be in more than one place at the same time.

Great photo. Thanks for sharing.

 

[KJ & Alfred]

As much as I love Alfred, I am glad there is only one of him to worry about! I think I'd get pretty tired poking 5 ears each testing time!!

 

[quilterkitty]

On the L-lysine, if you can't easily or quickly get the one Sienne recommended, I buy the 500 mg tablets from GNC. You can easily grind them up in a pill grinder and mix the powder in the food. With Star, it takes a week to 10 days to see real improvement if he's very sneezy and weepy-eyed. Good luck!

 

[BJM]

I found powdered l-lysine @ iHerb