Jitzu's sick. Still.

[librarychick]

I've mentioned this in a few other posts, and to be honest I don't know what I'm hoping to get out of posting this...maybe just support. I've just been feeling overwhelmed and scared about this lately.

Jitzu got really really sick a while ago, here's the thread if you want a more detailed backstory. Short story: She got really ill, and had to stay at the vet for 2 days. I force fed her for about 2 weeks, then hand fed her for 2 more weeks, and she finally improved a bit.

Since then it's never really gone away. I'm positive it's the herpes virus. Muffin has it (he gets sores occasionally, and sniffles if he's stressed) and I'm sure he gave it to her. I'm so sure it's herpes because the antibiotics from the vet had no effect until I started dosing her with l-lysine too. Then she started improving. The vet we go to know (who is a great vet!) says that Jitzu has permanent nasal damage from that first infection. We've tried three serious courses of antibiotics; the first and seconds as a daily pill, and then the injection. Both treatments seemed to help at first, but by the end she was back to sneezing.

She's got a constantly runny nose, she smells horrible (it is her nose, not her breath, her teeth are great), and she's having a seriously hard time keeping herself clean. Not to mention her appetite has gone downhill the past few weeks.

I'm trying to dose her with l-lysine, but she's stopped eating the babyfood I mix it with. She can't smell it so she'll have nothing to do with it. I know the next step is mixing the lysine with water and shooting it down her throat, but she HATES that.

I'm just so discouraged, and sad, and frustrated. I can't stand seeing her this sick, but the only other possible treatment is an x-ray (which will just confirm the damage we know is there) and then surgery (which isn't anything LIKE guaranteed to work, and is WAY out of my pricerange). I feel so bad for her every day.

I know she hates being sick, and dirty...but she's also not feeling as terrible as she has in the past. This flare-up isn't as bad as it has been before...but I don't want it to get there either. I'm at the point now where I was thrilled today to get her to eat 1/4 chicken breast lightly cooked. She hadn't eaten in 3 days before that. I just don't know what to do. I've talked to the vet and she's out of ideas as well.

Bottom line...WHY doesn't anyone make a kitty-decongestant?

[laurief]

I know you love your vet, but it sounds to me like it's time to seek out a second opinion. If there's any way that you can get your girl to your nearest university vet school clinic, that's what I strongly recommend you do. There, you will find all the diagnostic equipment and veterinary specialists necessary to definitively diagnose your girl and provide as many treatment options as possible. Private practice vets - even the best of them - simply don't have access to the diagnostic equipment or specialists available at university vet school clinics.

You're painting a pretty bleak picture here - one in which it sounds like your girl is slowly starving. Your vet is out of ideas. It's time to find one who can offer treatment options.

Laurie

[Meezer_lover]

So sorry to hear this. I know that feeling......despair, frustration, sadness.
Sending positive vibes your way in hopes that Jitzu starts to turn around.

[catloverami]

Sick and very old cats usually don't feel up to grooming themselves, but you can make your cat feel a lot better by grooming the cat every day. Take a wrung out wet hot washcloth , and rub it all over---face, body, legs--and then gently towel dry. Fluff up the coat with a comb (steel grooming comb works best). If your cat is not used to being groomed, it may not enjoy it too much at first, so do it quickly. I'm sure Jitzu will come to appreciate it and it will make him feel better.

I agree that a second opinion should be sought.

[Auntie Crazy]

Originally Posted by laurief

I know you love your vet, but it sounds to me like it's time to seek out a second opinion. If there's any way that you can get your girl to your nearest university vet school clinic, that's what I strongly recommend you do. There, you will find all the diagnostic equipment and veterinary specialists necessary to definitively diagnose your girl and provide as many treatment options as possible. Private practice vets - even the best of them - simply don't have access to the diagnostic equipment or specialists available at university vet school clinics.

You're painting a pretty bleak picture here - one in which it sounds like your girl is slowly starving. Your vet is out of ideas. It's time to find one who can offer treatment options.

Laurie

Totally agree with Laurie. Permanent damage or no, when an animal is ill and not improving and the person in charge of coming up with a cure is stumped, it's time to seek help elsewhere.

On another note - how much L-Lysine are you giving her? With what kinds of foods have you tried to tempt her? Maybe one of us can come up with something different while you're waiting on your new vet appointment?

Herpes flare-ups are often caused by stress... has there been anything in Jitzu's environment that might be causing her to freak just a bit? Have you tried Feliway or anything else that might help lower her anxiety levels?

I'm pulling for you both! Hang in there, sweetie!

AC

[MowMow]

I agree, a pair of fresh eyes is sometimes just the thing.

[librarychick]

First off, thanks for the quick responses. I really appreciate it. Now questions.

Unfortunately the nearest vet school is at least 8hrs away. Way farther than I could go even if I could afford time off work and the treatment costs.

Two vets have, separately, had the same opinion and suggestions. The same guess on successful treatment too, not a lot. If either had suggested something they really thought would work I'd be saving up for it, but both had low hopes unfortunately and I don't want to put her under for seats when she can't breathe and is sick. Especially without much hope for a fix.

As far as food I've tried everything that she usually loves, except tuna. Beef chunks, beef heart, Turkey heart, chicken. I've tried lightly cooked, pureed, chopped small, ect. I also fed her whenever she shows intrest in food and in places she's usually not allowed to eat. Success was with the boys put away, lightly cooked chicken chunks, on top of the gecko tank when I was making lunch. Set to try that again tomorrow.

I usually mix her lysine in with chicken baby food and a bit of water, she usually makes a huge fuss while I prepare it then gobbles it up as soon as it hits the floor. The last few weeks its sat until I let one of the other cats eat it, about 2hours. Waaaaay longer than normal. Tomorrow ill start forcing it, she needs the lysine to get better, it's not optional anymore.

I have been wiping her down occasionally, but I know when I do that it's setting her trust with me back a lot. Same as forcing the meds or force feeding. Unfortunately I just won't have a choice with the meds anymore.

I know I'm shooting down all the options your giving me. Trust me, I really am listening. We've been dealing with this for a year and a half, the whole time. Sometimes she's better, others shes worse. I just don't know how to handle it. I've been researching and trying anything I think will help, she's had the treatments I mentioned int the first post and a few other vet visits as well...I'm just at a loss and so are the two vets I've talked to. (One of which works at a pretty big clinic and also got advice from her colleagues.)

I really really wish I could win the lottery and be able to try anything, no matter the cost. But this year's vet bills drained my fund, and at the end of the day I have to pay the mortgage.

If I have to I WILL force feed that cat for the rest of her life, even if she hates me for it. But I just want her to not to feel like craps all the time. That's why I switched her to raw food, got a heat pillow, spent all my money at the vet...and I still can't make her feel better.

Thanks for all the kind words and thoughts. If you even think there might be something I haven't tried or my vets might have missed please let me know.

[Fran]

Hi there! I am so sorry to read about poor Jitzu! I have been reading about her here for years, it makes me so sad for both of you! Maybe these ideas will help??

I did some research recently when Gracie was just miserable with inflamed flea bites, and found an online source of holistic herbal medications for cats and dogs (and Chinese remedies, too). They had a supplement which has helped her a great deal, since she has developed a full-blown allergic response to bites. I noticed that the same site has a product in the 'viral conditions' category called Respiratory Support that got many good reviews, including one for a cat with feline herpes (quoted below). Maybe this would help your Jitzu? (Also, remember that antibiotics do deplete the body's good bacteria, and it takes a while for the immune system to heal. She could probably do with some immune support too.)

Here's the one review that caught my eye:

"I adopted a kitten from a cat rescue/foster and was told up front this pet has feline herpes. I kept taking my new kitty to the vet for sniffles, runny nose, sneezing, pink, runny eyes. Got sent home with antibiotics (oral & ophthalmic) always. Did some homework on feline herpes and came across this tincture and it works. It doesn't cure feline herpes (there isn't a cure) but it does help my kitty. I struggle with the dropper providing the exact dosage but that's my only complaint with this product. I have paid close attention to any side effects and have seen none. I have used this product for over 2 years now. Works as good as an antibiotic if not better. I will continue to purchase this for my cat for the rest of his life because it helps him. I no longer give it to him orally because he fights with me and his stress causes his herpes outbreak but I do put it in his food and water and that has worked just as successfully.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend"

Link Only Natural Pet Respiratory Support Dog & Cat Herbal

I hope this helps! Of course, if this one thing doesn't work, there are probably other vendors that make something similar. It's just the idea which I thought was interesting.

Fran

[librarychick]

I haven't seen that product before! I'll be giving it a try for sure! Thanks so much Fran, hopefully it will help.

[librarychick]

Well, I have some good news. She's eating again! I think I finally got enough lysine in her for it to work and she's perking up a bit. I'm going to order some of that med you suggested Fran, and hopefully it'll come soon so we can try it.