[Newt]

We have had our cat on several antibiotics for what we beleive is some sort of respiratory infection or chlamydia.

We have been giving him chlorpheneramine in a transdermal gel, but we can't tell if it is working or not. He has been on the gel for over a week (twice a day).

Is there a limit to how long he should be on the gel? We're not sure if it is effecting his eating and drinking (very little of either)

Is chlorpheneramine effective in a transdermal?

 

[Jessica]

I'm sorry but I am not familiar with that drug. The only thing I can think of that sounds similar to what you typed is chlorpheniramine(sp?) but that's not really used much in the veterinary field and is used to treat allergic reactions when it is.

If the infection doesn't seem to be clearing up, maybe your vet should do a culture to find out what type of antibiotic will work best to treat the infection.

 

[Newt]

chlorpheniramine

Yup, thats it...it's misspelled on the bottle from the old vet.

 

[Aonir]

Sorry, I know nothing of this

I'm guessing you got this from your vet? You should ask your vet that information. All cats are different. I have to be on a higher dose of medicine than usual, and lower than usual on another medicine! Every things body takes things differently. Your vet can tell you what is best for your kitty.

If kitty isn't eating/drinking much for a while, its an immediate problem. With weight loss, kitty isn't getting his right amount of vitamins and other nutritions he needs to be healthy. This will cause him to be very weak and will increase the chances of his getting sick. His tummy might get upset when he starts eating again, causing him to vomit or have diahrea.

 

[AngelZoo]

Not every medication will work the same for every cat, speak with your vet again 2 weeks is plunty long to start seeing results from this!
Perhaps he will try a different medication, etc.

Is your cat just having little nose dribbles, any eye discharge? Cats who have hepitits share these same symptoms and antibiotics will NOT make it go away.

 

[Newt]

Thanks. The cat has a runny eye, stuffy nose (not running anymore) and a sore throat. He goes back and forth between a 105 temperature and normal.

I took him off the chlorpheniramine as he showed no signs of drying up. We were giving it twice daily (transdermal gel) as per his former vet's instructions. The new Vet has him on interferon now and thinks he has chlamydia (this is his forth antibiotic in over two weeks).

Vet did tests for leukemia (sp) and any liver/kidney damage. All turned out ok.

His first two days on the interferon, he was eating again and gaining weight (still not drinking much). He was even eating his dry food. Then he stopped eating again.

 

[AngelZoo]

Has this cat ever been given sub-q fluids or has he not been that dehydrated?

I'm just concerned because my little black furry son (aka Tage) had similar problems as a young kitten, in and out of the vet, on various medications, NOTHING helped, finally they kind of "dried up" on their own if you will, but every once in a while he will have runny discharge from one eye, and some snotty sneezes.

I've been told it could be a reoccuring URI, and I've also heard that it could be hepitits. But in the end, who knows. He acts and eats healthy enough I am not concerned. Hepitits is said to be highly conntagious, but with all my perminate cats and the other fosters which have come in and out of here, not a single one of them has caught was Tage has, which makes me doubtful that it is hepitits.

Just wanted to let you know, it IS possible your cat will be fine in the end reguardless of medications, good luck!

 

[Newt]

Has this cat ever been given sub-q fluids or has he not been that dehydrated?

I'm just concerned because my little black furry son (aka Tage) had similar problems as a young kitten, in and out of the vet, on various medications, NOTHING helped, finally they kind of "dried up" on their own if you will, but every once in a while he will have runny discharge from one eye, and some snotty sneezes.

I've been told it could be a reoccuring URI, and I've also heard that it could be hepitits. But in the end, who knows. He acts and eats healthy enough I am not concerned. Hepitits is said to be highly conntagious, but with all my perminate cats and the other fosters which have come in and out of here, not a single one of them has caught was Tage has, which makes me doubtful that it is hepitits.

Just wanted to let you know, it IS possible your cat will be fine in the end reguardless of medications, good luck!

Thanks. We have kinda resigned ourselves to take him off all the medication once he is done with his round of interferon (7 on 7 off) and see how he does.

The vet gave him sub-q fluids for 2 days and felt he was looking better. I had the vet give him one more day just to make sure. He was looking better and eating better (gained 6 ounces), but now he is back (maybe lost more weight) where he was.

I went home at lunch, he has not touched one of the three plates lying around the house with food (Pro Ocean, tuna fish, Iams Chicken). His water bowl (looks like a mini-water cooler) has not dropped any either. Eye was a little watery but his breathing sounded good.

I gave him 12ml of water this morning via syringe and 12ml at lunch via syringe. Hopefully coming off to the chlorpheniramine will increase his appetite this evening. He is more active...just won't touch any food.

 

[Jeanie]

I agree with Jessica, a vet tech, who suggested that you ask your vet to do a culture. That is the only way to know definitely what's wrong and what medication will fight the infection. If his symptoms get worse, please take him to the vet and ask for the culture. I know you want the best for your baby.

 

[Newt]

He will definately go in on Wednesday if we do not see improvement in the next 24 to 36 hours. I will make sure to ask for a culture to be taken.

The not eating or drinking has me worried. We're getting very tired of the "try this medicine" game. :x

 

[Jeanie]

I understand just how you feel, Newt. It's time to find out for sure. It's such a worry. You don't mind spending the money if it's the right prescription for the problem. As it is, nothing seems to be working. I'll be praying that the vet finds the solution.

Make sure he doesn't get dehydrated ! That's so dangerous.

 

[Newt]

Thanks for the prayers. He may be going in tomorrow for fluids if he doesn't drink today.

 

[AngelZoo]

Newt: Well often when cats have these type of problems, specially stuffed up they can't really smell or taste their foods, just like us when we have a bad cold!

Try giving him some wet/canned food, it's higher in moister as well so will help prevent dehydration. Here are the best (healthest) brands to try, which will really help your kitten right now.
In addition, try heating it up in the microwave just a little bit to make it warm, he might have a better chance of SMELLING the food then, and wanting to eat.

Felidea - Chicken & Lamb Forumla, Chicken & Rice
Wysong - Duck, Rabbit, Venison, Chicken, Beef
Pinnacle - Chicken & Tuna, Ocean Fish, Chicken & Ocean Fish
Wellness - Chicken & Hearing, Turkey & Salmon
Natural Balance - Ocean Fish, Ultra
Evolve - Chicken, Turkey

I hate Iam's, so I can't blame your kitty for not wanting to eat that, smart cat. Are you feeding him human tuna fish? If so it is not healthy for cats and should remove it immediatly from his meal.

Hope he's doing better by his next vet appointment!

 

[Newt]

I'll go out and try those. We only tried tuna to get him to eat something, which did work before. I do know it is not healthy as an everyday meal due to no anti-oxidants or vitamins, but ok as a snack.

We tried the Iams (which he normally likes) but did not respond and the Purina Pro Ocean (which he gobbled up last week but now does not respond to it). We have tried microwaving, but nothing works. He walks away no matter how many times you put it in his face.

We're getting very desperate trying to avoid having a tube put in. Would baby food work? Are there anyother home remedies as a last resort?

 

[Jeanie]

Yes, you could try baby food. Also, I would buy a tube of Nutrical at a pet store. It is specifically made for cats that are thin or aren't eating. I so hope this helps. Bless his heart!

 

[AngelZoo]

Yes I second the Nutrical!
There are many things you can try to get him to eat at home, are there normally any "table scraps" he likes that might be healthy for him? I feed my cats a bit of RAW food and they think it's a real treat.
Have you considered giving him or putting a little Catsip (cat milk) or KMR in with his food, and warming that a little, at least THAT would be some kind of fluid with vitamins and such in it.
Better then nothing.

Baby food could work as well, I hope you can find something he wants to eat, have you considered forced feeding or do you not think that would work too well? (the baby food would be perfect for that).

 

[Newt]

I picked up a bunch of different cat foods at the store, some not healthy but at this point we just want to start him eating on his own.

I picked up the Cat Milk, gave him 12ml via a syringe, he would not drink it on his own. He ate a little Sheba (beef) but that was it. His eye looks much better since we stopped the chloromepherine (sp). He also seems to be breathing better and moving around more...but refuses to drink or eat anything. You would think he would be hungry or thirsty just from moving around.

What do you mean force feed? Does that mean putting baby food in a syringe and squirting into his mouth? We have no problems doing liquid that way, but have yet to try food.

I will look into the Nutrical.

 

[Newt]

Well, we're going on three weeks. Cat has not drank or eaten on his own. He looks like he is down to 5 lbs. We have bought every known cat food, and he refuses to eat it. His water bowl is as full as it was a week ago when I filled it up.

We have an appointment tomorrow with the vet. Not sure what to do but neither of us think having a tube put in will help. Why forcibly feed a cat who is obviously sick with something and not able to maintain the weight that tube feeding would give him? We have been through three antibiotics and two forms of anihistamine. $400 dollars later we are getting pretty broke trying to figure out what is wrong and very frustrated when an animal you love waltzs around the house like normal but won't eat or drink. I have never seen anything like this. We're both pretty pissed off at the clinic we left him out when we were on our honeymoon. That is where he got sick to begin with.

I'll update everyone tomorrow on his condition. We're going to insist the vet take a culture and treat whatever is wrong with him...no more buying expensive antibiotics to "see if that will help." One vet actually had us by L-Lysine saying this would help...the 2nd vet thought we were crazy.

Thanks for letting me vent. Hopefully Newt will get some help tommorrow.

 

[Newt]

Here is a pic of the poor little guy:

 

[kittygirl04]

I hope this little guy will be ok. Please let us know what happens at the vet tomorrow!