Traci -Help with Chloe

[Mona]

Traci -

I put Chloe back on her Clavamox Saturday and it has not caused the diarrhea (yeah!!). However, her little nose is stilll stuffed and she is sneezing esp in the am.

I called her vet and she said to let it ride out awhile, but I am wondering if another antibiotic would work better etc. She has had five doses so far 0.2ml, and I stopped the Albon (does not have coccidia at least not in the one fecal exam). She mentioned I could give them both together.

Chloe is eating fine and quite hydrated, but wondering if fluids would help her. Frankly, I wish the vet was more agressive. Originally, Chloe started sneezing about June 14th.

May I have your thoughts please.

Thanks,

Mona, Chloe and Honeybun

[Mona]

My date should be June 24th for the sneezing. and I am using the plain nose drops and steaming her in the bathroom. Her little nose gets crusted and we have to clear it out.

Mona

[Tina B and crew]

aww...poor little chloe...I hope she starts getting better soon

[Traci]

Mona, has she been vaccinated yet, and if so, for what? (was it a 4-way vaccine?) Ask your vet about that, and find out if maybe a culture may be warranted. (your vet can simply take a swab from her nasal cavity and culture to rule out bacteria, or do a cytology on it, to rule out calicivirus for example)

In young kittens, sometimes these URI's can last for as long as 3-4 weeks, and sometimes the antibiotic needs to be extended. I don't think I would change the antibiotic, you don't want anything much stronger given her age. If by chance she was diagnosed with a different viral or bacteria, baytril might be another choice, but at this point, I don't think I would approach it just yet.

For now, finish the antibiotics, continue what you've been doing, try to minimize any dust in the house, etc But, I'm concerned with the length of time she has been sneezing, might want to rule out a foreign embedded body or allergy that may not even be related to an URI. I don't think I'd use the Afrin very long, it shouldn't be used for long term (only to help clear congestion in the nasal cavities). Ask your vet about the above, that sneezing needs to reduce soon, and not be mistaken for something else.

[Mona]

Yes she was vaccinated with the combo vaccine at the shelter FVRCP (do I have this correct) but not the rabies, and I will definitely ask about the nasal swab. I am getting concerned, since this started after we brought her home.

She sneezes in the am more.

THanks,

Mona

[Traci]

Yes, FVRCP is a 4-way, thanks for elaborating on that.

The sneezing does concern me, shouldn't be persisting this long, especially after one course of antibiotics, which would necessitate taking a look and ruling out a dust particle or even an allergy to something. Sometimes, URI's and sneezing go hand in hand, of course, but not for this long. It sounds like she is just miserable, poor baby. For this reason, humor us both and tell your vet you want to make sure allergy or foreign body are ruled out, simply because she doesn't seem to be responding to the antibiotics. It very well could be a persistent URI, but I wouldn't want to take chances with something else going undetected.

[Mona]

Thanks. The Clav was restarted on Saturday, so I will give a day or two and then get a culture done.

Mona