Update, Questions, and Happy New Year!

[LisaT]

I havent posted in a long while, but I visit this site often and read up on good advice and other peoples stories..
You may remember me from 6 months ago, when I first posted--I was asking about kidney failure, after my beloved Cody was diagnosed in late May of last year.

http://www.cathelp-online.com/forums/vi ... 73&start=0

First, as an update, I have gotten used to the fact that Codys gone....BUT, I still hate it, miss him, yearn to hold him, and feel an inner emptiness that Im afraid will never go away. Just typing these words brings tears to my eyes! On a good note, my old Scotty is now 16, and he is doing fine. He doesnt do MUCH (lol), but he seems healthy, and isnt doing anything to induce panic in me! Im thinking he may be getting kind of deaf--is that typical of older cats?
This past summer, I adopted a sweet little gray tiger from a shelter...His name is Jody (yeah, I know, how corny--but read on! It gets cornier! ) Jody is a sweet little guy, seems a bit on the smallish side, loves to be a baby, and loves to do all the hilarious kitten stuff that I had really forgotten about! A month or less after getting Jody, I found another kitten at a different shelter--His name is Jacey (heres where it gets cornier--when I first adopted Cody & his sister who died, her name was Casey....):D Jacey appears to have some Maine coon in him, and he is quite the little busybody! My health question, though, is in regard to Jaceys persistant sneezing/snuffling thing. Ive had him to the vets several times; weve done liquid antibiotics twice, tablets once, and an amino acid. This last visit involves the 2nd liquid med + the amino acid goop....We can do 5 refills if this combo works, but, truthfully, it doesnt seem to be performing any miracles. He eats & drinks well, plays like a madman, gets into mischief, gets affectionate....Hes fine except for the sneezing/ slight congestion. And when he sneezes, watch out! I find "sneeze" (trying to be polite, lol) on the walls, my forehead,
all over the place!
Is this maybe just some chronic thing that he will have to live with? Might he outgrow it? (Jody & Scotty are fine)
Just thought Id ask your trusted opinion(s)---and Happy New Year to all
my cat loving friends!
Lisa

[Traci]

Exactly how old is he, has he been tested for FELV/FIV (both cats for that matter), has he been vaccinated appropriately? DId your vet mention herpesvirus? What tests has your vet done to rule out various upper respiratory infections vs lung infection, vs heart problem, or micobacterial infections (these usually don't respond to mild antibiotics, they need specific antibiotics)....has he ruled out foreign body in the nasal cavities, sinus polyps or teeth problems?

What is the nasal exudate like? Is it mucousy, bloody, clear or?

Is there discharge from the eyes?

Can you see a more experienced vet and get tests done?

[LisaT]

Hi Traci---thanks for your reply!
Im not sure of Jaceys exact age, but Id say somewhere around 7-8 months.
There is no discharge from the eyes--they are clear. Yes, the vet mentioned the herpes virus, and Ive been reading up on it---the weird thing is, everything Ive read re: possible conditions...well, nothing seems to really fit him..
His sneezes produce long blobs of mucus...not bloody, or clear...Just like a person with a cold, I guess. Teeth & heart seem fine...I will ask about microbacterial infection.

Im afraid that, in my area, there arent many vets to choose from....I think they are good vets, but there is also always the $$ consideration as far as extensive tests, etc. Im afraid our episode with Cody blew our family budget off the beaten path for awhile.....
And yes, Jacey has had his vaccines---except for a distemper booster, which wasnt done last Friday because he had a slight fever.

Every day, he is fine, happy, playing, eating, behaving like normal 95% of the time...there are just those snuffling episodes that result in the sneezes, or occasional, brief, hairball-like coughing. If its just a chronic thing, I can live with it. But I worry about him because, of course, the idea of losing another pet anytime soon strikes a very raw nerve....And we have an old dog that I already worry about!


Ahhhh pets.....the highest of loving highs....some very low lows...

[Traci]

When you say congestion, is it nasal congestion or lung congestion?

The problem is that it hasn't responded to at least two courses of antibiotics, or maybe more (your post is a bit confusing). Since it hasn't responded, it could mean one of several things...either there is a bacterial infection that needs to be identified specifically (through a swab sample/slide exam or culture), or a nasal/sinus polyp/foreign body which unfortunately usually requires a scope exam (under anesthesia). An infected tooth could also be a problem, a thorough oral exam is a must.

Herpesvirus usually is self-limiting, usually only lasting a couple weeks, providing proper antibiotics, nutritional care, proper husbandry etc are provided...and generally flares up during a health condition or secondary bacterial infection or during stress.....but, if the symptoms have not resolved, you're dealing with a different bacterial or viral illness, and it needs to be identified specifically in order to determine the best treatment. It won't go away on it's own and it won't respond to mild antibiotics, and it won't respond to amino acids supplements.

Again, has he been tested for FELV/FIV? Has the other kitten been tested as well?

Kittens generally do not have hairballs, and they normally do not cough for any reason unless there is a known, diagnosed condition with that symptom. I would worry this is something else entirely....and would strongly advise you see a more experienced vet. If the coughing is related to lung/chest congestion, then this needs to be addressed by a vet, ruling out lung infection, lung worms, fungal infection, congenital heart defects, viral disease etc.

Your post indicates he has had this condition since around last summer, so you need to understand the seriousness and find a new vet who is more experienced and will committ to properly diagnosing and treating. Please don't wait on this. If infection or sinus problem is evident, it's only going to get worse and could start affecting other body system functions.