I am glad you feel better...it is easier to handle when you kind of know what is happening and that there is still things that you can do for her...
I know I shed many tears and wrote many posts here about little Gremlin...like I said, she was a real challenge...you can do a search and look for Gremlin if you want to read more...I will not go into her history here, but she was a very sickly little kitten...1/3 the size of her brother even!!
While you are waiting to go to the vet, you can go round up some soda bottles and soft towels and get the hot water running and make a nest for her to stay constantly warm...
I also changed the water in the bottles every 2-3 hours, to make sure it stayed warm for her...when she got too hot, she would climb out from under the towel draped over the top...
It would be unusual for an older, indoor kitty to develop an upper respiratory infection, unless it is secondary to another health condtion. For this reason, it may not be an upper respiratory infection at all, but something else entirely.
If your vet never did bloodwork to check her heart, liver, kidney function, NOW is the time to do so, he needs to rule out organ disfunction immediately.
If your vet isn't thorough, didn't do bloodwork or hems and haws with the situation, don't wait another minute, get kitty to a new vet (preferrably feline-only vet), or an emergency vet IMMEDIATELY.
Just got back from the vet. He said she looks sick but ok. He thinks the antibiotics haven't had time to work all the way. He hydrated her but I an not sure that was necessary, she has been drinking water ok. I guess I am too conserned about her. My girl friend was the orginal owner. She died last year of cancer. The vet wants to see Winnie tomorrow.
Did your vet say if anything was unusual or out of range with the chem profile? I'm particularly concerned with heart, liver, kidney function. If your kitty started developing the respiratory infection symptoms over a week ago and they have not improved, it's time to look more closely into something else.
Call and ask your vet about that, and also ask him if it would be helpful to use a nasal saline solution to help clear the congestion (I would recommend non-medicated Afrin, which is simply a saline...and/or ask him about an alternate antihistamine if necessary, as well as using a humidifier in a room for her (do NOT use menthol products with the humidifier) ). Ensure that she is eating and drinking...if she is severely congested, she can't smell her food, so offer canned cat food, and/or warm it up slightly for her.
If the symptoms persist or become more severe, if her breathing is labored or distressed, then seek a second opinion ASAP, and consider a closer look into sinus problems such as polyps, masses, etc.
Traci:
The vet did suggest maybe her head needs to be xrayed to look for growths, but he said that could come later. He told me to get her a bottle of neo-synephrine 1/8 to 1/4 % nose drops today, too. I forgot this! I like the idea of just using normal saline. I don't like antihistimine nose drops because they can become addictive. Maybe, I should forget about my thinking and go with the doctors.
The vet said that the CBC looked normal. Winnie developed this condition right after my girlfriend died about 3 months ago, it just seemed to get worse day by day. She started coughing while climbing steps. I thought she was suffering from asthma. I read on the internet that cats can have a cold for a long time, longer then us.
Phil, a healthy adult cat rarely develops an upper respiratory infection unless there is already a primary health condition present. Also, most respiratory infections are usually self-limiting, in that they usually resolve within a week or two.
Has she actually had these symptoms for 3 months? If so, it is time for further diagnostics NOW. The coughing is extremely concerning, and your vet may not have been looking closely for other conditions. Asthma would of course be one condition to rule out, but other conditions such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease, fungal disease, lung disease, and cancer are all things your vet should be seriously ruling out. He should also be investigating the possibility of polyps/masses or mycobacterials in the sinuses that may not respond to general antibiotics such as clavamox, it may require a more potent antibiotic.
If your vet happens to be a large animal practitioner, please get your kitty to a NEW (small animal/feline only) vet for a new opinion and diagnostic treatment options. Respiratory infections and congestion combined with coughing should NOT be taken lightly, and the longer your vet waits to diagnose this effectively, the more likely the symptoms will persist or become much more severe.
She hasn't had these conditions for 3 months. They started off small. I didn't get her much attention because I felt they were so minor. She seemed to have a light cold and then things got worse. I will pressure the vet to look for other things. It has been my past experiance that vets don't really know that much about cats because we lost many beautiful cats in the past. I need to find someone who specializes in cats and small animals. I will start a search.
Winnie is still not responding to any medication. I bought some neo-synephrine, it doesn't work eather. I took her to the vet yesterday (Saturday) He said to keep her on the medication and to bring her back Tuesday to see how she is. He is thinking that something is growing in her nasal cavity. He said that we could see what it is if he were to xray her head. I am thinking that I might let him do that. He thinks the cat is too old to go any further. I don't know if spending the money to see what is going on will be of any benifit. I feel bad forcing med in her that are not working. Do you have any thoughts. Maybe I should let her slip away. She doesn't seem to be in any pain, just not being able to breath very well.
I am glad you feel better...it is easier to handle when you kind of know what is happening and that there is still things that you can do for her...