Hello, I had a message before that I adopted two kitties last week from the shelter. Both sisters, one is 3 and one is 1. Anyway, the 1 year old (Emily) had had a cold for awhile at the shelter and they kept them both for awhile cause Emily wasn't eating and was dehydrated. They finished giving Emily her meds last Friday cause she had had the cold for awhile and was starting to eat and purr.
So now it is a week later and she is still sneezing a bit and occasionally it sounds like she has a stuffy nose. The discharge from her nose is clear and the stuff from the sneezes are clear. The vet said there is no worry so long as it is clear. How long should I expect this? Is it normal for her to have the sniffles this long? Also, her sister Sylvia is starting to sneeze on occasion.
Kitty colds
Re: Kitty colds
It's not uncommon for a respiratory infection to persist around 4 weeks, but anything past that truly needs further investigation. Since both cats were living in a shelter environment, you truly don't know what infections were lingering on the premises. For this reason, don't assume the shelter treated accordingly, it's always best to get any new shelter cat examined immediately by your OWN vet.
While this could be a mild upper respiratory infection, if symptoms have not improved after at least two courses of antibiotics, you may need to opt for testing for calicivirus or chlamydia. Were these cats ever vaccinated?
While this could be a mild upper respiratory infection, if symptoms have not improved after at least two courses of antibiotics, you may need to opt for testing for calicivirus or chlamydia. Were these cats ever vaccinated?
..........Traci
Re: Kitty colds
They did have a checkup on Monday and both tested fine. I talked to the woman from the shelter today and she said Emily was on meds for about 10 days and that as long as she is eating and using the potty, all is fine.
She did get tested for calcivirus and all her vaccinations from the shelter.
She did get tested for calcivirus and all her vaccinations from the shelter.
Re: Kitty colds
I just noticed Emily has yellow discharge so I am taking her to the vet on Thursday to get checked out. Has anyone else had this happen? How much does medication for this cost?
Re: Kitty colds
Don't wait until Thursday....get her seen as soon as possible so your vet can examine her. Antibiotics usually are around $8-10 for a 7-10 day course for one cat (amoxicillin or clavamox)....sometimes it is necessary to extend the course of antibiotics another week or so.
..........Traci
Re: Kitty colds
I am taking Emily tomorrow afternoon to the vet.
I also noticed that the other cat, Sylvia, is sneezing but nothing else. Should I take Sylvia in to get looked at or should I wait until she too has yellow discharge like Emily?
I also noticed that the other cat, Sylvia, is sneezing but nothing else. Should I take Sylvia in to get looked at or should I wait until she too has yellow discharge like Emily?
Re: Kitty colds
If the vet determines from Emily tomorrow that this is indeed an upper respiratory infection, then he can probably prescribe two bottles of clavamox or amoxicillin (oral suspension form) for both cats, but vets vary in how they will treat a multi-cat environment. If he hasn't seen Sylvia yet, he may not prescribe antibiotics until he's evaluated her (which is the ethical thing to do). On the other hand, if he's familiar with Sylvia, has seen her before, knows there is a transmissable virus going on, he may prescribe a bottle just for her without seeing her. You and your vet are the only ones who can discuss this.
Antibiotics won't 'cure' the URI, but they will combat secondary bacterial infections that are common with a virus. If your vet determines this is a URI, then by all means, try to get antibiotics for both cats. While sneezing is a mild sign and might be indicative of recovery, you can't be sure it won't exacerbate again into serious discharge/infection/congestion. Not knowing their primary general health status but knowing they came from a shelter environment, I wouldn't take chances....see if your vet will extend the antibiotics for both cats.
Antibiotics won't 'cure' the URI, but they will combat secondary bacterial infections that are common with a virus. If your vet determines this is a URI, then by all means, try to get antibiotics for both cats. While sneezing is a mild sign and might be indicative of recovery, you can't be sure it won't exacerbate again into serious discharge/infection/congestion. Not knowing their primary general health status but knowing they came from a shelter environment, I wouldn't take chances....see if your vet will extend the antibiotics for both cats.
..........Traci
Re: Kitty colds
So basically, the cold will go away but has a chance to come back at a given time?
Re: Kitty colds
Not neccessarily. Most common upper respiratory infections in cats are due to rhinotracheitis....but there are other viruses to consider if there is no resolve after say 4 weeks or so. At that point, and if there are additional symptoms, persisting symptoms that do not respond to treatment, then you want to rule out other problems, like calicivirus, chlamydia, etc to ensure the most effective treatment is implemented or to ensure there isn't a secondary health problem developing due to a lowered immune system. Btw, some cats can suffer the rhinotracheitis infection intermittently for life (herpesvirus)
Since both cats are adults, their symptoms should not be as severe as that of a young, underdeveloped, non-immune kitten. But, if their primary health status prior to this virus were compromised, you just want to stay one step ahead of it and make sure that no other underlying health problems are developing. Shelter environments are prime examples of how detrimental a virus or other infection can get, there are various viruses or bacterials passing between the cats, and since shelters cannot often afford vet care, let alone testing or treatment, one never knows what might be passed around.
I'm not trying to scare you, just trying to be thorough. Most mild URI's are self-limiting in an otherwise healthy adult cat...it is when symptoms persist past the norm, or when other symptoms present that you want to investigate further and to make sure the actual URI is not actually a symptom from something else entirely.
Since both cats are adults, their symptoms should not be as severe as that of a young, underdeveloped, non-immune kitten. But, if their primary health status prior to this virus were compromised, you just want to stay one step ahead of it and make sure that no other underlying health problems are developing. Shelter environments are prime examples of how detrimental a virus or other infection can get, there are various viruses or bacterials passing between the cats, and since shelters cannot often afford vet care, let alone testing or treatment, one never knows what might be passed around.
I'm not trying to scare you, just trying to be thorough. Most mild URI's are self-limiting in an otherwise healthy adult cat...it is when symptoms persist past the norm, or when other symptoms present that you want to investigate further and to make sure the actual URI is not actually a symptom from something else entirely.
..........Traci
Re: Kitty colds
Just a follow up and a question. Emily is on day 5 of clavamox. It looks like she is having less of a runny nose, less runny eyes and a bit more energy. Yet she is still sleeping alot and when she does sneeze, the discharge from that (cause she isn't having discharge otherwise) is yellow.
So is this part of the recovery process? If she is still having yellow sneezes at the end of the week should I go to the vet for more medicine?
So is this part of the recovery process? If she is still having yellow sneezes at the end of the week should I go to the vet for more medicine?