I'm going to advise again, please get her to a NEW vet promptly.
Neosynephrine is not an appropriate nasal decongestant for cats, there are various others that are safer and more effective for cats. A more experienced vet can choose an appropriate decongestant or antibiotic.
You DO need to know if she has a polyp or bacterial infection so that it can be effectively treated. Be prepared not only for an x-ray, but it may not show anything significant, so a new vet may suggest a scope exam (which may or may not require anesthesia, won't know until she is examined and what the vet finds upon initial exam of the sinuses. I would also advise getting a full oral exam in the event she could have a tooth abcess that is interfering with her sinuses.
Your vet is not doing enough, Phil, and Winnie deserves the benefit of correct diagnostics/treatment. This has been going on too long and she isn't responding to the current meds, so get her to a new vet NOW.
severe head cold
Re: severe head cold
..........Traci
Re: severe head cold
Thanks for the reminder, I will call another vet monday.
Re: severe head cold
I called a customer of mine who works at the local cat shelter and she gave me the name of a vet that helps out at the shelter. She gave me some Orbax 22mg, and some Cyproheptadine 4 mg for Winnie to take. Maybe this will help her.
Re: severe head cold
WHO gave you the orbax and cyproheptadine, was it the vet or your friend? If it was your friend, NEVER give medications that are not specifically prescribed by a vet, and that have been prescribed based on a physical examination for the kitty in particular. If the vet never examined your kitty, this is bad practice on his part, and he could be seriously liable.
If you have not physically seen or had your kitty phically examined by a new vet, you need to do so immediately!
If you have not physically seen or had your kitty phically examined by a new vet, you need to do so immediately!
..........Traci
Re: severe head cold
I thought I told you that I went to a new vet yesterday and the vet gave me orbax and generic periactin to give to winnie. The vet charged me 14.28 for 14 generic periactin that cost about 10.00 for a thousand and 13.40 for 10 orbax. I know that everyone has to make a profit but man. The periactin is doing the cat no good, she wants me to give winnie 1/2 tablet a day. I looked up orbax on the internet and it is a broad spectrum antibiotic and that is all I could see on it. I wanted to tell you that I used some afrin but Winnie didn't respond. She just sneezed and sneezed. The new vet didn't seem to think that winnie had cancer because she said she would be swollen in her face. The new vet wants me to force feed winnie too because she is not eating. The vet wants me to call her in 2 days to let her know how winnie is doing.
Re: severe head cold
The periactin seems to be working some what. I can hear winnie breathing a little better. I looked up orbax on another site and it said orbax is a fluoroquinolone. I guess this will be fine.
Re: severe head cold
Phil, I only wanted to confirm you actually saw the vet, thanks for the confirmation.
The periactin may take a couple days to take effect, and it may also help to increase her appetite, but do as your vet suggested and force-feed if necessary (I'm assuming she instructed you and gave you a syringe to use, etc)
Yes, the orbax is expensive, but it is usually effective.
The periactin may take a couple days to take effect, and it may also help to increase her appetite, but do as your vet suggested and force-feed if necessary (I'm assuming she instructed you and gave you a syringe to use, etc)
Yes, the orbax is expensive, but it is usually effective.
..........Traci
Re: severe head cold
Thanks for your insistance on finding another vet, looks like things may be looking up. She is starting to eat a little on her own, it may be the periactin causing that. The cold seems a little better too. She also has an ulcer on her eye that was made worse by the prednisone.The vet gave me triple antibiotic ointment for that and said to stop the prednisone. Winnie doesn't want me to put anything in her eye so I think I will call the vet to get opth drops.
Re: severe head cold
Hi, Phil! First, I wanted to say I think it is wonderful that you are doing so much for a cat that wasn't even originally your's. Not many people would do that. And I am really sorry about the loss of your girlfriend. That must be really hard having to deal with your grief plus deal with your worry about this cat.
I was just wondering... has this cat always lived with you or did you have to move her to your place when you started caring for her? At age 17, that is pretty old for a cat. Had your girlfriend had her for most of her life? If it is a new environment, do you think there could be something in the air that she could be allergic to; that she may not have been exposed to before? I know stress can cause illnesses in humans, so maybe she is feeling some stress from a new environment or the loss of your girlfriend and that has weakened her immune system. Is she around other cats? Is she strictly in-doors or has she been going in and out? Several of my cats caught "colds" this winter and it took them a week or two to get completely over it. They had the runny nose, sneezing too. At at 17, maybe it is taking her longer to get over it than it would a younger, more active cat.
I really hope she starts to feel better soon. I know this must be really hard on you. I'm not a medical expert, but I know how it feels to worry about animals you care about and how it feels to lose them too. I'll be thinking about you two and sending good vibes your way!
I was just wondering... has this cat always lived with you or did you have to move her to your place when you started caring for her? At age 17, that is pretty old for a cat. Had your girlfriend had her for most of her life? If it is a new environment, do you think there could be something in the air that she could be allergic to; that she may not have been exposed to before? I know stress can cause illnesses in humans, so maybe she is feeling some stress from a new environment or the loss of your girlfriend and that has weakened her immune system. Is she around other cats? Is she strictly in-doors or has she been going in and out? Several of my cats caught "colds" this winter and it took them a week or two to get completely over it. They had the runny nose, sneezing too. At at 17, maybe it is taking her longer to get over it than it would a younger, more active cat.
I really hope she starts to feel better soon. I know this must be really hard on you. I'm not a medical expert, but I know how it feels to worry about animals you care about and how it feels to lose them too. I'll be thinking about you two and sending good vibes your way!
Kristen
Re: severe head cold
Kristen:
The cat belonged to my girl friend for all 17 years. She stayed at her house and was next to her in the bed where Sue died. I took the cat in because of all the cats Sue had I liked Winnie the best. She also had 5 others. I took Winnie and another from her house to mine. The cats helped me get through the loss, its giving me something else to think about. The other cat (Gabbie) had some emotional problems. Sue used to give her a lot of attention. When she got to my house she didn't find all the attention. I guess one reason why I don't give her attention is that she sleeps in the kitty litter and smells. I cannot figure out how I can stop her from doing this. I don't really want to get close to her. I am hopping that when the weather warms up I can give her a bath.
Winnie is feeling a lot better thanks to Traci for insisting that I get another vet. Winnie is on my lap right now and likes to be next to me as much as possible. I guess that is why I like her so much, she also reminds me of my girl friend.
I will keep you posted.
Phil
The cat belonged to my girl friend for all 17 years. She stayed at her house and was next to her in the bed where Sue died. I took the cat in because of all the cats Sue had I liked Winnie the best. She also had 5 others. I took Winnie and another from her house to mine. The cats helped me get through the loss, its giving me something else to think about. The other cat (Gabbie) had some emotional problems. Sue used to give her a lot of attention. When she got to my house she didn't find all the attention. I guess one reason why I don't give her attention is that she sleeps in the kitty litter and smells. I cannot figure out how I can stop her from doing this. I don't really want to get close to her. I am hopping that when the weather warms up I can give her a bath.
Winnie is feeling a lot better thanks to Traci for insisting that I get another vet. Winnie is on my lap right now and likes to be next to me as much as possible. I guess that is why I like her so much, she also reminds me of my girl friend.
I will keep you posted.
Phil