Mr Mistoffelees Mom is now Teddy's Mom! And Teddy is sick..

[Mr Mistoffelees' Mom]

Well, I wandered into a shelter about a month after losing Stoffie, ostensibly just to "visit" and lo and behold if this gorgeous ginger and white kitty didn't put his paw between the slats of his cage and catch my arm! I picked him up and that was it - love at first sight. Teddy is such a cuddler, (my adult kids keep threatening to kidnap him and they call him Teddy Marshmallow for his furry white tummy), and he has come home with a respiratory illness, unfortunately. He has been on clavamox, 6.2mg twice a day for 21 days, but he's still sneezing (giant sneezes for such a little guy) and very mucousy. I have a call into the vet today, as he is done his meds, and she's good about calling back right away but she's in a surgery this morning. He's not lethargic at all - very playful, eating, eliminating, cuddly. Teddy lived outside for the first nine months of his life in a feral cat colony and then was at a wonderful cat rescue shelter for four months. I did notice one small sneeze there, before I brought him home. and he has clearly been worsening. I know his illness is violently contagious to other cats and have warned my cat-owning friends and family not to come around until this is cleared up. Any thoughts about what I could be/should be doing for him? The vet tech said likely some blood work is in order and well as a change of meds.

[momPaws]

So glad you now have Teddy. I imagine Tracy will be around to help you with this, but just wanted to say I hope he gets better soon...pls post some pictures!

[Traci]

Do you have the decimal point in the prescription correct? The general dose for an adult median weight cat is 62.5 mg, twice a day, and generally no longer than 7 days, 14 days at most. How much have you actually been giving him, and for how many days? If you've only been giving 6.2 mg, twice a day, then it clearly hasn't been effective. If this is the dose you've been giving, I'd call the vet right away and complain that clearer instructions weren't given to you regarding the dosage!

Had he been re-examined after the first 7 days on the clavamox? Or, any time SINCE? If not, it's time to get him re-examined RIGHT AWAY (today), and possibly opting for a swab sample to test and ensure this isn't something else associated, like calicivirus or chlamydia, or even a foreign body embedded in the nasal cavity or sinus infection, oral problem like impacted tooth or tooth abcess etc.

Has he been tested for FELV/FIV with a combo snap test? If not, do so right away!

[Mr Mistoffelees' Mom]

Hi, Traci, sorry - the dosage was indeed 62.5mg (my typo). We just got back from seeing the vet and she did a swab. Nothing wrong in his mouth at all - perfect teeth. There isn't anything lodged in his nasal cavities either. He is breathing freely. But she's changed the meds to Zeniquin, 25 mg for 14 days. Of course he didn't sneeze the whole time we were there - just like a child at the doctor. She wants to see him again in 7 days. I'll call about the FELV/FIV test. Thanks!

[Traci]

I'm glad you got him in and that she changed the antibiotic. Although, the clavamox really should have been effective at that dose and for that amount of time. Which is why you always want to double-check and re-examine in the event something else is going on. Please don't undermine this (or should I say, don't let your vet undermine this), it's unusual that a mild upper respiratory infection in a young adult would persist this long despite the long course of clavamox. You might still need to be prepared for additional diagnostics if this doesn't resolve on the zenequin in 7 days or less. In the meantime, be sure to monitor him for any other unusual symptoms, like difficulty breathing, uninterested in food (especially if he is too congested to smell his food), fever, lethargy, signs of a painful mouth, or discharge that is colored from the eyes or nose, change in activity or behavior, etc...in which you'd want to get him seen right away.

[Mr Mistoffelees' Mom]

Hello,
Just an update on Teddy - happily he is now free of all respiratory infection and worms and is healthy and happy. Clearly he is used to snuggling with other cats from his colony days because he wants to get as close to us as he can...my husband is even enjoying him and that's saying something! If you'd like to see a photo of him, go to www.kateandmecatrescue.com and click on successes and then on Success Gallery. Teddy's is the last picture on page 1.

Thanks for all your support and advice, Traci!

[Traci]

Glad to hear the URI is gone, but please keep an eye on him, it was too strange he was on such a long course of antibiotics for a URI, still need to rule out the possibility it wasn't solely a URI.

Do you mean 4th from last on that site? He is a gorgeous boy, and looks so happy!

[Mr Mistoffelees' Mom]

I'll absolutely keep an eye on him! And his picture is the last one on the first page of successes...at least the way the page opens up for me. He is sitting up on a green plaid couch...

[Mr Mistoffelees' Mom]

Yes, he is fourth from last...I see what you mean. Isn't he a lovely boy?

[Traci]

He really is beautiful, I love the light ginger color of his fur, and he's obviously a very lucky boy, thank you for taking him into your heart and home!