I had to take Spidey to an emergency vet tonight

[Grateful for Hope]

I tried to get an appointment with my normal vet, but, the only time available was when I would be taking my son to the hospital for x-rays. So, had to settle for the emergency vet.

Spidey has been sneezing for quite a while, and I have been giving him L-lysine. He seemed to be holding his own and was playing and eating.

Yesterday, however, he just laid around, and ate less than normal.

Today, he was so congested, that he could not breathe well, and he would not eat. He has yellow think discharge from his nose.

So, the emergency vet tells me that Spidey should not be getting these infections since he is not an outside cat. She wanted to test for FELV, and, I let her even though I was pretty sure that Spidey is negative. Sure enough, he is.

So, she gave me Baytril to give him, and she gave him some intravenous fluids and a shot of the Baytril

He is already feeling a little better, and even ate some treats for me, as well as some kitten dry food after he got home.

Please all keep your fingers crossed that he continues to improve. I was in tears waiting for the results of the FELV test as I couldn't bear to lose this sweet little guy.




on edit: Jake is sorely missing his playmate. He lays around with Spidey, I think, to keep him company. Another very sweet boy!

[okasha]

1. So glad to hear Spidey's better.

You might want to give the vet a call back and ask about dosing Jake with the antibiotic, too, as a preventive measure. Whatever it is, unless it's just allergy, he's been exposed.

[Grateful for Hope]

2. This is a good idea, okasha.

I have been watching Jake carefully, and, so far, he seems very ok, but, I think it might be better to be safe than sorry.

Thank you!

[bullwinkle428]

3. What a cute little guy...great to hear that he's already starting

to improve. Please keep us updated and let us know how he's doing!

[Grateful for Hope]

4. He's worse this AM

I am thinking that he might need to be hospitalized as he can't eat again, and he vomited some of the Baytril.

Am waiting for a few more hours before calling the vet again.

Thanks so much for you kind words!

[IndyOp]

5. I would insist that the vet do a full blood panel -

Run tests for everything - bacterial and viral infections and overall physical health.

My cat had chronic respiratory problems as a result of a virus that kittens can get in their eyes during birth - chlamydia, maybe? I wound up being sent to a veterinary opthalmologist after several attempts to clear it up with what the regular vet gave me. Ask your vet if there is a specialist you need to see to get this diagnosed and cleared up. After I used the drops the opthalmologist gave me - the problem went away for good.

Also discuss the possibility that Spidey may have a food/chemical allergy that is affecting his respiratory system.

Good luck!

[Grateful for Hope]

7. Good suggestions.

While Spidey's eyes do not seem to be affected, I think that it couldn't hurt to discuss the blood workup with my vet. Also, I have been suspecting an allergy as, when I took him last night to the vet, he didn't have a temperature at all even though he was so sick.

I took him into the bathroom this morning and ran the hot water for a while to try to soften his nasal congestion. He was a little better after that, and has eaten a little moist food (very little), and some treats. He is now sneezing some of the congestion up.

So long as he is eating a little, I am going to try to hold off taking him back to the vet until my regular vet is in (Monday).

[Grateful for Hope]

21. IndyOp, I think you are right

Once Spidey gets through his Baytril, I am going to ask my vet for a consultation.

There is something not right about how often he gets sick (and the fact that he has never been free of either coughing or sneezing).

I smoke, and I wonder if this is impacting him. I even asked his foster mother if she thought he could be allergic to smoke, and she said "No" as she, herself, is a smoker. But, this thought has persisted, and, if he is allergic to my smoke, I am going to have to make some serious changes for him.

I appreciate your advice.

[RebelOne]

6. I hope your kitty is doing better now.

Gosh, it must have been a big bite out of your wallet to take him to the emergency vet. I know, as I have had to take my dogs to the local emergency vet because it was after hours for their regular vet. I had to take my Rottie to the emergency vet because she was bleeding and I had thought it was because she was in heat. But then I realized that the normal blood from a dog in heat was not brown.

I rushed her to the emergency hospital and they did tests on her and told me she had an infection needed an immediate spaying and it would cost me $1,200. I asked that she be stablized until the morning until I could she could be taken to her vet.

Well, I got her to her vet in the morning. The vet did the operation and it was less than $300. Emergency animal hospitals are a total ripoff.

My doggies and me are sending good vibes for your kitty's recovery.

[Grateful for Hope]

8. Thanks so much!

It cost me $150, which is small in comparison to $1200, but, to me, it was expensive. This is one of the reasons I am trying very hard to keep him eating (even if only a little) until Monday when I can take him to my regular vet.

Please thank your doggies for me also!

[roguevalley]

9. God bless you all. I will pray for all of you.

[Grateful for Hope]

15. Your prayers are gratefully acknowledged

Thank you so much.

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Please keep us posted. Hope Spidey is OK!!!!!!!!!

I have nothing to offer but love and support.

One suggestion: Antibiotics can upset the system very much..some more than others.. If you can get acidophilus to give him with the antibiotics I would do that. It would help to counter the negative effects of the antibiotic on the digestive system.
You can get acidopilus in any health food store and most drugstore/pharmacies. It comes in liquid and capsules.

[japple]

13. Regarding acidophilous, I think my doctor told me to use it 2 hours

before taking antibiotics or 2 hours after I'd taken them. And yogurt might be easier to get into a cat.

Also, in the chance that Spidey's got an allergy, it might be a food allergy, so maybe you should stop giving him treats and stick with the canned food or meat baby food. When my cat was having to take antibiotics for a respiratory infection, the vet said to give her several small meals each day and that I might need to heat it up a bit so she could smell it. Cat's like to be able to smell their food. That's probably why he will eat the cat treats--they usually smell like they have lots of garlic in them. Keep us posted.

BTW, I love the way your guys look in that picture on your sig. line. Both have that half-closed eyes cat kiss thing going on! THey love their mother!

[Grateful for Hope]

17. I have yogurt on hand....another great suggestion!

Am going to try to give him some this AM.

Spidey is now eating his normal food. He started to improve yesterday afternoon after sleeping nearly all day.

He isn't eating as much as normal, and he is not as active as he normally is, but, his congestion is clearing from his nasal passages, and, since he is very hungry, he wants to eat, and is able to eat small feedings at a time.

I just woke up, and he is waiting for me to give him is morning moist food. Such a good sign! I have to give him his meds first, but it sure is wonderful to see him getting back to his old routine!

Thank you!

[Grateful for Hope]

16. Hadn't thought about acidophilus for Spidey, BrklynLiberal

it's funny, though, I have been sick this week (still am), and have been taking goldenseal (am not one for conventional medicine if I can help it). I was thinking yesterday that I needed to get some acidophilus for myself as I am having stomach issues. Sound advice from you, and, I am going to get some today!

[BrklynLiberal]

22. I have been sick with the flu myself for 10 days and have been on golden-

seal and acidophilus among other things.
Just ended my first 24 hours without a fever... :silly:


PLEASE keep us posted on how Spidey, and you, are doing.

[Grateful for Hope]

26. So sorry to hear that you have been sick...:-(

But glad that you finally had a day with no fever. It must have been awful.

Me, I have the same symptoms as Spidey...I had lots of congestion in my head that moved down to my chest. It's been more than a week now, but, I continue to take the goldenseal and I got a probiotic (which is helping my stomach tremendously!).

Spidey is definitely on the mend now, and is back playing with Jake. He did have an episode last night, though. He was coughing and was having trouble catching his breath. After that, he was fine.

Thanks so much for your concern, and for the concern of everyone here! I told Spidey that he has lots of friends on DU!!!!!!!!

I took this picture tonight (the date is one day off). He was looking for the laser beam light.

[BrklynLiberal]

27. What a GREAT pic of Spidey! So glad that he is feeling better...

I hope that you are recovering as well.
I am back at work now, but still feeling a bit weak and tired.

[Grateful for Hope]

28. I am feeling better, but not 100%

thanks for asking! It sounds like you had it much rougher than I did. The flu is an awful sickness.

I hope you get back to your old self soon.

[BrklynLiberal]

11. Here is a quote from a prev thread about a cat that would not eat

Ok, clavamox...causes stomach upsets and inappetance in almost every cat I've ever seen or heard of. My vet prescribes a quarter to a half tablet of tagamet or pepcid (depending on the size of the cat) to go along with clavamox to stall that side effect. In fact, most antibiotics will cause inappetance in cats, which is definitely not a good thing for a sick cat. We have to be vigilant about this because we have 2 diabetics and, no matter what else is going on, they HAVE to eat.

Another thing I've found that helps stimulate the appetite is to sprinkle a little oregano on the food. Close enough to catnip to make it more interesting. And if the cat is very sick, strained meat baby food is the highest nutrition you can get into them. Mix it to a slurry with chicken stock and syringe it in. Even a little will give them some support...more than plain cat food will do.

[okasha]

12. Just want to echo the advice about the baby food.

Gerber's 2nd Foods strained meats are thin enough to get up into the syringe without further mixing. Chicken and turkey seem to be easiest on cat stomachs.

Kitties who can't smell, won't eat. It sounds as if it's the congestion that's keeping him from muching down, not necessarily the whatever-it-is, allergy or infection, itself.

[Grateful for Hope]

19. Thank you!

His nose was so plugged that he was having to periodically breathe through his mouth, poor baby. Today, it seems that the congestion is better (at least in the nasal area). And, you are right, he was hungry, and kept going to his bowls, but, then, would not eat.

[Grateful for Hope]

18. He is eating better now

and, I wanted to thank you for the suggestions (particularly the baby food suggestion) because, if he relapses (like he did yesterday AM), this is the first thing I am going out to buy.

[roguevalley]

24. aw. little angel. baby food and animal baby formulas are good. we

used a mix for puppies when we got our two dachsies at five weeks. they were sick and had to be bottle fed. this did the trick, canine baby formulas. I imagine they have some for cats.

[demnan]

14. Poor sweet Spidey!

I hope he's better tonight!

[Grateful for Hope]

20. Thanks, Demnan

As I mentioned above, at least his nasal passages are less plugged, and, he is eating his normal food, just not as much as normal.

I am so grateful for the people here who care about him. I was pretty frightened for him (and thought he was going to have to have a hospital stay), and it was very helpful to be able to reach out here.

[Eurobabe]

23. Coming in late on this thread hope Spidey

is doing better now....no more sick kitties!!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

25. How is he now? Better, I hope?

[kestrel91316]

29. Cat vet here:

If you smoke, and your cat has respiratory problems, it is VERY IMPORTANT to NOT smoke around the cat. Smoke outdoors, or quit. And use a HEPA filter to keep nasty stuff out of the air. You will both benefit.

In addition to exacerbating respiratory disease, and particularly asthma/bronchitis, cigarette smoke has been clearly implicated in intestinal and renal lymphoma, an incurable cancer in cats.

Please don't smoke around your cat..........

Glad Spidey is better. Baytril is a nice antibiotic with minimal gastrointestinal side effects. Keep up the lysine, it really does help with feline herpesvirus. I recommend 250-500 mg twice a day for my patients with chronic problems. And it's very important to know your cat's FeLV and FIV status.

[Grateful for Hope]

30. Thank you, kestrel91316

Even though most of the cats I have had through the years have lived to advanced ages (my last cat was 18) and I have smoked with all of them, I was afraid that what you are saying about smoking and respiratory problems might be true.

I am making an effort to not smoke around either Jake or Spidey.

Thanks for the info on Baytril. Spidey seems to be tolerating it quite well. Also, his test on Friday was for both FELV/FIV, and he was negative for both. Such a relief!

I am taking him to our normal vet tomorrow evening, and will bring up the smoking and possibility of allergies/bronchitis. I really want to make sure that Spidey lives a long and healthy life.

Thanks again!

[IndyOp]

31. Maybe Spidey is in your life to help you quit?

I battled long and hard with my parents about their smoking - and it didn't do any good, so now I cut people some slack. But maybe Spidey will inspire you to think about your own health? Not that you have to make drastic changes right away, just maybe something to think about...

:shrug:

[Grateful for Hope]

32. IndyOp, was saying this very thing to my son today!

I don't believe in coincidences, and, I do have a strong feeling that Spidey and Jake were both meant to be in my life.

Perhaps great minds think alike??

:hi:

[demnan]

33. I hope you can quit for you

so many wonderful people in my life have died early deaths from cigarettes. :loveya:

[Grateful for Hope]

34. Thanks, Demnan

:hug:

[BrklynLiberal]

35. Everything happens for a reason...and Spidey and Jake came to you

for reasons that may show themselves at some future time.
Their presence may prove to be a blessing for them....and for you. :loveya: :hug:

[Grateful for Hope]

36. Right back at ya, BrklynLiberal

:loveya: :hug:

PS...am assuming you are in Brooklyn from your username. I am a NY'er also, born and raised on Long Island. Live in Pittsburgh area now, but have been here only 7 years.

[BrklynLiberal]

37. Yep. Am right near the Verrazano Bridge. I can see it from my porch.

My sister went to school in Pittsburgh, and my next door neighbor/friend's brother and sister-in-law live there. It is a very interesting city.

If you ever come to NYC for a visit, let me know.

PS. Where in Long Island are you from? I grew up in Far Rockaway(a long time ago), which is actually like growing up on Long Island altho it is technically part of NYC (Queens.)

[Sanity Claws]

38. Let me butt in!

I grew up in Queens and we used to go to the Rockaways all the time. Are you far from the beach? I miss the ocean, its huge waves, and the sound of the surf. I now live in Seattle and Puget Sound is very calm, even calmer than the northshore of Long Island. Not at all like the Rockaways.

[BrklynLiberal]

39. I am close enough to the water to hear the sound of the waves when the

water gets rough.
I consider myself VERY lucky to live this close to the water. I love it!!!
I do dream of visiting the great Northwest Pacific Coast.

A couple of shots from my porch....

[Sanity Claws]

40. A bird in January!

I don't remember seeing many birds in winter when I lived in Queens. But I lived in a more heavily populated area than you do. Do you recognize what kind of bird it is?
Let me know if you ever do make your way out here to the Pacific Northwest. :hi:

[BrklynLiberal]

41. That pic was not taken today. It was probably taken last summmer. But

there ARE birds out here now. Seagulls, of course and Cardinals. I have birdfeeders out all summer and winter. Bluejays.

I have seen Mourning doves, woodpeckers, hawks(that might be what was in that picture..oops that is what is flying in the first pic),herons, robins, sparrows, cowbirds, grackles, starlings, crows, warblers, hummingbirds.. and many, many more.

In the second pic there is a bird eating seed off the wall of my porch. That is definitely last summer. That is some kind of sparrow I think. My landlady is a BIG time birdwatcher. She knows them all.

Lots of migrating birds fly by here, as do Monarch butterflies

[Grateful for Hope]

44. I am so jealous!

On Long Island, I lived within walking distance of LI Sound, but certainly not withing viewing distance.

You chose a wonderful place to live!

[Grateful for Hope]

43. Grew up in Malverne (Nassau County)

then moved to Suffolk County as an older kid. Lived there during early years of my marriage. Have also lived in Rockland County (across the Hudson from Westchester County).

Would be very nice to meet you sometime! I do travel to NY a lot as I have grown kids who live in New Jersey (Edison), Yonkers (Westchester County, NY), and Fort Montgomery (Orange County, NY). Have grandbabies I need to see!

Small world (that you have a sister who went to school here and acquaintences who live here). It is interesting, but sometimes I do miss the "largeness" of NY. However, I don't miss the traffic (LOL!)

[BrklynLiberal]

46. We used to go to the movies in Malverne all the time when I was

growing up in Far Rockaway.

We definitely have to get together when you come into the city!!!

[superconnected]

42. I'm just reading this now so I want to wish spidey a speedy recovery

the rest of the way.

[Grateful for Hope]

45. Thank you, Superconnected!

I took him to the vet this afternoon to have him assessed. Vet told me that he could hear no congestion in his lungs or nasal passages.

He told not to stop the Baytril -- but to use it all. This will probably add a week onto the original week as per the instructions.

He told me not to expect that Spidey won't be sneezing, etc. for the next six weeks as the underlying viral infection is still healing. This made sense.

He also said that Spidey has gained more than 10% of his weight in the last six weeks despite being sick, and this was excellent. So good to hear!

I am so optimistic now, and I am so very, very grateful!!