Sick kitty, meds not helping

[Funkrn412]

Hi everyone! I'm new here... I have a male sphynx (Charlie) who I've had for approx 5-6 years. He's always been a pretty healthy cat. On January 1st I got another sphynx kitten (Bentley) who is approx 4 months old. Bentley soon developed a stuffy, snotty nose and was taken to the vet where he was out on Viralys. He's been on that since Jan 3rd. He's still snotty but is eating, playing, and using the litter box.
However this past Friday Charlie, my older cat, started with a hacking cough and seemed to be having difficulty breathing. He was placed on Clavamox and prednisone(steroid) Saturday by the vet. Since then he has developed sneezing/runny nose, worsening cough, watery, draining eyes, NO energy and today he won't eat. He has an appointment to return to the vet tomorrow since the current treatment isn't working.
Are there any suggestions for me, or the vet, that anyone has? I'm just worried about my little man and want to see him back to his happy, playful self.
Thanks in advance

 

[zoinks]

A lot of people on here have found that Clavamox is not very effective on sphynx. You may want to contact your vet and see if he can prescribe a different antibiotic.

You might also want to try supplementing L-Lysine which is an immune system booster - you can get it in powder form to mix with food or as treats.

Hope your little guy is back to his usual self soon!

 

[Catzzzmeow]

@Funkrn412 Sorry to hear of the set back. Many Sphynx do get a URI (upper respiratory infection) when going to a new home. We have also seen several member say Clavamox has not been the right antibiotic to kick it. It just does not seem to do the trick for many on here. I see you mention Viralyis which I am assuming is L-Lysine. That is super! You might ask your vet about Zythromax or Doxycline...both are antibiotics that cover a wider spectrum of issues. You might get a push back from some members about Doxy, and a worry about teeth turning black...ask your vet...we have never had an issue in my home but certain members are against it without having had personal issues. I can only say my breeder recommended and our vet said good breeders know more about the breed than a vet and we have pearly whites after 2 kittens had multiple URI issues and treated with Doxy.
Double the dose of L-Lysine while sick.

Please update us.


Patti

 

[Funkrn412]

@Funkrn412 Sorry to hear of the set back. Many Sphynx do get a URI (upper respiratory infection) when going to a new home. We have also seen several member say Clavamox has not been the right antibiotic to kick it. It just does not seem to do the trick for many on here. I see you mention Viralyis which I am assuming is L-Lysine. That is super! You might ask your vet about Zythromax or Doxycline...both are antibiotics that cover a wider spectrum of issues. You might get a push back from some members about Doxy, and a worry about teeth turning black...ask your vet...we have never had an issue in my home but certain members are against it without having had personal issues. I can only say my breeder recommended and our vet said good breeders know more about the breed than a vet and we have pearly whites after 2 kittens had multiple URI issues and treated with Doxy.
Double the does of L-Lysine while sick.

Please update us.


Patti

@Funkrn412 Sorry to hear of the set back. Many Sphynx do get a URI (upper respiratory infection) when going to a new home. We have also seen several member say Clavamox has not been the right antibiotic to kick it. It just does not seem to do the trick for many on here. I see you mention Viralyis which I am assuming is L-Lysine. That is super! You might ask your vet about Zythromax or Doxycline...both are antibiotics that cover a wider spectrum of issues. You might get a push back from some members about Doxy, and a worry about teeth turning black...ask your vet...we have never had an issue in my home but certain members are against it without having had personal issues. I can only say my breeder recommended and our vet said good breeders know more about the breed than a vet and we have pearly whites after 2 kittens had multiple URI issues and treated with Doxy.
Double the does of L-Lysine while sick.

Please update us.


Patti

Thank you all so much for the info. I will share this info with the vet tomorrow. I live in a fairly small town and none of the vets have much experience with the Sphynx breed.

 

[assibassi]

awwww hope both your kitties get better soon !

 

[Catzzzmeow]

If kitty is still not well, vet might give a shot of Baytril when you go to your appt to get a good dose of antibiotics in their system. It is a good boost. We have not had watery eyes but gooky eyes which have a more yellowish thicker discharge and we ordered erythromycin ointment which our vet recommended.

Will look for updates. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.


patti

 

[GoldHazel]

Hi everyone! I'm new here... I have a male sphynx (Charlie) who I've had for approx 5-6 years. He's always been a pretty healthy cat. On January 1st I got another sphynx kitten (Bentley) who is approx 4 months old. Bentley soon developed a stuffy, snotty nose and was taken to the vet where he was out on Viralys. He's been on that since Jan 3rd. He's still snotty but is eating, playing, and using the litter box.
However this past Friday Charlie, my older cat, started with a hacking cough and seemed to be having difficulty breathing. He was placed on Clavamox and prednisone(steroid) Saturday by the vet. Since then he has developed sneezing/runny nose, worsening cough, watery, draining eyes, NO energy and today he won't eat. He has an appointment to return to the vet tomorrow since the current treatment isn't working.
Are there any suggestions for me, or the vet, that anyone has? I'm just worried about my little man and want to see him back to his happy, playful self.
Thanks in advance

You can also ask your vet for Tobramycin eye drops. Putting eye drops into your cats' eyes will come down through the nasal passage and help both eyes and nose. One drop in each eye 2X a day.
Whenever your cats are ill, always double up on the dosage of L-Lysine. Otherwise just give them the correct amount each and every day.
A humidifier will help them. Keep them warm with lots of blankets, a heating pad/electric blanket or throw and possibly clothing. Raise the heat if possible too. They get the chills when they don't feel well. Sounds like your older sphynx may have a fever or just a very stuffy nose which would make it not want to eat because of lack of scent (or both the fever and stuffy nose). The Tobramycin eye drops and humidifier will help a lot. You can even put the liquid Vicks into the humidifier.
As mentioned above, Clavamox won't help a sphynx out with an URI. Zithromycin works and other antibiotics. Doxy works very well, but again, mentioned previously it can cause damage to the teeth if given while a human or animal still has baby teeth. It's really not the biggest deal in the world, but Doxy shouldn't be first choice because of problems to the esophagus. Ask your vet to explain it better.

It will take time to get them better. Just make sure they are eating and especially drinking water. Anything else we can help you with, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Hairless Blessing]

Welcome to sphynxlair good to have you. Sure pray your babies
get well soon. Keep us updated.

 

[andreanar]

Hoping your babies get on their way to healing! You got good advice so I'll just say welcome to the Lair!

 

[Funkrn412]

@Funkrn412 Sorry to hear of the set back. Many Sphynx do get a URI (upper respiratory infection) when going to a new home. We have also seen several member say Clavamox has not been the right antibiotic to kick it. It just does not seem to do the trick for many on here. I see you mention Viralyis which I am assuming is L-Lysine. That is super! You might ask your vet about Zythromax or Doxycline...both are antibiotics that cover a wider spectrum of issues. You might get a push back from some members about Doxy, and a worry about teeth turning black...ask your vet...we have never had an issue in my home but certain members are against it without having had personal issues. I can only say my breeder recommended and our vet said good breeders know more about the breed than a vet and we have pearly whites after 2 kittens had multiple URI issues and treated with Doxy.
Double the dose of L-Lysine while sick.

Please update us.


Patti

Hi, so we went back to the vet today and he wanted to do a chest X-ray to rule out anything serious since he was not improving any. He came back and said that it looks abnormal around his heart so he contacted a specialist who also looked at the X-ray and recommended an echo of his heart to make a definitive diagnosis. He mentioned possibilities of congestive heart failure, HCM, pneumonia. Or he said it could be something as simple as a fat deposit.
Charlie seems to be doing slightly better after we've returned home as in he wanted to eat and drink as soon as we got home which he hasn't had any interest in over the past couple of days.
Does anybody have any thoughts or input on these new findings?
As far as his symptoms go, it sounds like a URI to me (but who am I when it comes to diagnosing cats) But now I'm scared to death and I'm going to have the echo done just because I want to be able to give my baby the appropriate treatments for whatever we might find.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

@Funkrn412 Kudos to you for doing everything possible to rule certain things out. Best advice and the hardest to hear is wait for the results. Try not to let your imagination run wild, because then it all goes negative and it still could be a simple URI.
Glad to hear of slight improvement. Just hang in there and update us...hopefully tomorrow. You have positive thoughts sent your way.


patti

 

[Ickushouse]

Praying your boy has a strong heart.

 

[GoldHazel]

Hi, so we went back to the vet today and he wanted to do a chest X-ray to rule out anything serious since he was not improving any. He came back and said that it looks abnormal around his heart so he contacted a specialist who also looked at the X-ray and recommended an echo of his heart to make a definitive diagnosis. He mentioned possibilities of congestive heart failure, HCM, pneumonia. Or he said it could be something as simple as a fat deposit.
Charlie seems to be doing slightly better after we've returned home as in he wanted to eat and drink as soon as we got home which he hasn't had any interest in over the past couple of days.
Does anybody have any thoughts or input on these new findings?
As far as his symptoms go, it sounds like a URI to me (but who am I when it comes to diagnosing cats) But now I'm scared to death and I'm going to have the echo done just because I want to be able to give my baby the appropriate treatments for whatever we might find.

Well it certainly does sound like he does have an URI, otherwise why would he have a snotty nose? I guess your vet didn't change his antibiotics at this point or give him an injection...or did he?
Try not to worry yourself sick over the unknown of the chest x-ray. I know it's difficult to do and easy to say, but once the echo is done, you'll know what you have to deal with if anything negative shows up.
I'm praying that it's nothing and that your baby's symptoms really begin to go away now. Best of luck to you.

 

[Funkrn412]

Tha

Well it certainly does sound like he does have an URI, otherwise why would he have a snotty nose? I guess your vet didn't change his antibiotics at this point or give him an injection...or did he?
Try not to worry yourself sick over the unknown of the chest x-ray. I know it's difficult to do and easy to say, but once the echo is done, you'll know what you have to deal with if anything negative shows up.
I'm praying that it's nothing and that your baby's symptoms really begin to go away now. Best of luck to you.

Well it certainly does sound like he does have an URI, otherwise why would he have a snotty nose? I guess your vet didn't change his antibiotics at this point or give him an injection...or did he?
Try not to worry yourself sick over the unknown of the chest x-ray. I know it's difficult to do and easy to say, but once the echo is done, you'll know what you have to deal with if anything negative shows up.
I'm praying that it's nothing and that your baby's symptoms really begin to go away now. Best of luck to you.

I agree, the snotty nose and watery eyes definitely sound upper resp to me. But no he did not change his meds for now.
I did start giving him the l-lysine last night and I'm doing that twice a day now.
Echo and specialist visit is tomorrow. Thanks everyone for the support and prayers. I will update again tomorrow....hopefully with good news.

 

[GoldHazel]

Tha


I agree, the snotty nose and watery eyes definitely sound upper resp to me. But no he did not change his meds for now.
I did start giving him the l-lysine last night and I'm doing that twice a day now.
Echo and specialist visit is tomorrow. Thanks everyone for the support and prayers. I will update again tomorrow....hopefully with good news.

Yes, hopefully you get good news tomorrow. I will be looking for your post.

 

[andreanar]

Praying for good news!

 

[Helsinki]

Best of luck with the specialist - hope to hear positive news!!

 

[Inflamed]

Good luck with the echo, I hope it gives you some answers and that it's just a uri that's stubborn!

 

[Funkrn412]

Hey everyone, sorry it's taken me so long but I wanted to post an update on Charlie. We went for the echo and found that he has very early HCM. So the specialist has put him on Atenolol (a medicine that decreases the workload of his heart) every morning. We go back in 6 months for a re-check and another echo. As for the URI, I've continued giving him the L-Lysine twice a day and I'm convinced that has helped him more than anything. I am so thankful for the advice I received on here regarding the l-lysine. The prayers, advice, and support is so much appreciated!

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Thanks for updatng us. So happy you have a game plan and started meds early and have a schedule of follow up appts! L-Lysine is part of the regular routine here as well

Patti

 

[GoldHazel]

Hey everyone, sorry it's taken me so long but I wanted to post an update on Charlie. We went for the echo and found that he has very early HCM. So the specialist has put him on Atenolol (a medicine that decreases the workload of his heart) every morning. We go back in 6 months for a re-check and another echo. As for the URI, I've continued giving him the L-Lysine twice a day and I'm convinced that has helped him more than anything. I am so thankful for the advice I received on here regarding the l-lysine. The prayers, advice, and support is so much appreciated!

I'm so sorry to hear that Charlie has early HCM. It's great that it's in it's early stages and is put on medicine, but I just don't like reading about any cat being Dx with HCM. It makes me sad.

Yes, the L-Lysine is wonderful. First sign of anyone sneezing, etc. here, I up the daily in-take of it.

Best of luck to you with Charlie. I hope his next scans don't change one bit and remain in the early stage always.

 

[Jebsmom]

Very sorry to hear his diagnosis,positive healing prayers sent for you.

 

[andreanar]

Positive vibes sent to your boy.

 

[Embracing-Joyx4]

Prayer & positive thoughts sent your way.

 

[susi794]

Has the URI cleared up yet? Glad you caught the HCM early and got him right on the meds...but am still concerned about the URI. I agree with Patti about the Zithromax or the doxycycline. They are both more effective than clavamox. Praying he has a good long life ahead of him.
Much love,
Susi