Help!! Kitty needs help.

LtPiper

Taking cover
I have a cat that is male and around 6 months old that is strictly outdoor that has had a runny nose and breathing raggedly for a week or so now. We had to clean him up this morning as his nose was covered and he was having a time breathing.

Can't really afford a $100+++ vet visit for a barn cat so looking for suggestions on what home remedy we could use to help him out.
 

summerthyme

Administrator
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Sounds like he needs antibiotics, and soon. Hopefully, the "difficulty breathing" is because his nose is clogged, and not pneumonia- many of the "kittenhood diseases" can go into a fatal pneumonia.

If you can get "fish" antibiotics, you can use them. Amoxicillin is 5 mgs/pound of body weight, 2x daily. Ampicillin is 5 mg/pound 3x daily. Cephalexin is 14 mgs/pound 2x daily, and oxytetracycline is 25-50 mgs/pound DAILY, but divided into 2-3 doses.

Colloidal silver, given orally (probably a tablespoonful a couple times a day) MAY help. It also can be used to clean out his eyes and nose, and will kill off bacteria in those areas.

It's vitally important to keep him eating and drinking, as a cat who stops eating often doesn't start up again on their own, once their blood sugar drops too far. *once he has recovered*, it would be advisable to get a couple doses of vaccine (for distemper, and other cat respiratory infections) and vaccinate him. www.jefferspet.com carries some in single dose syringes. You need to give the vaccine and then again 2-4 weeks later to ensure immunity. Yearly vaccination after that should not be necessary, although we've observed (in our barn cats, who I try to vaccinate as kittens, as they otherwise don't survive the first year or so) the immunity seems to wane after about 4-5 years.

Summerthyme
 

LtPiper

Taking cover
Would clindamycin hydrochloride liquid work?

He's doing better this evening. He's never slowed down. Still eating fine it appears.
 

summerthyme

Administrator
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Clindamycin is one of the newer ABX. I have NO clue whether or not it would be safe for cats.

Ok, did a little research. Clindamycin is used mostly on serious bone and "soft tissue" infections- that would be cellulitis. It *might* work on upper respiratory infections, but I suspect there are cheaper, safer and older ABX they use instead- mostly because overuse of any of the newer meds just speeds up the whole resistance problem. The dose is 5-15 mgs per pound of body weight ONCE daily.

If he's eating fine and his lungs seem clear (when his nose is cleaned off so he can breathe, he's active, doesn't use his stomach muscles to visibly assist his breathing and you can't hear wheezing), you may simply be able to provide supportive treatment- nutritious food, cleaning his eyes and nose as needed, making sure he has plenty of fresh water, and watching for worsening symptoms- and see how he does.

MOST of these illnesses in kittens are viral in origin, but can then turn into secondary bacterial problems which can be fatal. For that matter, some of the viral illnesses can be fatal, which is the reason I strongly suggest vaccinating healthy kittens- they may have nine lives, but there are so many nasty diseases they can be exposed to, especially if they are outside cats, that vaccination gives them half a chance. Plus, some of the disease problems are incurable and eventually fatal- including contagious feline leukemia. Modern vet medicine can extend their lives, but can't cure them, and they often suffer pretty badly before the owner decides they aren't ever going to improve.

Summerthyme
 

FireDance

TB Fanatic
My vet used clindamycin for my cat's UTI. It works great for that, but also suggest the less expensive, fewer side-effect amoxicillin. Clinda has lots of side effects including kidney and GI things. I don't think you'd have a problem with that, but it's just best to go with the smallest gun you have available. Keep him inside if you can.
 

LtPiper

Taking cover
I just happen to have some of the clidamcin on hand from a recent visit to the vet of one of my indoor girls so I have it in hand and don't have to go to town and look for it. That and I have a some corticalsteroids available.
 

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I just happen to have some of the clidamcin on hand from a recent visit to the vet of one of my indoor girls so I have it in hand and don't have to go to town and look for it. That and I have a some corticalsteroids available.

My SIL is a vet. She doesn't recommend mixing antibiotics and steroids. Something about how the steroids affect the immune system. Something she shared with me years ago when one of my cats got injured.
 

meandk0610

Veteran Member
If you can get "fish" antibiotics, you can use them. Amoxicillin is 5 mgs/pound of body weight, 2x daily. Ampicillin is 5 mg/pound 3x daily. Cephalexin is 14 mgs/pound 2x daily, and oxytetracycline is 25-50 mgs/pound DAILY, but divided into 2-3 doses.

Colloidal silver, given orally (probably a tablespoonful a couple times a day) MAY help. It also can be used to clean out his eyes and nose, and will kill off bacteria in those areas.

Summerthyme

sorry for the drift. i just wondered if these dosages hold for all mammals?
 

summerthyme

Administrator
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NO!! Not necessarily. You MUST research each species and use the proper dosage for each, and remember that SOME drugs are toxic to some species, but not others!

As far as mixing antibiotics and steroids, or using steroids at all- they're touchy. They can be absolutely life saving for specific problems, but they DO depress the immune system, and can cause other problems (especially in higher doses or over a long period) and shouldn't be used except on specific doctors/vet's advice for the problem at hand.

Summerthyme
 

meandk0610

Veteran Member
NO!! Not necessarily. You MUST research each species and use the proper dosage for each, and remember that SOME drugs are toxic to some species, but not others!

As far as mixing antibiotics and steroids, or using steroids at all- they're touchy. They can be absolutely life saving for specific problems, but they DO depress the immune system, and can cause other problems (especially in higher doses or over a long period) and shouldn't be used except on specific doctors/vet's advice for the problem at hand.

Summerthyme

can you recommend a book on antibiotics for animals? i have no idea what you would if my dd or i needed antibiotics. i've developed an allergy to amoxicillin and am concerned about all the other "cillins." i guess i would have to go with sulfa drugs?
 
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