Trying to do all possible to keep my cat alive

[bhageter]

To try and cover as much ground as possible, I have this really sweet cat who I named Portia who is dwindling away regardless of every effort I have made to keep her alive. It all started mid December when I took her to her vet because I was concerned that she was sneezing so much. Tests taken at that time showed she tested very high for Bartonella and she was put on an antibiotic which seemed to answer the problem. It was a month later that she suddenly started showing a stuffiness and difficulty in breathing through her nose, and she also stopped eating on her own, so we went back to the vet. To try and make a long story short, we ran the gamut at that time of a nasal flush, xrays that showed nothing and blood tests that proved no results either. To try and keep her alive while finding the problem, I took her at great cost to one of the best animal hospitals in the area. I can only try to express my frustration when their findings, even after a CTScan showed no polyps, no foreign matter, and no fungus infection. They did put her on Clavamox (1 ml. 2 times a day) which I kept up with forced feedings. I picked her up from this animal hospital on a Thursday and she suddenly seemed better on the following Saturday when she, after 2 weeks, showed an interest in eating on her own. Things were returning to normal for a 2 week period when she suddenly showed the signs of the stuffiness once more and refused to eat on her own. This Friday will be a 2 week period when I have had to force feed her as nothing interests her in the way of food. She is so stuffed and I know this is why she is not wanting to eat. I have kept up the Clavamox (2 mls. daily), and a stronger antibiotic (Enrofloxacin) 1 ml. daily, and also, because the thinking was she has chronic herpes, L-Lysine (1-1/4 mls. twice a day). These episodes of trying to get all these medicines into her also include constant forced feedings to just try and keep her alive. My frustration is that nothing seems to be helping. She was given a steriod shot last Saturday that held the hope that it might just do the trick, but nothing has changed. I pretty much think I am going to lose this sweet companion who has been such a plus. I cannot help feeling so frustrated when I have tried so much and just cannot seem to find the right answer for her.

[special]

Oh I'm so sorry about all this worry over your poor sick kitty. It really does sound as though all bases have been covered.

The one thing you didn't mention is if she was tested for FeLV/HIV. I'm sure it's been done, but I thought I would mention it anyway.

How old is she?

Welcome to the forum, though I'm sorry its such circumstances that brought you here.

[nanamouse]

I have one with chronic congestion and sneezing, like yours she responds temporarily to antibiotics. For a while this past winter she was sneezing bloody mucous, but that passed, and thank goodness she's never lost her appetite. No third eyelid showing, no fever or lack of energy, just the sneezing fits.

A humidifier or vaporizer seems to make it easier for her to breath, I haven't tried any edicine in the vaporizer, maybe your vet could tell you if it would be safe to try that.

I hope they figure it out soon, please keep us updated and there's always someone here to listen when you get frustrated.

[bhageter]

Thank you for replying. She was tested for HIV and results were negative. I am happy to say that this past Thursday, after 13 days (which was the same period of time with the other episode) of not eating, she suddenly started eating like a little pig in the evening. That Thursday afternoon, she was horribly congested and I had to force feed her plus a force feeding that evening at 5:00pm. How in a matter of 2 hours all signs of congestion could be gone and she could have her appetite back is so confusing to me. And as relieved as I am that she at least now is eating and gaining back some of her lost weight, I am holding my breath since these episodes seem to happen every two weeks now. I do feel sure, like the two vets who have treated her through these episodes, that it is this herpes virus, so I think all I can do is keep her on the Lysine and hope for the best. I am waiting for a call from the one vet to see if there is anything else I can possibly do to avoid another onslaught as I do not think her system can take too many of these. If it was just that she would not stop eating and drinking during these episodes because it has to be taking its toll on both of us. I am also concerned about the other cat I have who so far has shown no signs of being infected. I try to keep their eating bowls separate and make sure the litter box is constantly cleaned, but when you are working all day, these things are next to impossible.

[special]

Thank you for the update and happy news on your Portia. It may be that she will go through these crashes on a regular basis. I've come across these unexplained illnesses before.

I wonder if interferon would be applicable here, let me look up some info.

Also, flavorless pedialyte will help keep her hydrated and keep her electrolytes up. Ask your vet first of course.

Just remember that she doesn't know she's sick. All the angst is saved for us humans, all she knows is that she's with her mama and is loved and cared for.

[special]

Here is just a short bit of info on interferon.

http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/interferon-roferon-a/page1.aspx

If you google "interferon in cats" you will come across a lot more information.

[nanamouse]

So there is no test for the herpes virus in cats, it's diagnosed by symptoms? What are the usual range of symptoms, and how contageous is this in a mulri cat household? All I ever knew about was the red runny eye part.

[special]

So there is no test for the herpes virus in cats, it's diagnosed by symptoms? What are the usual range of symptoms, and how contageous is this in a mulri cat household? All I ever knew about was the red runny eye part.

Herpes can be diagnosed positively with a swabbed sample from the cat's affected eye. They put a numbing drop in the eye and stick the swab deep in (it looks awful but the cat doesn't feel it)

I don't know what the actual test involved, maybe just under a microscope, not sure if a culture needs to be done, I don't remember. But yes, it can be postively diagnosed through testing.

Tiffany might know if it's done under a microscope or culture or whatever..

[krazy4birds]

I myself am not that educated on cats yet but I just wanted to send you my best wishes that things go well and you certainly have some great "cat ladies" helping you! Good luck

[special]

I did a search to find some info about feline herpes. here is an excellent link, I like maristavet, their info is usually accurate.

(some of the sites that came up when I searched gave really bizarre information including but not limited to, if your cat is constipated he has herpes, this is NOT true)

anyway here is the pertinent part:

There is only one test that is accurate enough to be worth doing if one wants to know for sure if Herpes is present or not and that is the PCR (“Polymerase Chain Reaction”) test. This is a DNA test that amplifies the presence of viral DNA so that even one single virus can be detected in a sample from a conjunctival swab.

and the link to the whole page:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_herpes_viral_conjunctivitis.html

My cat had this done at Cornell University Companion Animal Hospital, where he saw a veterinary Ophthalmologist specialist. His eyes looked like the first picture in this link, my, then, vet messed around so much. I went to another vet and he sent us straight to Cornell.

[nanamouse]

Thanks for the link, I think it's safe to say that herpes is what has caused the runny eyes and noses around here lately. Good that it isn't something worse in mature cats, bad that it can't be totally gotten rid of. All the cats that exhibit symptoms broke out at once when the second dog got here, but everyone seems OK now. Most I can get to take lysene in canned food, but a few won't eat it, and it's over an hour to isolate each one to feed it without accidentally dosing one twice while skipping another. Sigh. Less time playing on the computer, I guess.

[special]

Nana, I wonder if putting it in their water would work? I mean, you'd have to get some of the pure flavorless powder, I like source naturals,...are they all good drinkers? That might be a way to get some into every body at least.

[nanamouse]

Nana, I wonder if putting it in their water would work? I mean, you'd have to get some of the pure flavorless powder, I like source naturals,...are they all good drinkers? That might be a way to get some into every body at least.

Huh, that's an idea. All are good drinkers, especially since I got the fountain. I have to fill it several times a day, they love the running water. I could just mix up a gallon every morning and fill the fountain from that all day... a completely water soluble powder would go through the flters with no problem.

I'm pretty relieved that what has seemed like a rash of URI's is probably not something potentially fatal, and it explains why even the cats who had been fully vaccinated have had symptoms. I have a topical eye antibiotic that clears the eye up in a day or two, but the sneezing concerned me. There are about seven of the fifteen who have shown symptoms, some almost none, one severe.

[kryan157]

I have some experience with what everyone is talking about. I wrote a few weeks ago regarding a foster I brought in to my house that turned out to be the calicivirus - which has many different strains and is a form of herpes but thankfully his was not the fatal one. Everyone is healthy but I have learned so much about it. I have been using L-Lysene on him and all of my cats now and at first I bought them at CVS and had to crush them every time and put in their food - but at health stores they sell the capsules 500 miligrams and the recommended dose is 250 twice a day - so I open them up and pour the liquid in their wet food. I didn't put it in their water since I have three cats and wouldn't know if they would get their doses but I did get a syringe for one and mixed it with a little water and one squirt later they got their medicine. It is a wonderful anti-body and I have seen great results.

I am so glad your cat is doing well and as for him not eating - if they are having issues breathing and can't eat their food they will stop eating at times. If you see he is getting stuffed up again - take him in the bathroom and run the shower for a few minutes...I actually sat with my cats so it wouldn't be a scary or stressful situation and they were fine. It really opens them up and is easy.

Good Luck and keep us posted.

[sun99]

I am sorry about your kitty Portia. I hope you can find the answer for her.

special the info on herpes was very good, I have read that link before and agree that maristavet is a reliable resource. I had a kitty with herpes eyes, I lost her a few years ago to cancer. She hated to be medicated but I got as much of the l-lysine in her as I could.

Wish I'd known about those liquid capsules kryan mentioned. Dolly could taste or feel the l-lysine powder in her food, would go to great lengths to avoid getting the paste, I even tried wiping it on her arm, but she would just go over to my favorite antique chair and wipe it off!

I wish I'd known about the interferon then, (during Dolly's cancer) I am going to ask my vet what he knows about it, in case I ever am faced with such a sick kitty again.

[uwllv88]

I myself am not that educated on cats yet but I just wanted to send you my best wishes that things go well and you certainly have some great "cat ladies" helping you! Good luck

Yes, I was just thinking that this morning before I got online to see if anyone answered my two questions from last night. This board is the most awesome one I have ever been to. In the past years I have been on two dog boards and about 3 cat boards and there is almost constant fighting. The people on this board respect other people's opinions even if they don't agree entirely. They treat people like people unlike the other boards I've been to that seem to pounce on people when the come to ask a question. This board has saved my life, well, maybe not my life, but my sanity for sure. Thanks to all the knowlegeable, HELPFUL, members I've been able to try different things to help my babies. So I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart who give of your time here to help people with their kitties and the many problems we all have on occasion.