- Joined
- Mar 4, 2022
- Messages
- 8
Leo, 12-15 years-old is an outdoor cat fed by my neighbor. I recently learned from my neighbor that Leo has upper respiratory issues every year in the winter. She puts Lysine in his water when this happens and after a week or two he recovers. This winter he didn't and has been struggling with it for over 2 months.
As a side note, yesterday we realized the bottle of Lysine she's been using expired 2 years ago. I wasn't aware Leo was sick. Two weeks ago I noticed discharge from his left eye and left nostril so I brought him indoors and took him to the vet.
1st Vet visit - April 18th
Findings:
* Severe upper respiratory infection
* FIV positive
* Fleas and ticks (found 20 of them)
* Dehydrated
* Gums and roof of his mouth very pale
* No fever
Blood work was done. I'm attaching the report.
Treatment:
* Oral antibiotics (Clavamox) for 10 days
* Frontline for fleas and ticks
* Subcutaneous fluids
He ate pretty well for the first time in days right after vet visit but only for one day. He hardly ate anything the next couple of days so I took him back to the vet.
2nd Vet visit - 4/21
Chest X-rays were taken. Some changes in the lungs from the infection, enlarged lymph nodes. Possibly start of kidney disease and GI issues.. He was hospitalized until 4/23 and received IV fluids. I was told he wouldn't eat at first but ate pretty well the morning I picked him up.
However, he hardly ate anything once back at home. I tried fish flavored cat food and canned tuna but it didn't make a difference. I emailed the vet and he suggested over the counter nasal drops. It seemed to help very little but I also wasn't sure I was doing it right as I'd never done nasal drops before.
3rd vet visit - 4/27
Leo had lost a bit more weight. I was shown how to flush his nose with saline water and was told to do it about 3 times a day to help loosen up his stuffy nose.
Doctor said his lungs seemed pretty clear and the congestion was in his nose and chest. He said we could try a second antibiotic but he wasn't sure it'll make a difference. Because he's FIV positive, his immune system is having a hard time getting rid of the viral infection.
What I'm currently doing for him:
* I have been using the saline water 2 to 3 times a days (sometimes it seems to help him cough up mucus, others it doesn't)
*I have tried smelly foods like sardines, anchovies, salmon in olive oil, baby food, etc. suggested by Dr. Christina when I had my 15min free phone consultation last Thursday. He hardly ate anything.
*Yesterday I started giving him Lysine. I could only find the human version so I'm giving him a bit more than 500mg twice a day. I mix the powder with tuna water for flavor but he still spits some of it out so that's why I'm giving him more than the recommended dose.
* I've also been giving him Reiki sessions for the past 2 weeks.
When I checked on him this morning, I was so happy to see he had eaten a good amount of food (about 2.5 oz)
I started getting hopeful again. But today so far he only ate a couple of bites
In the 2 weeks he's been with me only 3 times he's eaten an almost regular amount of food. He's getting weaker and he's pretty much skin and bones. I received Dr. Jeff's recommendations for homeopathic vets last night but it's the weekend and even though I've left messages, I haven't heard back from anyone yet.
I wonder if parasites from fleas/ticks are making things worse. Could something else be affecting his breathing? He often breathes with his mouth open.
I apologize in advance for the long post. Any suggestions, thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!
As a side note, yesterday we realized the bottle of Lysine she's been using expired 2 years ago. I wasn't aware Leo was sick. Two weeks ago I noticed discharge from his left eye and left nostril so I brought him indoors and took him to the vet.
1st Vet visit - April 18th
Findings:
* Severe upper respiratory infection
* FIV positive
* Fleas and ticks (found 20 of them)
* Dehydrated
* Gums and roof of his mouth very pale
* No fever
Blood work was done. I'm attaching the report.
Treatment:
* Oral antibiotics (Clavamox) for 10 days
* Frontline for fleas and ticks
* Subcutaneous fluids
He ate pretty well for the first time in days right after vet visit but only for one day. He hardly ate anything the next couple of days so I took him back to the vet.
2nd Vet visit - 4/21
Chest X-rays were taken. Some changes in the lungs from the infection, enlarged lymph nodes. Possibly start of kidney disease and GI issues.. He was hospitalized until 4/23 and received IV fluids. I was told he wouldn't eat at first but ate pretty well the morning I picked him up.
However, he hardly ate anything once back at home. I tried fish flavored cat food and canned tuna but it didn't make a difference. I emailed the vet and he suggested over the counter nasal drops. It seemed to help very little but I also wasn't sure I was doing it right as I'd never done nasal drops before.
3rd vet visit - 4/27
Leo had lost a bit more weight. I was shown how to flush his nose with saline water and was told to do it about 3 times a day to help loosen up his stuffy nose.
Doctor said his lungs seemed pretty clear and the congestion was in his nose and chest. He said we could try a second antibiotic but he wasn't sure it'll make a difference. Because he's FIV positive, his immune system is having a hard time getting rid of the viral infection.
What I'm currently doing for him:
* I have been using the saline water 2 to 3 times a days (sometimes it seems to help him cough up mucus, others it doesn't)
*I have tried smelly foods like sardines, anchovies, salmon in olive oil, baby food, etc. suggested by Dr. Christina when I had my 15min free phone consultation last Thursday. He hardly ate anything.
*Yesterday I started giving him Lysine. I could only find the human version so I'm giving him a bit more than 500mg twice a day. I mix the powder with tuna water for flavor but he still spits some of it out so that's why I'm giving him more than the recommended dose.
* I've also been giving him Reiki sessions for the past 2 weeks.
When I checked on him this morning, I was so happy to see he had eaten a good amount of food (about 2.5 oz)
I started getting hopeful again. But today so far he only ate a couple of bites
In the 2 weeks he's been with me only 3 times he's eaten an almost regular amount of food. He's getting weaker and he's pretty much skin and bones. I received Dr. Jeff's recommendations for homeopathic vets last night but it's the weekend and even though I've left messages, I haven't heard back from anyone yet.
I wonder if parasites from fleas/ticks are making things worse. Could something else be affecting his breathing? He often breathes with his mouth open.
I apologize in advance for the long post. Any suggestions, thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!
