your opinions please

Here is the lowdown on Callie.

Date of birth (approximate) 5-10-07

Adopted from Shelter on 9-24-07

The next day after adoption noticed: And has still to date
-Eye boogers (not wet eyes, just gets (what we call) eye boogers.
-Crusty nose (not runny) just crusty
-Hacking cough (hack, hack, hack, hhhaaaccckkkk)(nothing comes up)
-Sneezing

Fever: No
Eating: fine
Gaining weight: fine
Drinking: fine
Pooping: fine
Urinating: fine
Playing :fine

We have had her for 7 weeks. All is fine except for the 4 above symptoms.

9-25-07 Vet seems to think Allergies, because no fever, no chest congestion, nothing else.

10-19-07 Vet still thinks allergies. No other problems or symptoms.

11-10-07 Vet still thinks allergies. No other problems or symptoms.
Gave "AMOXI/DEX INJ;PLUS B-VITAMIN"
.5mg Pet Tinic drops - 1 time per day (at home)
I am to call Vet on Tuesday to give report on her.
-During the conversation with Vet he mentioned FIP, but seem to shrug it off and wants to see how the injection and drops do for her first.

Doing some internet research on FIP and after what I have read, cats that have FIP usually pass away within a few days to a few weeks. This has been going on with Callie for 7 weeks with no changes in symptoms. Would you think that if this were FIP that she would have not lasted this long or that the syptoms would be getting worse within 7 weeks?......or......Would/could this be a normal time span for FIP?
Anyone that has dealt with FIP, your opinion will be greatly appreciated.
So Scared!!

I hate to sound negative, but I don't trust your vet.

The symptoms described are 100% consistent with an URI, an upper respiratory illness. The cat doesn't need a fever to have a cold. The coughing indicates it may be in the lungs (not good), and normally a young kitten would be on Amoxi twice a day until symptoms resolve, or *possibly* Clavamox if the kitten is old enough. In addition the kitten should be on anti-bacterial eye cream twice a day. If there is suspicion that its feline herpes (another type URI, *not* like human herpes) then adding a pinch of L-lysine to the food twice a day over time can reduce the replication of the virus. L-lysine is available at vitamin stores like GNC.

The vet mentioning FIP (again assuming the picture you paint is reasonably accurate and complete) is bordering on irresponsible of him/her.

Honestly, i'd go to a new vet.

If the cat is healthy (eats, drinks, plays, etc.), he/she doesn't have FIP. Even if the corona virus titers came back high, that would just mean exposure to the corona virus, not FIP. I think congestion due to a URI, possible the feline herpes virus, is most likely. Zek had runny eyes and sneezing when I brought him home. I gave him Lysine (Odo too since URIs are very contagious) and the symptoms went away. I had to keep him on it for a while or the symptoms came right back.

O.K. I did some research and listed some of the "viruses" Herpes/Rhinotracheitis, Chlamydiosis, Calicivirus, FIV. By the symptoms of these, Callie seems to come closest to Calicivirus.

AND, I AM LIVID!!! Baloo (3 month old) started sneezing this morning and just a tiny tiny bit of eye boogers (thats all he is doing) AND Abby (6 year old) I just went to give him a hug and noticed a little bit of eye boogers on him!!! I don't believe it!!!

About the L-lysine. How does it come...tablets, powder?
How much do I give Callie (6 months old), Baloo (3 months old) and Abby (6 years old).

I am calling the vet in the morning and we will see what he has to say about Callie's "Allergies" now.

Website say that antibiotics won't work in Calicivirus, but are given for secondary infections from the Calicivirus.

"Knock on wood" We have had Abby for 6 years and I suppose I have been very lucky with him (course he has been an only child until 2 months ago) because I have never had any medical problems with him. Just the rountine vaccinations. This is a first for me and I am very scared. And I also feel very guilty that I have (although not Callie's fault) brought this into our home and subjected Abby and Baloo to this.

I guess what I don't understand about this is....o.k. so if they have Calicivirus it will stay with them and then every once in a while it can flare up and the flare ups are these symptoms they are having. Is this right?

I will let the users of l lysine tell you ... but I know my local health food store has it with capsules or loose powder

First of all, I'd get a second opinion on the illness. As a previous poster mentioned, it sounds like an URI. Might also have airborne allergy problems mixed in. Whatever it is, it needs to get cleared up and all the kitties need to be treated or you'll be in a vicious cycle of someone being sick as URI are contagious.

As Sharky has mentioned, start them on Lysine. I buy it from my health food store in a HUGE bottle that's in powder form. I just mix 1/4 t in wet food once daily. When my kitties have runny eyes or I hear them sneezing, I up it to two times a day and the symptoms clear up in a couple of days. I have also used the tablets from Wal-Mart and crushed them between two spoons. Both work equally well, but the powder is easier to use.

Stephanie

just curious...
is lysine a preventative thing? or medicine?

I'm thinking of the dietary supplement, is it the same thing?

L lysine is actually an amino acid that seems to help with virus s ... many use it for the herpes virus ( simplex c in humans )

I think my vitamins may contain it.

If I were you, I'd take this kitty to another vet. A second opinion never hurts.

Lysine isn't effective against calicivirus, just herpes (rhinotracheitis) and you can get it at a health food store (cheaper than vet) -- buy in powdered form in capsules, just open cap and sprinkle on food. Can give 1000 mg a day for treatment, 250 mg a day for maintenance. Discontinue if it causes lower G-I upset (loose stool)

It's not at all unusual for a cat to have a herpes URI flareup after adoption. Most cats have the virus latent and the adoption is stressful; stress causes the flareup.

Your vet's prescribing an antibiotic injection is inconsistent with the working diagnosis of allergies.

I would see a another vet,

With my boys, the vet had me giving 500 mg each per day, split into two doses. I purchased mine in caplet form, so I would divide a 500 mg caplet into two and give each boy half, twice per day. I've heard others use 1000 mg during an outbreak, but 500 mg seems to work for my boys (~10 pounds and 12.5 pounds). Since it is a dietary supplement and an amino acid that they would normally get through food, it seems to be safe to give it in large amounts without overdosing. With my cats, I found it easier to give pills because I never know who is finishing the canned food, but Lysine can be bought as a powder or the caplets can be ground and mixed into the food.