How do you know when a vet visit is necessary?

I'm going to try to keep this as short and to the point as I possibly can as I have a conference call to attend to in just a few minutes...

My question is this: How do you know whether or not an upper respiratory infection warrants a trip to the vet?

Here is a little back history so you know where I'm coming from. I adopted Finnegan the day after Thanksgiving. He is approximately 7-9 weeks old. That same day, I took him to the vet for his FeLV/FIV testing, his first round of vaccines, a fecal float, ear cleaning and exam, and a general wellness exam. Everything came up clear except for the fact that he had roundworms (he was dewormed) and a slight URI. I had assumed he had an upper respiratory infection as he his right eye was a bit red and inflamed which caused him to squint. He also had some slight white and/or crusty discharge coming from his eyes. The vet prescribed Dexaspor for his eyes and recommended not putting him on an antibiotic since his symptoms were so mild -- only occasional sneezing and no nasal discharge. And, largely, he's thrived since bringing him home.

On Sunday, I noticed that he was sneezing a bit more frequently. The sneezes sounded wet (it was actually hard to determine whether he was coughing or sneezing, but my roommate and I both think he's sneezing at this point) but he still had no nasal discharge, was not lethargic, and was not acting ill. Yesterday, I noticed again the wet-sounding sneezes, but he still has no other symptoms aside from the eye infection which is healing wonderfully. He is eating about a can of wet kitten food daily (mixed in with a bit of warm water as he prefers that consistency) along with some dry kitten kibble. He is using his litter pan exclusively and there has not been any sign of diarrhea. He is also extremely playful -- he plays multiple times per day and even enjoys a rousing session of Da Bird play in the evenings. He purrs extremely loudly, but he doesn't appear to be straining to breathe, breathing heavily, or wheezing. In short, aside from the sneezing, he is acting completely normal.

So, how do I know whether his sneezing warrants a trip to the vet? I know URI's are so frequent in cats and in kittens especially, but I also know that they are almost always viral infections which need to run their course -- antibiotics and other medications are used only to assist in warding off or fighting secondary bacterial infections. But, on that same token, he is young and I'm scared that I'll lose him (I'm always anxious about these types of things). My gut tells me that so long as he is eating, drinking, eliminating as per his usual, and is active that I can wait it out. Warning signs for me would be lethargy, a fever (feeling overly warm to the touch), a lack of appetite, or persistent (meaning more than once) diarrhea. Is this a good plan to go by? Or am I doing wrong by him by not rushing him off to the vet immediately?

He really does appear fine with the exception of the sneezing, but I'm a worrier and don't want to take chances. So, that all being said, how do I know whether he needs to be seen by the vet or if waiting it out is the wisest decision?

Your support and suggestions are most appreciated...

Take him in. Kittens can go downhill very quickly. Ask about testing for herpes. It's an easy, quick inexpensive test.

Please keep us updated on Finnegan. He's one of OURS now!

I would take him to the vet.
The herpes test was $150 when I had Meeko tested last year.

This is just a quick update as I rush around trying to get things taken care of before I have to go to work this afternoon, but I did call the vet and they suggested a wait-and-see approach over the next 24-48 hours. The vet said that since he has no occular or nasal discharge, is eating and drinking, is not lethargic or feverish, is eliminating as per the norm, and is playful that she does not want to unnecessarily put him on an antibiotic.

If he should become lethargic or stop eating and drinking, I am supposed to take him right in and I can have an appointment tomorrow morning if needed -- they are leaving it open for me in case Finn does worsen throughout today and this evening. The vet feels he does have a slight URI, but that his body is fighting it off well enough that the introduction of an antibiotic may do more harm than good. But, if things don't continue to improve (I did not hear much sneezing this morning at all) the idea of medication will be revisited. And, of course, at that point, he'd need to be seen back at the vet's office.

I think I'm overreacting at this point as he does seem to be completely fine save for a few wet sneezes, but I am aware that kittens can go downhill quickly and don't want to neglect the situation either. But, nonetheless, I made the call in to the vet and have a plan of action to follow for the next day or so. And, that makes me feel more in control of the situation.

Please, if you can, send Finnegan (and me!) some vibes that he continues to get better and that he grows up to be a happy, healthy boy.

My vet always prescribes antibiotics for URIs. I think because it's just so hard to know whether it's a virus or not, and preventing the superinfection is so important. You could possibly just call the vet to get the antibiotics.

But it is a good idea at some point to think about herpes virus if his eye doesn't get better...

Depends on the age of the kitten/cat. With kittens its best to get them in if the sneezing doesn't go away in a day or two. Same for cats.

If the eyes are still running and the sneezing doesn't sound like they just got into some dust, then take them in. Agree that kittens can go downhill quickly and it doesn't take much.

Hope your kitty is better soon.

Originally Posted by Alison Joy

So, how do I know whether his sneezing warrants a trip to the vet? I know URI's are so frequent in cats and in kittens especially, but I also know that they are almost always viral infections which need to run their course -- antibiotics and other medications are used only to assist in warding off or fighting secondary bacterial infections. But, on that same token, he is young and I'm scared that I'll lose him (I'm always anxious about these types of things). My gut tells me that so long as he is eating, drinking, eliminating as per his usual, and is active that I can wait it out. Warning signs for me would be lethargy, a fever (feeling overly warm to the touch), a lack of appetite, or persistent (meaning more than once) diarrhea. Is this a good plan to go by? Or am I doing wrong by him by not rushing him off to the vet immediately?

He really does appear fine with the exception of the sneezing, but I'm a worrier and don't want to take chances. So, that all being said, how do I know whether he needs to be seen by the vet or if waiting it out is the wisest decision?

Your support and suggestions are most appreciated...

Click to expand...

My question: Do you have access to a vet after hours IF something were to happen to warrant a visit?????

Also, when he sneezes, is he throwing boogers? Discharge? What colour?

If you have access to a vet at any given time, and the nasal discharge is clear (not yellow or green), and he's eating, pooping, peeing, breathing normal, etc. (even after losing Pax), I would not rush him in. (my mistake with Pax was that I mistook his breathing problem for being out of breath from playing, and when it was realised this wasn't the case I could not get him to an emerg vet.).

My guys get URIs on and off, the way my vet put it to me is: colour of discharge, amount of sneezing, breathing problems, coughing and the usual not eating/pooping/peeing is when I should bring them in. That is the advice I follow..... and it works for us.

Ultimately it is what you feel comfortable with..... you could always call your vet and ask their opinion as well.

Good luck, and I hope he is ok



ETA: I'm leaving this up, but I saw your answers after I posted....

Many for Finnigan to remain healthy.

Okay, I see some more responses were added since my latest reply. And, there were some questions asked as well which I will try to answer as best I can.

Finnegan is roughly 8 weeks old. He comes from a colony that has frequent upper respiratory infections and I do believe he had one when he was younger as well. My other cats have frequent URI's and the herpes virus so I am familiar with what caring for a cat or kitten with those issues entails. My current cats get L-Lysine daily and I will contact the vet to see if I can start Finn on the supplement as well and at what dosage.

His eye infection was mild. The rim of his eye was red and there was some meatiness to the conjunctiva. He had some slight white-ish discharge as well as some crustiness around his eyes, but it was minor and the squinting was just barely noticeable. I have been giving him a small ribbon of Dexaspor in both eyes twice daily since Saturday (with his first dose being on Friday night after I brought him home). His eyes since then have cleared up well. He still has some occasional redness, but, largely, the infection seems to have receded. He will continue to get the Dexaspor through Friday and, if the eye infection persists after that point, he will be returning to the vet.

Currently, his sneezing produces no nasal discharge. If there is anything at all (which I haven't seen) it is thin and clear. His sneezes sound wet, but there isn't anything being expelled with the sneeze that I can see. He is purring and acting normally in every other way -- eating, drinking, eliminating, playing...so on and so forth. He does not appear to have labored breathing and is not breathing with an open mouth or wheezing. If he started to have difficulty breathing, I'd rush him in to the vet without a second thought. But, so far, all of his symptoms seem very mild.

I do have access to an emergency vet clinic not far from my home if anything happens this evening. Of course, I'd prefer he see my regular vet if at all possible, but if his condition deteriorates and it becomes necessary, there are a number of options available to us.

I should also mention that I have not heard any sneezing from him this morning. Wait, there may have been one instance, but, even so, it's never been continuous sneezes -- just one here, one there, and maybe a couple during play time. He also gobbled up his 1/2 can of wet kitten food without and issue this morning and made time to play with one of his favorite toys. But, I will keep on him and if anything changes or worsens, he will go to the vet as quickly as possible.

You guys really are terrific. I so appreciate your kindness, support, advice, and vibes. Thank God for TCS!

To literally answer the question (for anyone else who sees it in the future). If you go through the trouble of coming on here and writing up a long post about, you should probably call the vet. This is especially true for anyone who specifically joins this forum and makes their first post in here about "I think my cat is sick" type posts.
Generally you know when something isn't right with your cat, just trust those instincts and call the vet first. The vet or a vet tech can offer advice from there.


As for Finnegan, he's so tiny that IMO I'd have skipped even asking for advice on here first and just talk to the vet. Since you have time to be online, you could probably call them right now and see what the vet thinks. None of the advice on here should ever be used in place of actual vet care.

I have to respectfully disagree with above posters on this issue. According to the info I have about Finnegan's illness I think a wait and see approach is perfectly okay and it seems that the OP has a pretty good take on when a vet visit would become warranted.

Since URI is almost always caused by a virus putting a cat on antibiotics doesn't do any good unless there is a secondary bacterial infection which is not always the case. Antibiotics can cause harm in young animals that does not yet have fully developed organs (kidneys especially) so in my opinion, supported by my vet, antibiotics should be avoided if it's not absolutely necessary. That said Clavamox, which is normally the drug given to cats with URI, is a pretty safe drug and causes less harm than some other antibiotics.
Finn seems to have a very mild URI so at this point I don't think a vet visit is necessary and I doubt that it would change anything for him.

It's true that URI in kittens is more serious than in adults but I have never seen a cat or kitten get drastically worse over night and in cases where it has become serious it has been a development over several days with severe symptoms. Usually those are fever, heavy discharge from nose and eyes, trouble breathing, lethargy and not eating or drinking properly. Of course a cat should see a vet long before it gets that serious especially if he's not drinking.
As long as Finn is acting like normal and only has some minor discharge and sneezing he does not need a vet visit, imo. If he however gets worse don't hesitate taking him to the vet. Watch him closely for any changes in behavior, especially lethargy. Eating and drinking is very important as dehydration can be life threating in a cat, especially a little one.

Even if he doesn't get worse I would really recommend that you start giving him L-Lysine asap. Lysine is an amino acid that helps the body produce antibodies, amont other things, and therefore helps boost the immune system and can be very helpful in cats with URI. It has also been shown to be effective in fighting the herpes virus which is one of the most common viruses to cause URI. If your cat has been diagnosed with herpes or has recurrent URI's he/she should be on Lysine therapy daily. In Finn's case though, for now, I'd just give it for a couple of weeks.
A kitten under six months should get 125mg/day given twice a day (so 62.5mg in the morning and 62.5mg in the evening). A cat over six months gets 250mg/day.
You can buy L-Lysine in the vitamin section of most well stocked stores. It comes in pills that you crush and mix with a little bit of canned food (just a little to make sure he eats all of it). You can also buy L-Lysine in a palatable gel specifically made for cats. The most common brand names are Enisyl and Viralys. You can get it online for not too much money (just watch out for the shipping charges). I give the gel to my cats and I use a 3cc syringe without a needle to measure it up correctly. Then I either squirt it in their mouths or put it in their food. If you give it directly in his mouth he may start drooling the first time because he's not used to it but after that it should go okay. Some cats actually like it. Most tolerate it okay.

If Finn gets congested or starts coughing it really helps to relief the symptoms by using a hot stream vaporizer with Vicks vaporizer drops in it.

I hope Finn gets better soon without any other complications. If he does get worse I think you know when to take him to the vet. If in doubt call the vet and ask. It never hurst to ask and they are the ones that knows best.

Good luck

PS. We're still waiting for those pictures

You can disagree, but you may want to go over the forum rules - including those stickied in this section.

No advice given on here is meant to replace that of a vet, ever.

Sounds like you have a good plan in place Alison Joy. Speaking to the vet was a smart thing to do. Often people do have trouble getting past the front desk when calling to talk to the vet, sounds like your vet is good about taking calls.

I'd forgotten that you already deal with the herpes, I am interested in what your vet says about starting little Finnegan on the l-lysine. It helps boost the immune system as well as manage the herpes virus (you probably already know that but others might not)

Are you still keeping them separated? I think it's a good idea until he gets his distemper series (which includes protection against the herpes) since the other cats can pass it to him.

And of course you don't want him passing his URI to them.

Keep us updated!

As your vet said, anytime you notice colored nasal or ocular (eye) discharge,a change in appetite, change in playfulness/lethargy, or change in litter box habits, that's when it's time to see the vet for sure.

Since your little guy was just seen by the vet a couple of days ago, I think the call to the vet was a good move since you already suspected an URI or eye infection when you took him in for his initial visit. You made the vet aware of that concern, so the follow up phone call to consult the vet was an excellent move. Another phone call in the morning to assess the situation would also be wise, if there are no changes in him. You're keeping a good eye on him and have a handle on the situation.

If you start the Lysine, know that it takes about a month to really work like it's supposed to. To help with the 'wet sneezes' (Gosh I SO know that sound!), steam him in the bathroom while you're in the shower. Or, you can get the bathroom nice and steamy and then close the door and sit in there with him for about 15 mins. The steam will help break up the congestion and get it moving so it clears out and clears up his little nasal passages.

Thank you to everyone who has posted and offered support and suggestions. I really do appreciate everything .

Finn will be going to the vet in the morning. He is doing much the same as he was earlier today, but there have been little things that have me concerned enough to have him brought in for a vet visit. His URI still appears to be very mild, but I would like the vet to take a look at him and decide what plan of action to take. I don't think we're at a critical point in the least, but it certainly won't hurt to have him looked at, listened to, and checked over. The fact that I do have a wellness plan (a pet insurance of sorts) means that the only cost I'll incur for his visit is any medication prescribed and, really, that just makes it foolish of me not to take him in. This way, even if the vet deems him well enough to forego antibiotics, he will have been seen -- and, God forbid, if he does get worse, there will be some history there to help make treating him easier.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to be present at the vet appointment since my schedule was changed at work and I now need to be there from 6:00am to 11:00am. And, Finn's appointment is for 9:00am. My roommate will be taking him, but I've already made a list of questions I want her to ask as well as a bulleted list of Finnegan's symptoms so nothing goes unsaid. And, I know that if I have any further questions, I just need to make a phone call and the vet will speak with me directly. I'm very lucky to have such a wonderful vet (or, really, group of vets).

Finnegan is still his playful, rambunctious self. In fact, he's getting quite brazen with his antics . His eye looked a little worse this evening in that it was more red and a little squinty, but there is still no discharge. He has no nasal discharge whatsoever, but he is still sneezing those "wet" sneezes. They're very occasional and not grouped together (and even may be less frequent than the last couple of days), but they're still a symptom that has me slightly concerned. His breathing is clear and he doesn't feel warm (meaning that I don't think he's feverish), but he isn't eating quite as much as he has in the last few days. This may be for a number of reasons: (1) he is leveling off now that he has a consistent, well-balanced diet and food source, (2) he didn't like the new flavor of wet food as much as the other, or (3) he is not feeling well. He is eating still and even gets excited about his food at first, but this, too, is a change (however slight) and, thus, I think, at this point, he should be seen. It's the little things that add up, but I'm being observant and proactive so they're not going unnoticed.

As far as L-Lysine, I do give it regularly to my other three adult cats. I've been using the L-Lysine that comes in treat form (Vetri-Lysine). I'm considering switching to a powdered form once I run out of treats, but these have been a God-send since my cats all like the treats and will eat them willingly. I know the dosage for a kitten under 6 months was given in this thread earlier, but I will still double-check with the vet to ensure its safety. But, if she gives me the go-ahead, I'll definitely start giving it to Finn as well.

And, I believe someone asked whether Finn was still in quarantine. He is. I will not introduce him to the other cats until his URI is resolved. After that, I'll bring it up with the vet about when it would be appropriate to begin introductions. But, we're not there quite yet.

I'm grateful that there's nothing urgent this evening, but I am also thankful that the appointment was put aside for us tomorrow morning. I'll update when I can after he's seen at the vet and I'm settled at home after work. Keep the good vibes comin' . Both Finnegan and I appreciate them!

Good-o. Will be watching for updates!

I don't have any special information about Finn's particular ailment, but I wanted to say I know where you are coming from about the dilemma of whether or not to call the vet. You hate to be an alarmist and also, if you are like me, you lack the money to be running to the vet constantly for no reason. But on the other hand, you don't want to make something wait that shouldn't. You are lucky that your vet is honest and will tell you if they think it can wait, rather than always saying "bring him in."

I think we all realize that thoughts and suggestions we receive here are not substitutes for medical advice, but as for me, I think it is helpful getting other cat owners' opinions about even medical questions sometimes.

I had cats growing up, but my parents took care of them - I just played with them, pet them, etc. So when I rescued kittens this summer, I had no clue on kitten care. I am a worrier, so I call up the vet, tell them my issue, and ask what to do - and depending on situation, it'd be a 'wait and see - etc' or bring them in... So in a panic, I would pick up the phone and talk to someone at the vet office for 5 minutes. If I really freak out, I would make an appointment regardless. I'd rather be out some money and be worry-free than worrying all day about the kitties.

Way to go! When Hannah was so sick, I was either at the vet's office or calling every couple of days with a progress report. I felt like I was a new mom!

You're doing a great job with him and you're a very good cat meowmy!

If in doubt, have it checked out. That's my motto. That and "rather safe than sorry". If nothing else the vet visit will make you feel better and as a worried cat mom I know that's worth a great deal.

We are still waiting for pictures of Finn

They're posted in the cat pics forum.