Butters Update

Hi all. I just thought I'd update about Butters.

We finished the antibiotic about a week ago. We've been on the Lysine for about 2 weeks now. And the Feliway has been plugged in for about a week, although it occured to me that this was silly, since he can't smell (it really hasn't made any difference).

I'm sad to report that he's starting to get worse again. As with the previous two antibiotics, once we stopped this one, his symptoms returned. He's starting the coughing, the sneezing, and the stuffy nose all over again.

I'm trying to be patient and let the Lysine work, but it's so hard to watch him suffer. I don't understand why the antibiotics all appear to work, but then as soon as he stops the treatment, he gets worse again. I'm trying to give it another two weeks, but if he gets much worse, I'm going to have to call the vet (even though there's not really anything that can be done). I just feel so uncomfortable watching him get worse without seeing a vet.

I did start him on the Bene-Bac today...although I'm not sure if that will really have any effect on this if it's FHV.

In other news, he's gone downstairs a few times with us, and had some short interactions with both of the other cats. The big boy doesn't seem to care one way or the other, and let him sleep in the window perch with him for a while, but Rosalita doesn't enjoy him. There were no blow-outs...and we just basically had him sleep on the couch while we watched TV with all of the cats in the room. Little doses.

The anti-bios not working could be its the wrong medication(s). Something else may be going on.. since I am not a vet I can't tell you. Could he be having allergies of some sort????

I can't remember. Did you have any kind of culture and sensitivity test done on any discharge? If not, I would encourage you to do so. This will tell you exactly what you're dealing with (viral, fungal, bacterial) and exactly which medications will effectively treat the infection.

I went through a year of what you're going through (meds, get better, get worse, go back to the vet, more meds....) and it's frustrating and exhausting. Went to a second vet, she did the culture and sensitivity test, got the correct diagnosis and medication and Hannah was cleared up in 6-8 weeks. She felt so much better in just 2 weeks, but after the full course of meds she was like a different kitty!

I'm so sorry Butters is not doing better, how frustration for you.

I also recommend a culture to find out what you're dealing with.

Benebac is a probiotic, and helps with intestinal flora, will not affect Upper Respiratory symptoms in any way.

Feliway is to help reduce stress, and the effects can be very subtle, though it's true that there are cats it may have no effects on.

Thanks for the replies. The Bene-Bac is basically to try to replenish the good bacteria that all the antibiotics knocked out...and I really thought I was seeing improvement with the Lysine, but I'm not sure that I am now. He's hacking and sneezing like the first day we had him.

He's also having very loose stools, which I thought was because of the antibiotics, but he's been off of them for a week now, so shouldn't that be cleared up?

He's still eating like a champ, and he seems happy, and he purrs for me, but he also does seem a little skinnier. For a while, his belly was plumping out, and we were happy, because was very skinny when he came to us...and now he's going back down to that. He's eating well, though, and he's been wormed. I'm hoping that's just me being paranoid.

I'm sorry to bother all of you. This is a very hard week for me -- I'm working 12 hours every day (I just got home, and it's 4:40am -- I typically get home around midnight), running 5 miles or doing 90 minutes of weights a day, trying to get the house ready and menu planned for Easter guests, and I have a 5K to run AND a wedding reception to attend on Saturday, on about 5 hours of sleep.

I'm trying to decide when to call the vet, I guess. How long do I let him sneeze and cough before I decide the Lysine just isn't working, and he needs further testing? She wanted to do the test, which would take a week to come back, and cost $200 (not an issue -- just a fact, which is why she didn't do it in the first place), to determine whether or not it IS FHV. On one hand, I can wait and see if the Lysine is working, but on the other, it's going to take a whole week to see the results from the blood test (or whatever kind it is), so should we just go ahead? I don't want to be a paranoid pet owner, but he's just so small, and he's captured our hearts.

I can't really think of anything else that it CAN be, other than FHV, which is why I'm hesitant.

It CAN be something other than FHV -which is rhinotracheitis.

This is from Petplace.com:
Several organisms, both bacteria and virus, can cause the infection. The two primary viruses involved are feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV) and feline calicivirus (FCV). Feline chlamydia, a bacterial infection, can also result in upper respiratory tract infections. Other organisms include Bordetella bronchiseptica, feline reovirus, cowpox virus and mycoplasma.

You're not bothering us!

Yes, I absolutely vote for bringing him back and having the culture done, now.

Hi there... I am sorry you are going through this...
Don't spend your money on a test for FHV only - ask your vet for a complete URI panel, that will test for everything. The Lysine will not hurt, and you can continue it, it will help with his immunesystem... But you want to find what bacteria or Virus you are dealing with to use the correct antibiotic, or line of treatment in case of a virus. Until then you are out of luck.

Here is what they are going to test for, as Addie previously mentioned, via culture and PCR, but culture is better (some are tested by PCR, like Chlamydia)

1. Feline Herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1 - probably the most common)
1. Feline Calicivirus (FCV - perhaps not as common as herpes, but potentially more severe)
2. Chlamydophila felis (Bacteria)

3. Mycoplasma spp. (Bacteria)

4. Bordetella bronchiseptica (Bacteria)


Good luck!

Thanks for keeping us updated on Butters! I agree, you should have the PCR done to find out exactly what's going on here. My guess is that your vet didn't do the test already because FHV (herpes) would be the most common & obvious cause for his problems. However, I know two people that have had ongoing issues similar to what you're going through with Butters - they were treating for FHV and the cats would start to show improvements on antibiotics but never fully got well and were chronically sick with URI. In both of these cases, after the owners finally had a PCR done, Chlamydia was found to be the culprit, not herpes. They finally had an answer and were able to treat and get those kitties on the road to recovery!

Either way, like Carolina said, I wouldn't stop the Lysine. It's a great immune booster, FHV or not. I'm glad to hear he's still in good spirits, despite not feeling well. Keep up the good work. I'm confident Butters is in good hands with you.

Eventho he's eating like a horse, the diarrhea may be causing him to lose weight, much like a human. Make sure he gets enough fluids in him so he doesn't get dehydrated.

I say, do the culture and sensitivity test and have the Real PCR URD test done, too.

Ok. I copied and pasted exactly what you guys wanted me to ask for (the full panel, culture, etc) into my Appointment Request for the vet. They have this great thing called Pet Portal (not sure if any of your vets use it). I used it to request an appointment just now. I wrote a NOVEL in the message with ATTN: to the doctor's name. So hopefully they will get back to me tomorrow or Saturday at some point. I requested either Monday, Wednesday or next Saturday (the only days I have available), so hopefully he can get in on Monday.

I'm sorry for being so spastic about this -- I've just NEVER had a sick cat. And he just seems so small...I'm somewhat desperate to protect him, it seems like. I'm sure this is not life-threatening (hopefully not), but at the same time, I just want it solved quickly so he can get better.

My vet uses Pet Portal, but I've never used it to request anything. I just pick up the phone and call. Call me old fashioned!

I'd owned Callie for about 5 years and she'd never been sick a day in her life with me. I adopted Hannah and she was sick for the first year I had her! It will get better, just remember to breathe!

Originally Posted by stephanietx

My vet uses Pet Portal, but I've never used it to request anything. I just pick up the phone and call. Call me old fashioned!

I'd owned Callie for about 5 years and she'd never been sick a day in her life with me. I adopted Hannah and she was sick for the first year I had her! It will get better, just remember to breathe!

Click to expand...

Thanks everyone for their kind words! Butters is going to the vet tomorrow to have the URI panel done at the suggestion of the vet (and you guys!). It will take a week to come back (I think), and it will be a little pricey, but I can't stand not knowing. It will be worth it.

In other news, he seems to be improving...still sneezing...coughing just a bit (just sounds like he has a hairball once a day or so, which my other cat used to do, so maybe it IS just a hairball -- he seems to shed much more than my other two, and he's quite the groomer). I have one more dose of the Bene-Bac to hopefully help with his tummy issues (which I also ran past the vet in the email, but I'll bring up tomorrow). I'm not sure if those are getting better or worse, really, because he now has full run of the house.

We were doing the slow intros for a while, and things were slowly progressing (with Domino, anyway). I came home from work one night to see all three cats playing with my boyfriend! There have been no more big fights, just little squabbles when he jumps on the other cats.

He has no boundaries! He doesn't get that it's Bad Idea Jeans to pounce on Domino, who is more than twice his size. Luckily, Domino has turned out to be one of the kindest, most patient and gentle cats I've ever had. He gives a startled "wah?" and then walks away. There's no fights!

I'm slightly worried about Rosalita...she hisses and growls at him, but there are no fights anymore like the first time, so I think we're slowly progressing. And they ate next to each other last night, and she let him on the bed this afternoon. I hope she comes around...her relationship with Domino is adorable, and I hope to have that with all three of them. I don't want him to be a sad sack 3rd wheel!

I will let everyone know how he does a the vet tomorrow!

Originally Posted by Staceyloobug

Ok. I copied and pasted exactly what you guys wanted me to ask for (the full panel, culture, etc) into my Appointment Request for the vet. They have this great thing called Pet Portal (not sure if any of your vets use it). I used it to request an appointment just now. I wrote a NOVEL in the message with ATTN: to the doctor's name. So hopefully they will get back to me tomorrow or Saturday at some point. I requested either Monday, Wednesday or next Saturday (the only days I have available), so hopefully he can get in on Monday.

I'm sorry for being so spastic about this -- I've just NEVER had a sick cat. And he just seems so small...I'm somewhat desperate to protect him, it seems like. I'm sure this is not life-threatening (hopefully not), but at the same time, I just want it solved quickly so he can get better.

Click to expand...

We have e pet records. I love it for routine stuff, scheduling routine appointments (other than urgents of course), ordering food or medication refills, it's terrific, and the staff answer back right away.

The phone system at my vet is ....well they have had a lot of problems with it. They just got a new system, so don't know if it will be any better, but I love having epetrecords, so much faster than calling calling calling, (busy signal) then finally getting through and being put on hold.

Putting everything in like that was a good idea, now your vet has time to prepare answers for you.

My vet has voice mail also, and if I have a list of questions, I can call and leave them on her voice mail, and she calls me back when she has the answers.

be sure to let us know how the vet visit goes.

Buttters!

Originally Posted by otto

We have e pet records. I love it for routine stuff, scheduling routine appointments (other than urgents of course), ordering food or medication refills, it's terrific, and the staff answer back right away.

The phone system at my vet is ....well they have had a lot of problems with it. They just got a new system, so don't know if it will be any better, but I love having epetrecords, so much faster than calling calling calling, (busy signal) then finally getting through and being put on hold.

Putting everything in like that was a good idea, now your vet has time to prepare answers for you.

My vet has voice mail also, and if I have a list of questions, I can call and leave them on her voice mail, and she calls me back when she has the answers.

be sure to let us know how the vet visit goes.

Buttters!

Click to expand...

Thanks Otto! It wasn't a quick response (I sent in the request late at night on Thursday, and I didn't hear back until Monday Morning), but since this wasn't really urgeant, and more of just a "I wonder if maybe you would like to see Butters again?" thing, it worked well for me. Hopefully she will have my original email to her for reference. I will let you all know how it goes tomorrow!

That's how my vet likes to use PetPortal too - anything acute or urgent, you're supposed to call - but for the routine check up requests, or just to run something by the vet that's not time-critical, PetPortal does seem to work really well.

If you can, I'd suggest taking a hard copy of your note with you, just in case the vet doesn't have it handy - but, I bet they appreciated having your notes in front of them to review at leisure, rather than when kitty is urgently trying to get you to take him home!

Originally Posted by darlili

That's how my vet likes to use PetPortal too - anything acute or urgent, you're supposed to call - but for the routine check up requests, or just to run something by the vet that's not time-critical, PetPortal does seem to work really well.

If you can, I'd suggest taking a hard copy of your note with you, just in case the vet doesn't have it handy - but, I bet they appreciated having your notes in front of them to review at leisure, rather than when kitty is urgently trying to get you to take him home!

Click to expand...

Yeah, i just tried to see if I could get a copy of what I wrote, but I can't find that option in Pet Portal. FAIL.

Hi all!

Just thought I'd update you on our vet visit.

Little Butters did very well in the car on the way. He wore his harness/collar/leash combo. When we got there, he walked around on his leash, and visited some of the dogs in the waiting room. He has NO fear!

The vet said his ears are a little inflamed, and gave me Tresaderm for that. She said he doesn't have mites anymore (I was concerned about this, because he keeps shaking his head and scratching at his ears). She listened to his heart, but had a hard time, because he was purring so loudly .

She did the complete URI panel, and we should know by the middle of next week. I said she could call or email, either way. She said she is fairly certain that it's FHV, but the test will confirm it. So we're continuing with Lysine.

He gained almost a whole pound in the past month! This is good news, because he wasn't eating, and he was so very thin when he came to us. He's eating and playing and generally being a little terror to the other two cats.

I am very hopeful, and I'm so proud of how well-behaved he was. When we walked up the sidewalk to the house on his leash, the other two cats were both looking out the screen door at us like "WHAT DID THEY SAY? WHAT HAPPENED?"

Hooray! So glad the visit went well and that Butters has gained weight and was a polite young man to the doggies. Keep us posted on the results!