relapse......time to call the vet again

I noticed him making the groany sounds when he rested yesterday, and I wasn't sure if he was going back down or not, but Matt just coughed, and his eye's runny and swollen-looking now. and the congested sound is back again. Hubby won't be happy, but I think he's got to drive me to the vet tomorrow. Last time he went downhill over 3 days, the last day going fast-so I suspect by tomorrow he'll not look so good

He was only just treated for a respiratory infection, and it looks the same as before.......

Could this be herpes virus causing upper respiratory infections?

might be worth checking. I couldn't afford bloodwork last time so we put him straight on antibiotics and hoped for the best. He improved right away but has been finished for 2 weeks now. we brought in a stray last month, and his(kitten's) combo test came back clean...but Matt's had lip sores for over a year now that the last vet didn't worry about? something like blackheads, but they never turn into full acne.

The vet said a relapse is common in a multicat household, so he'll see him in the morning. and I didn't know I was supposed to keep a sick cat isolated, so Matt and kitten slept together the whole time he was sick. Kitten could have given it right back to him

If he has the virus, it's a lifelong thing. However many swear by giving lysine in their food and increasing the dosage during a flare. That might help reduce vet visits! But, if there is a secondary bacterial infection, antibiotics are a must.

You really need to ask your vet to do a culture and sensitivity test to find the underlying infection causing this roller coaster of flare ups.  It sounds like there's a secondary infection going on that is causing these upper respiratory infections.  Also, herpes is a lifelong condition, but there's a lot you can do to help your kitty.  If not already feeding a grain free diet, gradually change Matt to grain free.  Add Lysine to his diet.  During a flare up, give 1000mg (500mg twice a day).  When not having a flare up, give him 500mg.  Working to get him to optimal health is key to keeping herpes kitties healthy. 

Ok, here's what we did:

1 fecal examination, flotation  20.00

1 Depo Medrol 40mg             17.00

14 clavaseptin                       30.00

1 office visit                           30.00

1 milbemax cat                     23.00

1 preop profile/CBC/Heartworm       79.99

1 Varalyse                               29.99

1 Oflaxin eye drops                      10.00

Here's what I remember out of the visit:

Matt has an eye infection, I'm to give him eye drops twice a day in both eyes.

Matt is back on antibiotics, but this time it's different, because of his reaction to omoxocillan

Matt has allergies and should be kept out of the basement

the vet thinks he has heartworm and sent bloodwork to the lab to find out.

He was given a shot for his allergies and a pill for something(heartworm?)

Vet gave me l-Lysene for him(which is helpful, because now I don't have to go looking for it)

.......what's what on my bill? lol ..............I know about the clavaseptim , eye drops, visit and  bloodwork   

I would just like to mention how jealous I am to have a vet with a $30 vet visit. Most places here are $50 - I'm lucky to find $45.

I know...we just switched, this is a brand new vet, state of the art, a nice  man. My last vet was about 79 for an office visit.....and was always pushing on me Science Diet food, which Matt can't eat without being ill. 

1 fecal examination, flotation  20.00

1 Depo Medrol 40mg             17.00

14 clavaseptin                       30.00

1 office visit                           30.00

1 milbemax cat                     23.00

1 preop profile/CBC/Heartworm       79.99

1 Varalyse                               29.99

1 Oflaxin eye drops                      10.00

Click to expand...

The fecal float is to detect parasites.

Depo Medrol is a steroid/anti-inflammatory (to counter effect the supposed allergies) 

Clavaseptin is an antibiotic, which he should not have if he's reacted to amoxicillin!!  See this link:  http://www.vetoquinol.ca/en/index.asp?page=231

Milbemax is a dewormer

Preop profile is the heartworm test

Varalyse ???  Couldn't find anything on Google for that.

Oflaxin is the eye drops.

Call the vet about the antibiotic since your guy's reacted to amoxi previously!

The vet said the it's fine, even with his reaction. I suppose I'll know if it's not, since the reaction involves swelling of the face  hopefully that shot they gave him for  'allergies' will help 

1 Varalyse                               29.99

 I figured out what this is........it's the tube of  l-Lysine he "gave" me  

Except it's spelled wrong on the bill, it's not meant to have an "e" on the end

http://www.1800petmeds.com/Viralys+Oral+Gel+For+Cats-prod11133.html

I wish I'd known he was selling it to me, not giving it, because it's on sale for 16.99 here.......