URI-Stuffiness not getting better

Enzo has had a URI for about 3 weeks. He's recovered with the exception of his stuffiness. He's currently on doxycycline for 20 days but I feel like it should be clearing up by now. Can anyone give me an idea as to whether this is normal and at what point should I ask the vet about a different medication? Thanks so much.

Ty3535 said:

Enzo has had a URI for about 3 weeks. He's recovered with the exception of his stuffiness. He's currently on doxycycline for 20 days but I feel like it should be clearing up by now. Can anyone give me an idea as to whether this is normal and at what point should I ask the vet about a different medication? Thanks so much.

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3 weeks is about 1 week longer than normal, i would ask your vet now.

I agree. I would call the vet and ask. What other symptoms did Enzo have that did clear? The vet may want to see him again and listen to his breathing too. Let us know how he's doing!

Anne said:

I agree. I would call the vet and ask. What other symptoms did Enzo have that did clear? The vet may want to see him again and listen to his breathing too. Let us know how he's doing!

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Well he wasn't eating on his own and luckily that changed. We saw the vet yesterday and she said the stuffiness can linger and wasn't concerned. He actually seems like he may be getting better, fingers crossed!

I am glad you took him back for a check-up to make sure he did not need any more medicine.  One thing that has helped me with URI's with my cats is to create a steam room in my bathroom.  I take the cat in the bathroom and turn the shower on hot and just sit on the floor with my cat to make sure they actually stay away from the hot water.  I was doing this daily for 15-20  minutes 2-3 times a day. It helped get the congestion to break up faster and it seemed to make the cats more comfortable. One of my cats hates being picked up and fought me carrying him into the bathroom the first time. After that he would sit and the bathroom door meowing at me to take him in the steam room.  This went on for a week until he felt better. All four of my cat's have had this issue at some point and this was a big help.  My oldest cat Starbuck caught a nasty URI last year.  She was coughing and sneezing really bad when I got home from work and I had no transportation to get her to the vet for a few hours.  I called and made a vet appointment for later that evening.  The receptionist at the vet's office could hear how bad she sounded over the phone and the vet on duty got on the phone to talk to me even though this was my first contact with this place.  She immediately advised me to take Starbuck into the steam room.  I did so and in about 20 minutes she had stopped coughing and sounded much better.  I called the vet and let them know but I still took her in and they gave her medicine.  One of my other cats had a URI and she caught it. The vet treated her for it even though most of the symptom's were gone by the time I got to the office. 

Since he was seen by the vet last night, and assuming he's not got worse in any way since then, I would give it a few more days. I think @catlover73  had a great idea with the steam room. I don't know if it will make Enzo heal more quickly but I think it may make him more comfortable at least, so worth trying, IMO.

Anne said:

Since he was seen by the vet last night, and assuming he's not got worse in any way since then, I would give it a few more days. I think @catlover73
 had a great idea with the steam room. I don't know if it will make Enzo heal more quickly but I think it may make him more comfortable at least, so worth trying, IMO.

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I've actually tried the steam room when the URI first started and it didn't help much. I'll give it another try and see if I have better luck. He doesn't seem as stuffy today, so I'm hoping he's recovering!

Hi Enzo's Mom.I am so glad your boy is eating now.You must be so relieved.Good Job!!!Are you continuing with the lysine or did you stop it once the tube was out? If not I would recommend continuing it.Itwill not hurt him .Or at least talk to your vet about it.lysine is excellent IMO & have had it here for yrs.The steaming bathroom another great idea.!!Hugs to Enzo...

MomofMaxwell said:

Hi Enzo's Mom.I am so glad your boy is eating now.You must be so relieved.Good Job!!!Are you continuing with the lysine or did you stop it once the tube was out? If not I would recommend continuing it.Itwill not hurt him .Or at least talk to your vet about it.lysine is excellent IMO & have had it here for yrs.The steaming bathroom another great idea.!!Hugs to Enzo...

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I actually did stop the lysine as it was so easy to give through the tube and I'm not sure if it has any taste? Are there benefits to using it other than those for URI's?

HI Enzo's Mom.I assumed or I think you had posted you stopped the lysine.I assumed the URI was gone.I would still continue it.It is used for herpes virus and immune suppression in cats.Sneezing,runny nose & eyes.It is excellent & will not hurt your boy at all.If this URI is still hanging around you may want to call your vet as there are other uri like Rhinitis,Sinusitis & rhinusinus.You can google all them for symptomology.I used the L-lysine tube (gel form) and always had it here for my kitts.Not daily dosing but if they had symptoms Enzo has i sure would.Until the URI is gone.Run it by your vet.Hus C.