I'm at the end of my rope. My beloved Tootsie (she's loves sleeping on my feet since I rescued out of an abandoned house in midwinter at 5 weeks old) who's seen me through the deaths of my brother and both parents in the last three years, is 70 % better, but can't seem to shake the rest. I've given her everything the Vet has prescribed but it won't go away. 

Let me give you her recent medical history. About a year ago she was down from 12 to 8 lbs so.brought her to her old high dollar Vet just before I moved and and after blood work they found her thyroid was low so started her on Methimazole and she started gaining weight again. After I moved money was tight so found a discount but still good Vet.

About 3-4 months ago she started sneezing, chuffing, shaking her head, had a watery right eye and mucous discharge out of her right nostril, but worst for me to witness was her heaving and retching continuously for up to a full minute. Vet said she had lung infection, URI, and gave her antibiotic (Clindamycin) liquid to squirt down her throat, antibiotics eye drops (Tobramycin) and a steroid (Prednisone)..It took three trips to get all that figured out though. 

She got 50% better but still had a lighter version of most of the same symptoms. Except the right nostril discharge turned bloody. On the 4th trip to the vet they discovered she had a badly infected tooth on the right side which was causing it and pulled it. Gave me more (Clindamycin) and an antibiotic (Neomycin) which I was supposed to put 3 drops into the right nostril. The problem is it's an ointment, how do you get an ointment into the back of a cats nose, and if you can, how do you know when you've hit 3 drops? Online it says don't give them more of it than prescribed.

When I called and asked for a different type of script for her nose, they said, well you can bring her to our office twice a day and we can give it to her. That's ridiculous, who has time, and she hates riding in the car and the Vets office. She's been through so much, but it breaks my heart when she displays above symptoms. Plus, I've been sick lately and just got out of hospital myself 10 days ago.

Over the last two days she's barely gets off my bed, is lethargic, had less appetite, doesn't play, just is off. I gave her the last dose of all the meds today. I'm hoping once they're out of her system that will improve, but there's still the URI????

I'm just exhausted and so is Tootsie. She's been through so much already. I'll find a new vet after this, but they haven't charged me for the last two visits since I'm already over $1,400.00 with them.

Any advise or thoughts would be greatly appreciated? 

Andy

I'm sorry that you're going through this with your girl. My only suggestion would be a second opinion.  The bloody nose concerns me and why would they give you an ointment to put in her nose??? 

Stephanietx, yes, the ointment makes it impossible to administer it effectively. Even when I've tried it sits at the opening of her nostril and she just chuffs it out so it never makes back up in where it's needed go to cure the infection. As I said I've been sick myself which has effected my memory a bit, and after I wrote the above forum question I found finished scripts for two other antibiotics they've had me try over the past 3 months with little improvement to the URI, though they did clear up her lungs. This morning she was sneezing up a storm and went right back upstairs to bed 3 minutes after we got up (she sleeps with me) and she had her morning treats, which she normally never does. I just can't afford to bring her to a new vet. I'm really upset.

Thanks,

Andy

I have been down this very frustrating road with a cat with a URI.  At first, antibiotics worked, then the interval between antibiotics became shorter; first months, then only weeks.  I had the discharge cultured, then used targeted antibiotic.  At conclusion of antibiotic, URI returned.  Next was nasal saline flush, X-rays, and nasal scope.  There was no polyps or obstructions--absolutely nothing to indicate the insidious nature of the problem.  A short time later, she stopped eating which led to hospitalization and biopsy.  It showed nasal small cell lymphoma.  I lost her shortly thereafter.

Knowing what I know now, I would be aggressive in getting a proper diagnosis.  I would not fool around anymore with antibiotics, ointments or whatever.  Something is going on...I would be scared of the bloody nose...and my cat didn't even have that!  I would also be concerned over the lethargy and decrease in appetite.  See if you can find a good Internal Medicine specialist who can get to the bottom of this.  Yes, it will cost...but so will the alternative.

babiesmom5, sorry to hear that happened to you and your kitty. Thanks for the feedback. Scary prospect. They said bloody discharge was due to infected tooth and it has gone away. The problem is I simply don't have the money to do everything medically possible that might, or might not help Tootsie. So badly wish I did. She means everything to me. I'm going to get a new, more easily dispensable script for her URI and see if that does it. Crossed fingers, but sadly not optimistic. She does seem to be a little more herself today though.

I agree with the two previous posters.  As to finding, "a new vet after this," my personal opinion would be that a new vet should be at the very top of the "to do" list.

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I agree. New vet. I called their office today and asked the vet to call me back, and that I wanted a more dispensable nasal antibiotic. The doc had a tech call me back who said Tootsie has a chronic case of URTI and so will probably never fully get rid of it?? I did more research on-line which said if it's caused by a virus, antibiotics won't help anyway.  I'm at a loss. She had a little more energy today and I was able to get her to eat a tiny bit by putting a special chicken broth I got at Petco over her treats, but haven't seen her drink any liquids beyond that. Hope tomorrow will be even better. 

I think you meant her thyroid was high, not low, because hypOthyrodism is rare in cats, while hypERthyrodism is very common. 

First and most important, what is her T4 now and is it controlled? It's VERY important that you have her on the right dose of medication. A high T4 causes absolute havoc on their bodies and their immune system and could without a doubt be why she's still having a reoccurring URI.