Help Desperately Needed

Hi There,

I would really appreciate any help anyone out there can give me.
Boo (11yr old mog) has been suffering chronic breathing difficulties and 'snuffles' for nearly 6 months now, and I don't know what else to do.
She is a regular visitor to the vet, and at first we thought it was asthma, and then various other things (and lots of treatments tried and tested). Then we discovered it wasn't asthma at all, it was her nose. Some kind of sinusitis which means that it's really hard to breathe through her nose, and she doesn't ever mouth-breath, so she just suffers instead (trying to breath through her nose only). She really pushes and pulls the air in and out, it's so sad.

Anyway, she has had two traumatic nose flushes under general, and lots of heated bathrooms with Olbas/Eucalyptus oils which does make her nose run with thick mucus. Recently the mucus has had blood in it, and today she has had a nosebleed (not too heavy).

She's on prednisilone steroids (and has just finished a long course of anti-biotics).

We probably will take her back to the vets again tomorrow or Tuesday because it's so difficult to watch her like this. However, I have spoken to the vet so much about this all year, and he seems to think there's very little left to do.

I'm desperate to find a cure for her - or at least something that'll make life easier for her. Does anyone have any ideas whatsoever, alternative medicines, or anything that might help?

Thank you so much for reading this.

Love Jen x (And Boo)

I don't know as anyone can offer an cure, but there are several things you can try. Sounds like a bacterial infection might be camped out in her system- unless she is an extreme-faced persian. those are notorious for getting sinus infections.

I would look into ONE of the following

Feline Transfer Factor- a powder that will help bump up her immune system

BenoBac- beneficial bacteria that you can add to the food to help the cat fight off infections

Put her on bottled water only you would be surprised what lurks in city water sometimes.

GSE- Grapefruit Seed Extract- buy the liquid and start dropping a few drops in her water and her food every day

Watch the steriod use, don't take her suddenly off the prednisone you will have to wean her off when the vet gives the okay.

I would also invest in a baby vaporizer and run it near her bed at night to help her breathe.

I wish I had something helpful to contribute. I have given Lysine to my cats to help boost the immune system on the recommendation of my vet. Not entirely sure it helped, but it didn't hurt. Buy the capsules, twist them apart and sprinkly half the powder on a little bit on wet food or tuna juice. Good luck. I hate it when they don't feel good.

I was really desperate for responses - so I really appreciate this. I will do everything you advise me to do straight away. We have bottled water, and I will change her bowls.
You say to look into one of the following - but obviously I'm tempted to do everything!
So - I'll start with the water and maybe the baby vapouriser and see if there's any change at all, and add the other suggestions through the week.

I will be very careful with the steroids. She's been on them some time and I worry for her as they don't seem to be making a whole lot of difference. I wish I could meet a mog who's been through this and survived, and get that mog to come and talk with Boo!

Thank you so much for taking the time and care to write back - and so quickly. Massively appreciated by us all

Love jen + boo

I also wish that I had some advise I could contribute but all I can offer is my thoughts to both you & Boo. May some relief come to Boo in the near future

Originally Posted by 3 Boy Cats

I wish I had something helpful to contribute. I have given Lysine to my cats to help boost the immune system on the recommendation of my vet. Not entirely sure it helped, but it didn't hurt. Buy the capsules, twist them apart and sprinkly half the powder on a little bit on wet food or tuna juice. Good luck. I hate it when they don't feel good.

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Thank you for this. I will buy it and sprinkle away - it certainly can't hurt. Anything that might do some good somehow is welcome. Thanks for taking the time to post for me and Boo
xx

Oh dear that sounds unpleasant for Boo and worrisome for you. Definitely tryout the supplement(s) recommended and I hope it helps soon. I will be thinking of you and wishing you and Boo luck with a full recovery.

Originally Posted by huggles

I also wish that I had some advise I could contribute but all I can offer is my thoughts to both you & Boo. May some relief come to Boo in the near future

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Thank you huggles,

I will give Boo cuddles from you and a get-better-kiss on her furry ears.
Let's just hope she gets better. And soon!
xxxx

Originally Posted by Forget-Me-Not

Oh dear that sounds unpleasant for Boo and worrisome for you. Definitely tryout the supplement(s) recommended and I hope it helps soon. I will be thinking of you and wishing you and Boo luck with a full recovery.

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Thank you Forget-Me-Not,
Your thoughts are very much appreciated :-)
I pray that Boo gets through this x

Have they done a culture and sensitivity on the mucus? If they know exactly what microbe is causing everything, they can target it specifically with the right drug. It's well worth it.

As someone suggested get the cat off steroids. They only suppress the immune system and aren't helping anyway. I would not use Eucalyptus oils on a cat. First essential oils are poisonous to cats and Eucalyptus is a particularly bad one for cats. Good for people doesn't mean good for cats. Has your cat been getting regular vaccinations and rabies shots? Does she go outside? If not, stop vaccinating completely and no more rabies. Many of the problems our cats develope are caused by the vets vaccinating too often, and in my opinion at all. Let us know how she's doing, I will check my notes and see what else I can come up with. All my best.

I don't have any specific suggestions to make, but have you considered taking your cat to a holistic vet or one who specialises in complementary veterinary medicine?

Great suggestion, I forgot to include that in my post.