New Kitty Cough/Gag HELP

We adopted a 13 week old kitten 2 weeks ago (he's 15 weeks now) from a local shelter. Since then he has been neutered, given up to date shots, drops for his "ear infections", and a pill for fleas, and a pill for worms (all kinds of worms). He seemed great until the first vet visit where he got the flea pill and ear drops. He started some gagging that night. The next day he got shots and had a BAD reaction and ended up getting a cortisone shot to get over that. He was dewormed yesterday and since then the coughing and gaggin has just gotten worse though the vomitting stopped after the cortisone shot. What is going on? The vet thinks it might just because of the worms.

Jenn

Sounds like the little guy has been through a lot in two weeks.. I'm surprised the vet didn't wait until the worms cleared up to neuter him but that may be beside the point.. It's probably a reaction to all the meds going through his system causing nausea. If it doesn't stop by tommorow I would call your vet. I would also be very concerned if he isn't eating or drinking, cause you don't want him to get dehydrated. Don't be afraid to bring him in or call if you are worried. Also is he gagging or coughing..there's a difference. If his nose is stuffy or he is coughing let your vet now..

Well, actually he does both. The cough sounds like he's trying to hack up a hairball or something. Then I can hear his tummy gurgle and he'll gag (sounds like reflux or something)and he'll look like he's going to vomit. He doesn't have a runny nose or eyes (he was treated for that in the shelter at 8 weeks old). He also apparently was never tested or treated for worms in the shelter and it was the shelter's vet that neutered him. Since getting the cortisone shot Friday he stopped vomitting and started eating and drinking again. So things have been getting better (just not the cough & gag). It probably is the worms upsetting his tummy and making him cough. I will call the vet tomorrow if it's still going on. How long does it take "worm meds" to make the cat feel better?

Jenn

jenn, it depends on the worms. If he has roundworms he may be coughing and hacking because he is trying to get them up. But I would take him back to the vet, based on his age, and the symptoms. Play it safe, because it doesn't sound very normal for worming medicine. They generally get lethargic or get digestive upset after being wormed. He may have a large load of worms in him and they could be obstructing him. Did the vet say what type of worms they were? Are there sores on his nose or in his mouth?

he for sure has roundworms. the vet says they treated him for all the kinds of worms just in case he has something else too. he doesn't seem to have any sores. it seems weird to me (maybe its coincidence) that the night he started this was the same night he had the "flea" pill given to him. has anyone ever had any problems with those?