numerous allergies with my persian bootsie

[anniebee]

My persian fella is nearly 15 years old.  He has spent most of his life at the vets with one thing or another.  Most recently he has been sneezing and had antibiotics covenia long lasting injection.  Cleared it for a couple of weeks, then started wheezing when breathing, back to vets today and i asked for baytril injections which i will give him daily. Vet said it may be asthma.  Next thing vet said will be a nose swab, xray etc., Going to try and avoid all this if possible.  Vet suggested herbal remedy for asthma, i didn't ask what it was as he was drawing up the injections and didn't want to distract him.  Has anyone got any idea what it may be, will ask next time i go back.  I realise Bootsie my cat is getting on, we have had all sorts of treatments for past allergies for feline dermatitis etc. special diets, steroids.  I just want him to enjoy life now without all these treatments and find less severe interventions.  Bless him i hope he continues well into his old age.

 

[sugarcatmom]

Since diet plays a huge role in immune system health, what does Bootsie eat?

Is there a reason you requested the Baytril injections? Just a word of warning, Baytril has been known to cause blindness in cats, and older cats are especially at risk: http://www.pettogethers.com/BAYTRIL.asp

 

[carolina]

Wheezing can also be heart - make sure to have that checked out especially if she has thyroid problems.... Very very important.... Your vet should have done a series of x-rays to check the lungs, and heart - that way he could see if heart problem, asthma, or something else..... That is something I would ask for next time - chest x-rays in different angles.... to make sure her heart and lungs are alright. I would not get out of there with her wheezing and "this might be asthma". At her age, things can get a bit more complicated IMHO.

 

[anniebee]

Thank you so much for your reply.  Bootsie has been on specialised diet etc for his skin allergy but this baytril treatment is for a respiratory infection he has had for past few months.  He has a nasal discharge and more recently wheezy breathing.  He had convenia antibiotic at first and he appeared to improve and less sneezing but after 3 weeks he has started sneezing, nasal discharge remains, and last night he started wheezing.  I took him back to the vet today who did a thorough examination and found his chest to be clear, no temperature, said its probably a virus or asthma.  Said we can try a herbal remedy later.  Said if this doesn't work he will do a nasal swab and xrays.  I don't want to have too many investigations and an anaesthetic to take nasal swabs and xrays etc.,  He is an old fella now and despite his sneezing and wheeziness seems happy in himself and lately has become even more loving towards me as has always been quite aloof.  I love him to bits.

  The reason i wanted to try Baytril is because many years ago it was the only antibiotic that cleared a urine infection, no other antibiotics worked.  As Bootsie will not swallow tablets and numerous vets have tried i am giving him a course of daily injections for 10 days which the vet drew up for me today.  I am now concerned about whether to proceed with this treatment as he is much older than he was when he was treated with baytril for a urine infection about 10 years ago.  Unsure what to do now.  Any advice gratefully received.  Thank you.

 

[anniebee]

thanks for the advice.  I will ask when we go back to be reviewed about his heart etc., but as he has a runny nose still, sneezing and wheezing we are still working on it being a respiratory problem.  The vet listened to his lungs and said they sound fine.

 

[carolina]

Thank you so much for your reply.  Bootsie has been on specialised diet etc for his skin allergy but this baytril treatment is for a respiratory infection he has had for past few months.  He has a nasal discharge and more recently wheezy breathing.  He had convenia antibiotic at first and he appeared to improve and less sneezing but after 3 weeks he has started sneezing, nasal discharge remains, and last night he started wheezing.  I took him back to the vet today who did a thorough examination and found his chest to be clear, no temperature, said its probably a virus or asthma.  Said we can try a herbal remedy later.  Said if this doesn't work he will do a nasal swab and xrays.  I don't want to have too many investigations and an anaesthetic to take nasal swabs and xrays etc.,  He is an old fella now and despite his sneezing and wheeziness seems happy in himself and lately has become even more loving towards me as has always been quite aloof.  I love him to bits.

  The reason i wanted to try Baytril is because many years ago it was the only antibiotic that cleared a urine infection, no other antibiotics worked.  As Bootsie will not swallow tablets and numerous vets have tried i am giving him a course of daily injections for 10 days which the vet drew up for me today.  I am now concerned about whether to proceed with this treatment as he is much older than he was when he was treated with baytril for a urine infection about 10 years ago.  Unsure what to do now.  Any advice gratefully received.  Thank you.

If the wheezing gets worst, or if he starts coughing, take him in for those x-rays immediately - do not wait for him to get better, ok? Just don't assume anything....

 

[sugarcatmom]

What is the diet? What was Bootsie eating before when he had skin allergies?

Also, what type of litter do you use? Some of the clay or silica litters (especially if they're scented) can really do a number on a cat's respiratory system, exponentially so for Persians. Is the litter box covered or uncovered?

If asthma is suspected, perhaps using an inhaled asthma medication would help Bootsie (without all the side effects of injected or oral steroids). Here's some more info on asthma for you to check out: http://www.fritzthebrave.com/

 

[sugarcatmom]

Forgot to mention, you could also give some L-lysine (250-500mg 2x/day) mixed into some wet food in case it's the herpes virus that Bootsie is dealing with.

http://holisticat.com/uri.html