My cat has severe cough and diarrhea. Why isn't his medicine working?

Unfortunately no, there are not. Many human medications, especially OTC ones, can be toxic to cats and fatal if given. It's true that Buddha could be coughing because of a respiratory infection, but it could also be due to allergies or something more serious such as heart disease. I would have him seen by a vet. The vet can diagnose what is causing his cough, and can prescribe safe medications for him. I can also give you some things at home that may help him, and are safe to use in conjunction with medications from the vet. First, you can try starting him on an L-lysine supplement - this is an amino acid that has been shown to help the immune system fight off respiratory infections more effectively. Enisyl and Viralys are both good brands, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription - just follow the dosing instructions on the label based on your cat's weight. If he's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing him into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections. Good luck, I hope this helps!

No there is not. You will want to have the fecal done to confirm the infection, so that your vet can prescribe an antibiotic as needed, or other treatment options if an infection isn't the cause. Just giving a general antibiotic may not target what is wrong, or may not be the right antibiotic for the specific type of infection.

I can't recommend doing this, it's illegal for me to do that without seeing Oscar in person first. I never recommend giving one animal another animal's medication. Plus, it may not be the correct treatment for his cough. He does have to see a vet, and if paying for a vet is an issue, I can put some links below to financial resources that may help. Best of luck. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html?credit=web http://canada.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/pet-financing-options-1264/ http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/

It could be a respiratory infection. Unfortunately in cats, respiratory infections are typically called by a virus, which means antibiotics won't work. There are few things you can try at home for Esther. First, you can try starting her on an L-lysine supplement - this is an amino acid that has been shown to help the immune system fight off respiratory infections more effectively. Enisyl and Viralys are both good brands, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription - just follow the dosing instructions on the label based on your cat's weight. If she's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing her into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections.

Lungworms and lung flukes can be associated with both coughing and diarrhea in cats. Essentially, once ingested, the worms/flukes make their way to the lungs where they settle, causing the animal to cough. The eggs are coughed up and swallowed passing through the intestines. These diseases are easily treated with anti-parasitic medications that your veterinarian can prescribe. If the diarrhea and coughing are not associated, the coughing could be due to asthma, pneumonia/bronchitis or even heart or heartworm disease. You should take Skylar to your veterinarian right away for a full work up of these clinical signs.

Hi and thank you for using Petcoach. Unfortunately, there can be many possible reasons for a cat having a chronic cough, just as there are in people. Parasites can cause coughing in some cases, so it may be worth getting a broad spectrum dewormer and treating Jarbou. Other causes for coughing can be viral infection (feline upper respiratory complex), bacterial infection, foreign body or asthama/allergies/bronchitis. There really is no good way to know the difference without a vet exam and probably x-rays. Keep watch on his overall health and make sure that he continues to thrive, is on a good quality diet and deworming is a good start. Make sure there is no smoke, oils or other fumes present in his area. Here are some articles for more info. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1596 http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=665

I am so sorry Ginger is not feeling well. It sounds like Ginger is in serious condition and needs to see a vet as soon as you can get him there. There are no over the counter medications that are safe give cats that are as sick as Ginger. There are lots of medical problems than can cause a cat to stop eating and have vomiting and diarrhea, and most of them a pretty serious. Some examples are gastrointestinal infection, toxins, pancreatitis, foreign body, kidney issues, liver issues, infectious viruses, etc. He needs to see a doctor to get a diagnosis and get started on medications prescribed by a veterinarian. I hope he feels better!