Cat dehydrated, breathing heavy, no vet. Can I give antibiotics?

If your cat is breathing with an increased respiratory effort while on IV fluids, she is likely accumulating extra fluid in her lungs. Not urinating for 5 hours while on IV fluids is not always a reason for concern depending on the level of dehydration at the start of fluid therapy. Since your cat is receiving fluids intravenously through an intravenous catheter, I assume that she is being hospitalized in a veterinary hospital. Her vet should be able to examine her and determine if her fluid rate needs to be decreased and if she needs to receive diuretics if she is fluid overloaded. If for some reason she is not in a hospital setting, she needs to be taken to an ER immediately.

I think the cat is sick to be causing the dehydration, so I don't think simply rehydrating it will be the answer. It could have a bacterial or viral infection, kidney failure, etc. I would recommend having the cat examined by a vet to determine what is going on to be causing the intense nausea.

Poor Meicho! It sounds like he is having significant difficulty breathing and there is likely a serious underlying health problem. I would recommend that he is seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible as respiratory problems can get much worse very quickly. There is nothing that you can give at home that might help. Please seek a veterinarian as soon as possible as there could be a problem with Meicho's heart, lungs or circulatory system.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Kitty. Encourage her to drink as much water as possible. You can syringe her small amounts (0.25cc) at a time. You can also turn the shower to hot and allow the steam to build up in the bathroom. Then place her in the room to breathe the humid air. This will help lessen any congestion she may be experiencing. If she is not recovering well, then she will need to see her veterinarian for fluid therapy. Good luck!

Hello, There is nothing over the counter I would recommend giving to a feral animal. A lot of respiratory disease in cats is viral based, but even with secondary infections, dosing the antibiotics correctly in an outdoor cat is very difficult and would likely result in antibiotic resistance and a worse infection. There are long acting injectable antibiotics, but Oreo would need to be able to be trapped or handled to be assessed by a vet for the need for antibiotics and to receive the injection. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It sounds like she has an upper respiratory infection causing the congestion. Since she is breathing heavy and is so young, it would be a good idea to have a vet examine her to determine if treatment is needed. She may need an antibiotic to help treat. The diarrhea could be caused by a parasite and your vet could test a stool sample to determine the cause. There isn't really much you can do at home besides supportive care with food, water, and keeping her warm. You could also put a humidifier in a room with her or place her in the bathroom while you shower so the steam can help clear her nasal passages.

Hello. I am so sorry that Dito is unwell. It is a little early to think the antibiotics are not helping, & usually, we give them 72 hours to see if they kick in. But it may also mean that he may need additional care. I would recommend speaking with your vet, especially if chest x-rays were not done. Dito may benefit from a little steroid or a bronchodilator medication to help open the airways. He may need several hours or a day or so in an oxygen tank. Until then, you can do some steam therapy in your bathroom to see if this loosens up the respiratory secretions & helps him to breath. I do hope he is feeling better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.