My cat has green nasal discharge. Should I give her medicine?

This is a classic presentation of a cat with an upper respiratory disease. They usually do have a fever early in the infection and will feel bad. They also tend to avoid eating and drinking, because the congestion in the nose does not allow them to breathe properly. You can help the congestion by giving him a steam bath. There is a link below that has good information about how to do this and other helpful tips for this condition. http://www.wikihow.com/Help-Your-Cat-Breathe-Easier It's best if you can get your cat to a vet within the next day or two. While these infections are often due to a virus, they can become complicated with bacterial infections, which will make things much worse. The vet would be able to prescribe the necessary treatment to make him feel better and keep the infection from getting worse. I hope this helps and he feels better soon.

I would recommend having Miss Gray seen by a vet to be prescribed medication if she is miserable. It's not really fair to leave her untreated in that condition, and if she is miserable, I would say she is seriously ill enough to need medication. The problem with congestion is that cats can stop eating if they can't smell their food, and if a cat stops eating, they become prone to developing a fatty liver. A fatty liver is fatal without treatment, so it's best to avoid that. I would take Miss Gray into a vet immediately for an exam and medication. I can give you some things you can do at home that will work well in conjunction with medications from the vet. Please keep in mind they cannot be used as a substitution for seeing the vet. 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. Since 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.

Green mucous is a sign of infection. Poor Zena. She may be showing early signs of an upper respiratory infection (URI). If that is the case you may be able to stop things from getting too bad if you act early. Other possible causes are a fungal infection or parasite problem (not as common). Most cats URI's are initially caused by a viral infection that later on turns into a secondary bacterial infection. To help boost Zenas immune system you can give her over the counter Lysine (antiviral medicine) from your local pet store. Then visit your local vet to get her examined and treated (i.e. Antibiotics) if the green mucous continues or if Zena starts sneezing, coughing or having difficulty breathing. Hopefully this is a mild URI and nothing more.

This is a classic presentation of a cat with an upper respiratory disease. They also tend to avoid eating and drinking, because the congestion in the nose does not allow them to breathe properly. You can help the congestion by giving her a steam bath. There is a link below that has good information about how to do this and other helpful tips for this condition. http://www.wikihow.com/Help-Your-Cat-Breathe-Easier It's best if you can get the kitty to a vet within the next day or two. These infections can become complicated and get much worse without treatment. The vet would be able to evaluate the severity of the infection and prescribe the necessary treatment to make her feel better and keep the infection from getting worse. Veterinary exam fees vary depending on the location, but can be anywhere from $30-$80. The medication commonly used to treat these infections is usually not too expensive and may cost $20 or more. If cost is an issue, then you may consider surrendering her to a local animal shelter/rescue center. They have vets on staff that are used to treating these infections and will ensure she goes to a good home. I hope this helps and the kitty gets better soon.

Unfortunately, you would need confirmation of the infection from a vet, as well as a prescription from them for the antibiotic. Both respiratory and viral infections can cause problems like this. If she can't be transported to the vet, you may see if you can humanely trap her and have the vet sedate her for care while there, or if there is a local animal control/society that can help catch her to provide care.

Respiratory infections in cats are commonly viral, which means that they have to run their course. Antibiotics can help prevent or treat secondary bacterial infections, but they do not do anything to help with the virus. Supportive care is needed during these times to help Chesney feel better. Consider taking her into a steamy bathroom a few times a day for humidification. Suction her nostrils with a baby bulb syringe if they are really stuffed up. If she isn't eating well consider warming up her food so that she can smell it a little bit easier. Sometimes cats need subcutaneous fluids or IV fluids from the veterinarian to stay well hydrated the first several days of an upper respiratory infection. You may want to consider taking her temperature. Normal for a cat is 100-102. If she is 103 or higher I would encourage you to call your veterinarian to discuss medictions to help with the fever. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hi. Poor little kitten. Thank you for taking care of her. It sounds like she has a pretty severe upper respiratory infection and we'll need antibiotics and are there treatments. If her breathing is concerning you I would recommend the ER. If you think she can wait until tomorrow, but you could try now to help open up the Airways is Place her in a bathroom with the door closed and the shower running very hot and making it steamy in my bathroom for about 15 minutes. This will help break up some of the discharge and hopefully help her breathe better. But my recommendation would be the ER.