Why is my neutered cat still sneezing and bloated after antibiotics?

No, this isn't common and Zylee sounds sick. Give her vet a call to let them know you are seeing this. There are also some things you can try at home. 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. Best of luck.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor Man Man! It sounds like Man Man has been through a lot! I am glad you figured out that he had a food allergy and that his skin issues are resolved. Based on your picture and description of his runny nose I suspect that he has an upper respiratory tract infection. They tend to be viral in cats, the cause most commonly is feline herpes or calicivirus. Both can affect the skin on the face and the nose. If it is calicivirus, with supportive care and time his symptoms should resolve. Cats affected with herpes can be chronically affected or have flare ups when stressed (visitors, move, new pets, etc). The antibiotics are to treat the secondary bacterial infection. I hope this helps! https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=613

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Salem may need a second course of an antibiotic but a different antibiotic as there may be a bacterial organisms not being targeted by the Orbax. There may be a large amount of material accumulated in the sinus so a sinus flush under anesthesia may be needed to help remove all of the chronic build up of mucous in the sinus. A steroid may also be warranted to reduce the inflammation in the sinus. I would also suggest having chest x-rays to assess the lungs. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend making sure he does not have an underlying disease that may be predisposing him to these infections. Test him for feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) at your veterinarian's clinic to rule these possible causes out. Some cats will have chronic viral infections their entire life and we just treat these as they come. If you are not giving lysine supplementation and not giving Purine Fortiflora, I would definitely recommend doing so as both of these have been shown to lessen the severity and duration of the herpes virus flare ups. I would also consider an upper respiratory culture to make sure that there are no other bacterial causes that may be resistant to the antibiotics currently being given. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

I'm sorry to hear about Missy's chronic problems. The 2 most common problems leading to this would be either a very deep, resistant bacterial infection of the sinuses or even possibly a tumor. Tumors can be either malignant or benign. To get a definitive answer advanced imaging such as CT may be needed. It must be frustrating to have tried so many therapies and still be facing a problem. These types of chronic sinus issues can be very difficult to solve. You can request a referral to a specialist from your veterinarian and they will help guide you with a plan. Take care and I hope Missy improves soon.

Poor Gus certainly sounds quite ill! The signs you describe make me concerned that Gus has a significant upper respiratory infection that is also related to underlying viruses, such as herpesvirus or calicivirus. There is a chance that any bacteria occurring may be resistant to Clavamox or if the entire infection may be viral in origin, in which case any antibiotic will be ineffective. If it hasn't already be done, Gus should be tested for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) and FeLV (feline leukemia). These are highly contagious viral conditions that he could have acquired from his mother or from another cat prior to adoption. Both of these viruses significantly weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to other infectious diseases. At home, you can try using an amino acid supplement, L-lysine (Viralys is one example) and taking Gus into the bathroom when you shower to allow the humidity from the steam to help ease some nasal congestion. These at home strategies alone will not be sufficient to resolve all of his signs and he will need to go back to his vet. Gus' vet will be able to examine him and perform this test, as well as discussing trials with other antibiotics or antiviral medications. I hope that he's feeling better soon!

Many upper respiratory infections in cats are caused by viruses which do not respond to antibiotics. Antibiotics are often prescribed to treat secondary bacterial infections. However, sneezing can be a symptom with many underlying causes, such as allergies, viral or bacterial infections, tumors or polyps in the nasal passage, or even dust or other irritants if the cat is exploring where these types of irritants are common (attics, basements, around areas of construction, etc.) If your cat is still sneezing after treatment with antibiotics, a follow up visit to your veterinarian is worthwhile to determine if antibiotics need to be continued or other treatments given.