My 5-month kitten with cat flu is mouth breathing. What to do?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Pongkoy! Most upper respiratory infections in cats are viral. If the discharge from his nose is clear then you can just monitor him. Hopefully he can clear the viral infection. If he is lethargic, not eating, and/or the discharge changes to yellow or green he would need to see a Veterinarian for antibiotics. I would clear his nose a couple of times a day and you can keep him in a steamy bathroom twice a day for 10-15 mins. Be sure that you start Pongkoys kitten vaccinations in the next 1-2 weeks. I hope this helps and I wish Pongkoy the best!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Yes, you can give him oxygen supplementation from an oxygen inhaler. It is a very good idea. If your Fuji has been on treatment for bronchitis for 10 days, and he is still struggling to breathe, he should really have his chest x-rayed. Please, talk to your vet about taking chest x-ray of Fuji to make sure there is nothing more serious going on. Typical bronchitis in a kitten should have got better by now.

I am sorry to hear that your pet Bronze seems to have upper respiratory infection symptoms. Cat flu is usually quite serious and involves the lower airway causing wheezing and serious breathing problems, so it is more likely Bronze just has an upper airway infection secondary to a viral infection. Viral infections can be helped with over the counter lysine supplements. However if there is green or yellow discharge then you will have to get a vet to prescribe him oral or an injectable antibiotic to treat this successfully. Any vet, serious or not, should be able to diagnose a simple URI and prescribe a short course of antibiotics no problem.

Open mouth breathing is always a concern in cats, steam therapy with Vicks or olbas oil and gentle cleaning and flushing of the nostrils with warm saline can also help. I strongly recommend you get him rechecked by your own vet as soon as possible

Open mouth breathing is a sign of respiratory distress in cats, and is a medical emergency. Kenway needs to see a vet now. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/ Have your friend check out these resources, and have him take the kitten into a vet now.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Nomi. It sounds like she could have a respiratory infection. You should have her seen by a vet for this, and I can give you some things you can go at home for her. Please know that what I'm giving you at home cannot replace a vet visit. 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. I hope this helps!

He could have an upper respiratory infection again. Since his breathing is loud, he should be examined by a vet to treat. He might need an antibiotic and/or other medications to help. You could also put him in a steamy bathroom and see if that helps loosen up any congestion.