My kitten is coughing & sneezing. Should I see a vet or use OTC meds?

what the staff at the shelter told you is true about the possibility of forming respiratory issues due to stress. the symptoms that you are describing are indeed symptoms of a respiratory infection and antibiotics are needed. The coughing you are hearing likely has no connection to a hairball issue and is likely the infection progressing. My best recommendation to you would be to have them seen by your veterinarian at your earliest convenience to have them treated before their illness progresses into something worse than the "simple kitty cold"

I would call your veterinarian in the morning to get Flynn looked at. He may just have an upper respiratory infection but it can quickly develop into pneumonia. Your veterinarian can listen to Flynn's lungs. They can then prescribe medication as needed. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I'd be a bit worried about Pringels. I can give you some things you can do for him at home. 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. If his symptoms get worse or continue, have him seen by a vet.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. The symptoms you are describing could indicate that Carl has an upper respiratory tract infection. This could be due to a viral or bacterial infection. I would suggest having Carl examined by a veterinarian sooner rather than later so that the infection does not become more severe. Catching the infection early will typically result in a faster recovery in my experience. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns. You can always request a consultation with me if needed. Please remember to rate this post as helpful or not. Thank you!

It's likely that he is suffering from an upper respiratory infection, he will need an antibiotic course for that. If money is an issue please contact a cat charity in your area of living, they can help with costs of treatment in many cases. Many vets also have payment plans, and there is also a credit company that will land you money toward vet bills ( https://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/) .

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Garfield. He is such a handsome, ginger boy! He could have an eye infection or a respiratory infection causing his symptoms. I'm quite concerned he is wheezing and coughing. He sounds pretty sick, and any problem like this plus the eye infection requires an immediate visit to the vet. I would take him into the vet first thing in the morning. I hope this helps!

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a chronic rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics or antiallergic (steroids medications) may be needed. It is not necessary to perform expensive tests as treatment can be attempted to resolve the problem. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!