My kitten has a sinus infection and won't eat. Should I syringe feed?

I would recommend taking Soot back to the vet. If he hasn't been on antibiotics in 2 days then there may be another reason for the vomiting. He needs a full exam and possible diagnostics to determine the cause of vomitting and approriate treatment. Syringe feeding him while he is sick and nauseated is unlikely to be successful. Good luck and hope he's better soon!

Poor Chance. It sounds like you are doing an amazing job with him. The blood from the nose and eyes could be from severe irritation of the mucous membranes or due to a viral infection. Since he is alert and interactive I would keep doing what you are doing. I would be syringe feeding him some food every 3-4 hours. You can also hold him in a small bathroom with the hot shower going so he can breathe in the steam. This will help to loosen up the mucus and also help to moisturize his mucous membranes. There is no need to get him wet or near the water. Just hold him since steam rises. Also, if you have a humidifier, you can run that at night while he sleeps. No need to put any medicine in it - just water. If the bleeding continues, I would have your vet recheck him to ensure he doesn’t need any additional meds or his current meds changes. I hope this helps and he continues to improve.

It sounds like the kitten may have an upper respiratory infection. Often in young cats these are associated with viruses. I would take him to a vet asap in case his lungs are involved. Often treatment involves anti-inflammatory drugs as there is no bacterial involvement. Your vet will be able to advise more in this following an examination.

Poor Senu! I agree, it sounds like he's sick. Upper respiratory infections are common in kittens, and often cause nasal congestion, eye irritation and drainage, and a fever. I would recommend taking Senu to the vet for an exam, since it sounds like he will likely need an antibiotic to treat the infection.

Saline nose drops can actually be helpful along with humidified air to clear the nose. This kitten probably has an upper respiratory infection and may need antibiotics for the eye and nasal discharge. The kitten might also be dehydrated and could have other problems like intestinal parasites. Since young kittens can become hypoglycemic very quickly when they are not eating I would recommend seeing a veterinarian as soon as possible to help get this kitten on track. They can give you an estimated age and discuss how to properly bottle feed and can also treat dehydration and upper respiratory infections. Good luck!

Its ok to syringe feed her as long as she isn't fighting you on it. If she's very resistant to this, do not continue to do it, as it could put her at risk for aspiration pneumonia (if she sucks food down into her trachea instead of swallowing it down her esophagus). You can use some saline nasal drops (available at any pharmacy) as this may help clear and break up some of the nasal congestion, just be certain that it is completely drug free and xylitol free--SALINE ONLY! You can also use a cool mist humidifier to help ease her congestion. As for the food, you are doing everything right. Keep warming up a little fresh food each time, you can try tuna juice on it as well, or roast (unseasoned) chicken. Chicken baby food is also sometimes a good choice for cats. Good luck with her! Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

He may have an upper respiratory infection, which is quite common in cats. It is hard to say for sure without examining him myself. You can try using a humidifier to break up any mucous. As an alternative you can place him in the bathroom with the shower running for 5-10 minutes 2 x daily. However he ultimately will likely need antibiotics to clear up any bacterial infection that may be present. I would also recommend getting him on antiviral medication (I.e. lysine powder or gel from your local pet store or vet clinic) to treat for a suspected underlying viral infection. I hope your kitty feels better soon. Best wishes and take care.