Kitten with URI & congestion: Is tongue sticking out normal?

I am so sorry to hear that the kitten is so sick. Most URIs in kittens are viral, however it is common to treat with antibiotics to help prevent secondary bacterial infections. Pneumonia is certainly possible but typically they are coughing with pneumonia. I would also be suspicious of a nasopharyngeal polyp that typically could be adding to the congestion, but doesn’t usually cause lethargy. I am glad you are going back to the veterinarian. Perhaps they can prescribe a nebulizer to help her more than steam. Also you may want to discuss using saline drops to help loosen the congestion. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

You can use a humidifier or have Ariel in the bathroom when you take a hot shower. That will help clear her up a little. Also using a warm wet cloth to wipe the discharge from her nose may improve the nasal air flow. I like to add some tuna juice to the food for increased odor if she isn't eating normally as cats often don't eat well when conjested. Be patient she will improve daily. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! So sorry to hear about Luna. I would advise that you get her evaluated immediately. Open mouth breathing is never normal in a kitten/cat unless they are extremely sick or very stressed. Your vet can evaluate her and advise a diagnostic and treatment plan. It is possible that she has a nasopharyngeal polyp, foreign body, fluid in her lungs, fluid in her chest around her lungs, etc. Some testing will probably be required including blood tests, chest x-rays, etc. Good luck with Luna.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds as though he might be congested. An upper respiratory tract infection (URI) due to a viral or bacterial infection is the most common reason for congestion in kittens. Common signs of a URI are: congestion, raspy throat breathing, nasal or eye discharge, sneezing and coughing. Herpes virus is the most common cause and usually runs it's course but it can lead to a secondary bacterial infection. If the nasal discharge is yellow or green, he is lethargic and not eating well that indicates a need to be seen by your Vet. If he is eating and drinking then you can watch him since it has only been 2 days since you adopted him. If his symptoms persist for a week or more then he should be seen. Have a good day!

This could just be due to 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. It's also possible that Baby Girl has ulcerations in her mouth causing the drooling. 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 Baby Girl to a vet within the next day or two. This infection seems to be complicated and things can get much worse without treatment. The vet would be able to prescribe the necessary treatment to make her feel better and keep the infection from getting worse. I hope this helps and she feels better soon.

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!

The bloat is probably non related to the URI, this could be due to intestinal worms for example. URI can last 2 weeks in kittens, sometimes even more, i wouldn't be too worried about the sneezing, finish the antibiotic course, if he is not better by then take him back to your vet.