Kitten URI not improving on antibiotics. When should I call the vet?

Hello, sorry to hear about Gimli. It is really dependent on what kind of infection you kitten has. Most upper respiratory infections are viral which antibiotics cannot treat. Therefor, you must await for the virus lifecycle to end. You may talk to your vet about using lysine gel or topical anti-virals to help shorten the virus life cycle. Hope this helps.

It may take 7-10 days for the condition to resolve. As long as he is still eating, breathing normal, and has normal energy then continue the medications as directed and monitor his condition. If he has a viral infection then it will need to just run it's course as the antibiotics will only treat a bacterial infection. If he stops eating, becomes lethargic, or has any breathing issues then he should be rechecked by a vet.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Just like you pointed out, it is possible that this is all related to the trip. I would recommend to just continue with the current plan for now. If it is just related to the trip, she should start feeling better soon. If her appetite has not improved by tomorrow, let your veterinarian know as the other possibility would be that the antibiotics are causing her to lose her appetite which is a common side effect seen with some antibiotics. Good luck! I hope this is just transient and she goes back to normal.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Turbo! If the Vet suspected a URI they are usually viral in nature and the antibiotics are used to prevent secondary bacterial infections. I wouldn't expect a viral infection to resolve in 12 hours sadly. If Turbo still has a fever he may benefit from being hospitalized on IV fluids. If they didn't run blood work I would request full blood work including urine and Feline leukemia and FIV testing (even if previously tested as a kitten). If Turbo hasn't developed any signs of a URI he needs a work up for a fever of unknown origin, which requires blood work, feline retroviral testing, X-rays and possibly an ultrasound. These tests are trying to find a cause for the fever (infection, inflammation, cancer). I am hoping it is just viral and he needs more time. But sometimes that time needs to be spent in the hospital on fluids. I hope this helps and I wish Turbo a speedy recovery!

As long as Maybel is eating and drinking, she will be fine to wait until Monday. I can give you some home remedies to try as well to see if that helps her, and these will work well in conjunction with medications from the vet. Please keep in mind that these home remedies should not be a substitute for seeing the vet, and I would have her seen on Monday. 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 and Maybel feels better soon!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. In regards to the test results, I would contact your vet to find out what the results were. For the cats you havestarted on doxycycline, the respiratory symptoms may not be due to a bacterial infection but rather a viral infection, in which case, an antibiotic won't treat if it is purely a viral infection. Sure it will treat secondary bacterial infections that may be going on as a result of the primary viral but I wouldn't rely on an antibiotic solely to treat this. I recommend using lysine supplementation. Many times in kittens, they pick up the herpes virus from the mother. Lysine works by lessening the severity and possibly shortening the duration of a herpes viral infection. Duralactin with Lysine is the supplement I recommend to help treat the infection which can be found online. If the infection worsens, a nebulizer may help and sometimes antibiotics are nebulized in severe cases. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Pluto. He will need to see his veterinarian again as it does not sound like he is improving. He may require a different antibiotic or a longer course. He is so young, it is easy for him to get dehydrated. He may be given fluids as well. In the meantime, keep his eyes clear of discharge and encourage him to eat and drink as best you can. I hope this information helps!