Update on Squeaky (aka Good Humor Man)

[nancyjac]

As many of you know, Squeaky had a couple of severe bouts of pneumonia as a young kitten.  He is also FHV1 positive.  Since then, he has had chronic runny eyes and nose.  Some times it is a little better or a little worse, be he never seems to be completely free of it for more than a few days at a time.  I haven't been too concerned, since compared with near death when he had pneumonia, this is really pretty manageable with drops and antihistamines.  I decided to take him to the vet yesterday because his nasal drainage was getting a bit thicker than it normally is and his eyes looked a bit irritated.  The vet of course immediately wanted to treat him for URI and put him back on antibiotics. I requested that he do a CBC first to determine if there was actually any kind of infection.  There is not.  He wanted to put him on pregnasone which I also objected to (too many side effects).  So we are trying a different antihistamine and so far so good.  He has only had 2 doses so far, but his drainage is already clearer and thinner.  He isn't snorting nearly as much to breathe past the nasal blockage and his eyes are clear without visible inner eyelids.

[nancyjac]

I did a little research opus, and what I found was that it is often used as a diuretic and also for muscle or joint pain.  I found one reference that indicated it might reduce sneezing, but Squeaky has never been much of a sneezer. Since sneezing helps clear out mucus and allergens from nasal passages, I don't want to give him something that will cause him to sneeze even less.   He isn't on benadryl.   He is taking chlorpheniramine.

[opus88]

I am so glad he is doing better Nancy, were you able to get some stinging nettles? the holistic ppl that use it say it works better than benadryl and no side effects...maybe it would keep him healthy?....good luck to the little guy, he is sure a fighter..

[nancyjac]

He is doing better.  Much less drainage from the eyes and nasal congestion is much better but not completely gone. The first couple of days were the typical struggle trying to get him to swallow the pill, but the last couple of doses he hasn't fought me nearly as much as he typically does.  I don't know if that is because these pills don't taste so bad or because he has actually made an association between the pill taking and his congestion improving.

I tried the pill pockets a couple of times, but the pockets are too large for the pills...actually I have to split the pills so it is only 1/2 pill, and after the first time, he quickly figured out how to eat the treat and leave the pill part untouched.

[Jade59]

The joys of pilling a cat, eh, Nancy?  Have you tried the pill pockets?  We tried a pill popper once.  It didn't go well - it IS kinda clumsy to use.  

I'm glad you insisted on the CBC before starting antib's.  Don't need to be giving those to our babies unless it's absolutely necessary.  Sounds like the decongestant is all Squeaky needs.  

Good luck, Nancy.  I hope Squeaky feels better soon, poor baby.  

[zodiacqueen]

Nancy, keep trying.  That pill popper is your best bet and will save your fingers!!  

Keep trying!!

[nancyjac]

I've tried them ZQ but I'm not very good with them, my clumsiness....not the cat's....LOL.  With Squeaky, it's not that he tries to bite my fingers, but that he is very slick about not swallowing, even when I get it in the back of his mouth, and then he waits until I let him go and spits it back out....the little devil!

[zodiacqueen]

Have you seen those plastic pill poppers?  My vet sells them, and I bet you can  get them at a pet supply store!  This would probably end your nightmares!!

[nancyjac]

Thanks Opus....I will look into that.

He has been on l-lysine for quite some time ZQ, for the general immune system benefits.  Also probiotics.  I'm hoping that eventually he will "grow out of this", but he is almost 10 months now and pretty much full grown, although he is still pretty small.  Still, this is much easier and better for both him and me to handle than back when he had to be tube fed and hydrated several times a day for what seems like forever.  He is still a pill (pun intended) when it comes to giving him meds but we have both gotten some what use to the daily, but fortunately short, battles when it come to meds.

[zodiacqueen]

What about Lysine?  I think Jade's got her cat on this, who also has Herpes(the cat, NOT her..LOL)

[opus88]

nancy, I have read mention of STINGING NETTLES many times recently in place of antihistamines, ppl say it gives the same or better results with NO side effects...
acute stage 2 capsules 2x day, cut back by 1 caps at a time until maintenance at 1/2 cap daily.
brands:
NOW FOODS, stinging nettles root extract 250mg caps
ECLECTIC INSTITUTE, freeze dried 300mg
NATURES WAY, nettle herb, 435mg caps..
I am sooo glad you did the cbc first to rule out infection BEFORE  doing the abx...
I hate when Vets prescribe unnecessarily.

good luck our little fighter, still GHM...lol