Any vets out there can give me advice reantibiotics?

[tinytawnykitten]

About 2 months ago we got a 6 month old kitten, Minty, from the Cats' Protection League and she has been plagued with health problems. She has had 3 lots of antibiotics because of an eye infection and a chest infection and has been a very coughy and sneezy cat. She seems to finally be at the end of it and today we were going to let her outside for the first time, but now have noticed she is holding her head funny. I think she has something wrong with her ear. She is keeping one of her ears flatish, and she is ok to be stroked and have her head stroked but if you touch her ear she shakes her head (like a dog drying off). I can't get her to the vet until tomorrow when they reopen. I have a 7 day course of antibiotic paste left. Should I start her on it? Can I give her pamol or something?

A friend reckons that all the cats at CPL have FIV and that Minty has too, but she is also the kind of person who tends to say things like that without really knowing.

[critter_crazy]

I'm currently training to be a vet nurse so definately not an expert but I would say just wait until you can take her to the vet.

Does she have black wax in her ears? CPL probably won't rehome cats with feline aids, I know the SPCA doesnt. Also never give an animal human pain killers - it's deadly. I hope this has helped :thup:

[tinytawnykitten]

Thanks for your advice. I will take her to the vet tomorrow and not do anything until then. THanks :-)

[Holly]

Hi there,

It sounds like you've had a rough time with your wee Kitty. I'm a veterinary nurse, I wouldn't reccommend starting the anitbiotic paste on her. Is this from previous treatment? It is important to ensure that when treating with antibiotics that you complete the course as when humans take antibiotics.

Rather than a bacterial infection it sounds more like she might have ear mites, this can be easily treated using a spot on treatment such as advocate. Has she been treated for parasites previously? Fleas etc?

I'm sure the vets will get her sorted, but for now I wouldn't panic too much. As critter_crazy said, don't give her pamol, human anti inflammatories work differently to those given to animals and it could indeed be harmful to her!

If you are concerned about her being FIV +ve you could have her tested when she is at the vet clinic, it is a simple blood test and if she is negative you can vaccinate against the virus, there is a course of 3 vaccines to begin with and then you get it annually with the regular cat vaccine, well worth it! Even if she is FIV positive which is unlikely coming from a rescue society, she could sill lead a fairly normal, long and happy life. Often the main trouble with FIV +ve cats is that their immune system is a little compromised which means they pick up bugs a little more often, take longer to recover from infections and can develop dental issues, all this aside, they can still be fantastic pets and just need a little more attention.

Good luck at the vets tomorrow!

[Sophia]

My cat did all of the above when he had a piece of grass seed stuck in the back of his nose that went septic. :sick:

[burrowssj]

dont do anything until you take it to the vet, probably an ear infection or something similar (my cat has had something similar)

my cat was a stray an has fiv an he has lived a very healthy life minus losing a few teeth in fights just so you know its not a huge deal but im told when they get old they will deteriorate quickly