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-   -   8-month-old Kitten with persistent pneumonia - ideas? (http://www.catbanter.com/showthread.php?t=67462)

[email protected] March 1st 06 03:13 PM

8-month-old Kitten with persistent pneumonia - ideas?
 
A few months ago, I took in 50 cats from a hoarder. Most have been
placed, but among others I have one kitten left who came down with what
seemed to be a mild URI in mid January. He was put on Clavamox (10
days), which did not help. At this point, we decided to sedate and
check for polyps, none were found. We then started him on Clindamycin
(5 days). Still no improvement, so the vet switched him to Baytril (15
days) and I started nebulizing him twice a day with Baytril liquid (10
days). He is not getting better and is starting to show symptoms of
fatigue when running and playing due to his trouble breathing.
Yesterday he was x-rayed and confirmed with interstitial pneumonia. The
x-rays also show heart abnormalities. While I cannot afford to take him
to a specialist for an echocardiogram at this point, I would be willing
to see how things go if we could only get a handle on the pneumonia,
but am wondering whether the two things are actually related. Any
thoughts or advice appreciated!


Gail March 1st 06 03:27 PM

8-month-old Kitten with persistent pneumonia - ideas?
 
Was he checked for feline leukemia and FIV?
Gail
wrote in message
ups.com...
A few months ago, I took in 50 cats from a hoarder. Most have been
placed, but among others I have one kitten left who came down with what
seemed to be a mild URI in mid January. He was put on Clavamox (10
days), which did not help. At this point, we decided to sedate and
check for polyps, none were found. We then started him on Clindamycin
(5 days). Still no improvement, so the vet switched him to Baytril (15
days) and I started nebulizing him twice a day with Baytril liquid (10
days). He is not getting better and is starting to show symptoms of
fatigue when running and playing due to his trouble breathing.
Yesterday he was x-rayed and confirmed with interstitial pneumonia. The
x-rays also show heart abnormalities. While I cannot afford to take him
to a specialist for an echocardiogram at this point, I would be willing
to see how things go if we could only get a handle on the pneumonia,
but am wondering whether the two things are actually related. Any
thoughts or advice appreciated!




[email protected] March 1st 06 06:33 PM

8-month-old Kitten with persistent pneumonia - ideas?
 

Gail wrote:
Was he checked for feline leukemia and FIV?


Yes, he tested negative on the combo test. And he has a negative
coronavirus titer, so it's not FIP either.

Petra


Phil P. March 2nd 06 08:17 AM

8-month-old Kitten with persistent pneumonia - ideas?
 

wrote in message
ups.com...
A few months ago, I took in 50 cats from a hoarder. Most have been
placed, but among others I have one kitten left who came down with what
seemed to be a mild URI in mid January. He was put on Clavamox (10
days), which did not help. At this point, we decided to sedate and
check for polyps, none were found. We then started him on Clindamycin
(5 days). Still no improvement, so the vet switched him to Baytril (15
days) and I started nebulizing him twice a day with Baytril liquid (10
days). He is not getting better and is starting to show symptoms of
fatigue when running and playing due to his trouble breathing.
Yesterday he was x-rayed and confirmed with interstitial pneumonia. The
x-rays also show heart abnormalities. While I cannot afford to take him
to a specialist for an echocardiogram at this point, I would be willing
to see how things go if we could only get a handle on the pneumonia,
but am wondering whether the two things are actually related. Any
thoughts or advice appreciated!


Has anyone mentioned a transtracheal wash and culture to try to identify the
pathogen? It sounds like an antibiotic-resistant strain of pseudomonas.
Have you tried azithromycin (Zithromax)?

Best of luck,

Phil




-L. March 2nd 06 09:23 AM

8-month-old Kitten with persistent pneumonia - ideas?
 

Phil P. wrote:
Has anyone mentioned a transtracheal wash and culture to try to identify the
pathogen? It sounds like an antibiotic-resistant strain of pseudomonas.
Have you tried azithromycin (Zithromax)?

Best of luck,

Phil


I have also seen Cryptococcus cause pneumonia in a kitten before.
Whatever it is definitely needs to be cultured to see if it is
culturable.

-L.


[email protected] March 2nd 06 02:24 PM

8-month-old Kitten with persistent pneumonia - ideas?
 

Phil P. wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
A few months ago, I took in 50 cats from a hoarder. Most have been
placed, but among others I have one kitten left who came down with what
seemed to be a mild URI in mid January. He was put on Clavamox (10
days), which did not help. At this point, we decided to sedate and
check for polyps, none were found. We then started him on Clindamycin
(5 days). Still no improvement, so the vet switched him to Baytril (15
days) and I started nebulizing him twice a day with Baytril liquid (10
days). He is not getting better and is starting to show symptoms of
fatigue when running and playing due to his trouble breathing.
Yesterday he was x-rayed and confirmed with interstitial pneumonia. The
x-rays also show heart abnormalities. While I cannot afford to take him
to a specialist for an echocardiogram at this point, I would be willing
to see how things go if we could only get a handle on the pneumonia,
but am wondering whether the two things are actually related. Any
thoughts or advice appreciated!


Has anyone mentioned a transtracheal wash and culture to try to identify the
pathogen? It sounds like an antibiotic-resistant strain of pseudomonas.
Have you tried azithromycin (Zithromax)?


Thanks Phil - I talked to my vet yesterday after I had read some older
recommendations for azithromycin, and picked up a prescription last
night. It certainly won't hurt to try it, though he is still guarded
with a prognosis as he thinks that the size of his heart may be
causing/aggravating the pneumonia, as it seems to be compressing his
lungs.



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