Rayne went back to the vet today as she won’t stop sneezing and I can’t get her fever below 102.9
After a thorough exam, I was told I am doing a splendid job at keeping her safe and all they did was change the medication. The poor girl sneezed about 20 times in a row just as the vet entered the room so that was timely! She is all stuffed up with a heavy sinus infection but it hasn’t morphed into pneumonia (yet) I am also supposed to use Lil Noses on her, but they don’t make the drops anymore, just the mist spray which scares her little self to death! I am going to see if i can shoot the mist into a syringe and give her a few shots up her nose.
They presented me with the bill and all I could think of is “All I want for Christmas is my vet bill paid down!” But, she is worth every penny and hopefully she doesn’t have FIP as once feared and just this nasty sinus infection. Time will indeed tell!
Don’t usually post, but do check in to follow some of your kitties’ stories.
Sorry that Rayne is still having problems. I used to foster, and also used Lil Noses – the kind with the decongestant – for the kittens with stuffy noses from URI. I think they stopped making this version awhile back – I think the current product is just plain saline drops.
Can’t do foster/rescue anymore (TOO many reasons to go into, but partly because TOO many “temporary” cats became permanent).
Anyway, have two adults with persistent sinus infections, and thought I’d share what helps with them:
Re: saline nose drops – if Lil Noses is just plain saline now, I think any OTC saline will do. My cats hate the spray versions, and it’s hard to get the drops in their noses with those. I’ve tried two things: (1) sometimes if you remove the plastic tube for the spray, you can use the bottle like a regular dropper bottle and (2) I sterilize an empty dropper bottle and transfer the contents of the spray. And like you I also have transferred nose drops to a small syringe for easier dispensing.
Some things my vets have recommended for the cat who’s had persistent sinusitis since he had URI as a shelter kitten:
Alpha interferon by mouth – this is inexpensive (at my vets, anyway). It worked really well the first time we used it. Just tried it again with less success.
Regular Neo-Senephrine drops (original formula, no additional ingredients) – if cat is really stuffed up, a drop or two in each nostril usually brings on a productive sneeze. I use only occasionally to avoid rebound congestion.
Same Neo-Senephrine with gentomycin added (think vet added 1cc antibiotic to a 1/2 oz NS bottle). Gave for about 2 weeks. Again, worked really well first time, less well when repeated, but still helped.
On my own, I found a saline nose drop with colloidal silver – Peaceful Mountain brand Nasal Rescue. Seems to work better than plain saline.
Have a senior cat who had a sinus infection that returned after two bouts of Clavamox. Found anecdotal success stories for Orbax on a discussion board for kitties with persistent sinus issues. Over $40, and this kitty needed to go through entire bottle (over 3 weeks – but it’s given only once a day). Except for some minor snuffling, he seems to be over the nasty stuff.
Not sure if you add holistic options to conventional meds, but these kitties seem to be responding to homeopathic remedies. Cat with long-term infection is getting kali phos; senior kitty getting silica.
I know Rayne needs and is getting lots of other treatment and is in good hands with you. Just thought I’d mention these when I saw that she was continuing to have problems. Good luck!
Can the medicine (Lil Noses; I’ve not heard of that) be poured? Even as a mist, it must be liquid before it is atomised. Can the lid be unscrewed and the contents poured into a syringe?
Whoops – should have checked label before I hit submit – the cat with long-term sinusitis is getting kali bichrom, not kali phos. Sorry for error. BTW, I use Don Hamilton’s book on homeopathy for dogs and cats. Lots of good materia medica online, too (they were literally lifesavers for the cat with chronic bladder stones).