Ragdoll Cat Forums

Linus is almost 7 months. He came from the breeder with a stuffed nose and eye stain. We went to the vet and have since had Linus on 7 antibiotics, Lysine tablets, eye meds and a procedure with anesthesia to clean out his nose. In other words he was constantly on medicine. One nostril is noticeably smaller than the other.

After the cleaning procedure and another round of antibiotics he became better. For maybe two weeks, he was clear in nose and eye. First the eye stain reappeared, and now 4 days after that, the nose is starting to block with mucous. I hesitate to call the vet because the next step would be to enlarge his nostril, if possible, and I'm sure more meds. I don't know what to do for this poor guy. Today he is back to feeling sick and wanting to be held.

Has anyone else had this problem or know what to do? I think I am going to at least get more lysine treats, and that will have to be given daily. Is there a possibility he will always be chronically sick? Do you think this could be something more serious?

Some cats will get infections that lurk in the sinuses and break periodically. When they get bad, one gives meds and knocks them down a bit, but there always can be some congestion and discharge. It is just a chronic problem. This happens in people as well and can be as hard to get rid of, some turning to surgery to scrape the sinuses, which may or may not work. I have not read anyone try that on a cat, for understandable reasons.

This can happen and it never becomes more than uncomfortable for the cat.

The Lysine is on the chance this is rhino. That also can be carried and periodically break with an active infection and symptoms. If one sees improvement when the cat is on clavamox, then there is a bacterial element, even if the rhino viral element is also there. For rhino, you can use viroptic drops as well to remove some of the virus in the eye itself. This can reduce the severity of outbreaks.

(It would take some convincing for me to believe enlarging one nostril would make any difference. The infection is probably far away in the sinuses and if the cat can breathe sufficiently to be safe, then enlarging the nostril is not likely to make much difference.)

The poor boy I am no expert in kitty health so I have no advice. Just wanted to say that I hope he gets well soon. He is such a cute boy!

Jan- What is rhino? Is it a genetic virus?

He does improve on some antibiotics, but not others. This last time he improved because of the antibiotic and the scraping of the sinus's. I don't want to put him through that too often though. I am now putting salve (vetropolycin)in his eyes which we keep on hand for him. Do you recommend taking him to the vet for another antibiotic, or wait and see? It seems to me, he will build up a resistance the meds, and then nothing will work.

Sorry that you and Linus is going through this. It is very frustrating for both of you.

The first thing that comes to mind for me is Feline Herpes but I am not a vet. The condition is chronic if this is the case but there are periods that there are no symptons and then it can flare up again. Was there any other kittens in the litter with similar symptons? I would notify the breeder if you have not so she is aware and perhaps can offer suggests if she has dealt with this before.

Lysine is sometimes given daily as a supplement to boost the immune system. You can mail order it and it doesnt harm the cat to give it. Antibotics is given for the secondary infections that can develop. This may or may not be needed. For stuffed noses a humidifier and "little noses" the drops for kids in one nostroil may help stuffy breathing.

Sometimes kittens can outgrow a condition as the body matures and the immune system develops more. Good luck and keep us posted.

Rhino is a virus. It is common, being covered by 3/1 and 4/1 vaccinations.

Unless symptoms are really bad, it seems there is no point in seeing the vet. Scraping, surgery and the like may just make matters worse. If in doubt about whether a med will help (and Clavamox would be the typical one) or if you feel he may be in danger because of congestion or something else, then a vet visit would be in order.

(06-16-2010 05:53 PM)Megailee Wrote: [ -> ]Sorry that you and Linus is going through this. It is very frustrating for both of you.

The first thing that comes to mind for me is Feline Herpes but I am not a vet. The condition is chronic if this is the case but there are periods that there are no symptons and then it can flare up again. Was there any other kittens in the litter with similar symptons? I would notify the breeder if you have not so she is aware and perhaps can offer suggests if she has dealt with this before.

Lysine is sometimes given daily as a supplement to boost the immune system. You can mail order it and it doesnt harm the cat to give it. Antibotics is given for the secondary infections that can develop. This may or may not be needed. For stuffed noses a humidifier and "little noses" the drops for kids in one nostroil may help stuffy breathing.

Sometimes kittens can outgrow a condition as the body matures and the immune system develops more. Good luck and keep us posted.

You know Gail, his litter mate had trouble too. The breeder kept them both back a week from being placed because they had colds. Maybe they weren't that. I will email him, and find out. Thanks.

Lysine does not help the immune system. It is given for rhino in the hope that it will interfere with viral replication and reduce the amount of virus, making it easier for the cat to fight off the infection.

We had a Siamese who had rhino infection when young that almost killed him. Thereafter, he had chronic discharge attributed to an intractable bacterial sinus infection that had taken hold during the viral infection. It would get a bit worse or a bit better, but was not a real problem for him. He lived to be 18.

awww Poor Linus I sure hope you can get some answers from the breeder Judy.
When I saw his picture the frist thing that jumped out at me was his long mane he is a gorgeous boy.

I am so sorry that he is still having such problems. It brings to mind Jenny Armour's cat Raffles who lives with something like this. He stays congested in his head and he sneezes (wet sneezes) quite often. The boy snores like crazy too (I slept with him one night when visiting with Jenny). Maybe she'll come on and tell us what she's tried for him. He had "cat flu" as a kitten and I'm not sure how that translates over here in the U.S.