Kitten Sneezes!

[Brigitte Cowell]

How long is this round of doxycycline for?

I ask because what happens with short ineffective rounds is that the bacteria is reduced, almost killed off but not quite...then the antibiotics are stopped and the bacterial levels rise again to where you see the body react and the kitten has an infection again...so you give another short round and the same thing happens again.

You may need to give a continual longer period of antibiotics to be sure you treat this infection. I would discuss that with your vet.

 

[BizarroStormy]

How long is this round of doxycycline for?

I ask because what happens with short ineffective rounds is that the bacteria is reduced, almost killed off but not quite...then the antibiotics are stopped and the bacterial levels rise again to where you see the body react and the kitten has an infection again...so you give another short round and the same thing happens again.

You may need to give a continual longer period of antibiotics to be sure you treat this infection. I would discuss that with your vet.

The vet gave the same amount again, 50 mg/mL, 14 days, 1/2 mL two times a day. That is something we will have to keep in mind. Would another PCR test shortly/right after finishing antibiotics (if they do not want to give us more) be advisable to see if it is for sure gone?

 

[Patti]

I would wait several weeks before repeating a PCR.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

The vet gave the same amount again, 50 mg/mL, 14 days, 1/2 mL two times a day. That is something we will have to keep in mind. Would another PCR test shortly/right after finishing antibiotics (if they do not want to give us more) be advisable to see if it is for sure gone?

No, because the PCR would be affected by the antibiotics. The antibiotics could well drop the level of the mycoplasma below detectable levels (hence the test would be negative) but give it a couple weeks and it could be back to causing an issue again.

 

[BizarroStormy]

So after some continuing problems and a couple more vet visits we got a PCR test completed on Mars (previously we had just done Luna) and it came back positive for feline herpes.

From reading this appears to be something they will have this for life, what can we expect from this? Are we going to have to essentially quarantine them and have them avoid contact with other animals forever to prevent them spreading it?

The vet called today and is prescribing them medicine, I am at work and do not recall what she said it was but I guess whatever lab/company based out of Arizona is supposed to call us and will mail it to us. That and Lysine.

Our poor cats

 

[Patti]

It is estimated that 85-90% of cats have been exposed to herpes - I was told this by a judge (amongst other people) at a cat show when I expressed some concern about a cat there sneezing. Having said that, in my experience, breeders are very concientious about this and most catteries that I am aware of are herpes free, or if they have had an exposure have isolated those cats from their active breeding cats.

Unfortunately, the vaccine doesn't prevent herpes, but helps minimize any symptoms, so it's important that you continue with their routine vaccines even knowing that they have this infection. The vast majority of time the cats present as though they have a cold, get over it, and never have another symptom. A small percentage have recurrent symptoms, and an even smaller number have chronic upper respiratory symptoms that can develop complications such as eye ulcers, etc.

If you are getting an antiviral from the pharmacy (is it Roadrunner?) it is to treat the herpes (but will not likely 'cure' it), if it is an antibiotic it is to treat a secondary bacterial infection that has occurred (which is actually probably more common than symptoms from the herpes itself). I'm not convinced that treating with an antiviral is worth the expense, but treating any secondary bacterial infection is very important - those can definitely be treated and cured.

I think it is important that you don't expose other cats to yours, but it doesn't necessarily mean you can never get another cat - just realize that it will likely end up carrying the herpes virus (if it doesn't already have it), but will most likely continue to be healthy.

 

[Patti]

Oh - let me just add that if Mars has recently received his routine vaccine you could get a false positive on the PCR...

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Agreed with Patti. There are studies out there showing that high an incidence of the Rhinotracheitis virus. Mostly it is in remission, and doesn't cause much of a problem. Like human Herpes virus (which causes cold sores and genital herpes) when it goes into remission it hides out in the facial nerve cells. It normally is stagnant and possibly for years (and usually at those times if you ran a PCR it would show negative which hampers any efforts to determine if one's cattery is truly Herpes-free), it can be reactivated by illness or stress. So much like humans with cold sores, that have outbreaks when they have colds or are under a lot of stress. When the cat has an outbreak, the antiviral meds can resolve it faster but generally over time it will resolve but the cat will be a carrier for the rest of their lives. You might or might not ever see symptoms again.

IMHO there's not much point in quarantining unless a cat has an active infection and one of your other cats is likely to be more susceptible (elderly, immunocompromised etc). Keeping all your pets healthy is the best defense to this virus. For all you know, the other cats harbor the virus also, as you can have a negative PCR if the virus is in remission.

 

[Jambi_wild]

So after some continuing problems and a couple more vet visits we got a PCR test completed on Mars (previously we had just done Luna) and it came back positive for feline herpes.

From reading this appears to be something they will have this for life, what can we expect from this? Are we going to have to essentially quarantine them and have them avoid contact with other animals forever to prevent them spreading it?

The vet called today and is prescribing them medicine, I am at work and do not recall what she said it was but I guess whatever lab/company based out of Arizona is supposed to call us and will mail it to us. That and Lysine.

Our poor cats

My new 5mth F3 has had the sneezes for a month and a half.... lysine was the first suggestion... steam baths, Apple cider vinegar, mullen, chicken broth werected added to his life style.
Then Jambi was prescribed amoxycilin .... no luck
Probiotics and a homeopathic nose drop
Went to a new vet he prescribed clindamycin ... day 3 on that and he just blows these huge boogies, and his nose is dry and bleeding so I have to moisturize it. Not sure if that's the antibiotic helping or not?
Ugh
Sorry your kitty's are sick and may have the herp. But most cats do... it surprises me that breeders allow herp positive kitties to procreate and then be shipped out. I feel so bad for my sick kitty, it is not fair. I am hoping for this antibiotic to be my cure, but I wouldn't be doubt if Jambi has the virus too...

My mom has a shelter and all her cats have it. Only a few have it bad enough where they have sores in their mouth... some just respitory ... some no symptoms at all. I've been around these cats often and often visit her and them.

Diet, supplements, and love is all we can do

 

[Patti]

Went to a new vet he prescribed clindamycin

You know, every bacterial infection that is tested for on the URD PCR is susceptible to doxycycline - I'm surprised no one has prescribed this antibiotic yet for Jambi, but you might want to ask your vet about it. Also, a couple of those strains require up to four weeks of antibiotic therapy to conclusively eliminate it.

If his symptoms persist you might consider running a PCR to try to pinpoint the problem. It's also a possibility that his symptoms are coming from an allergic reaction rather than an infection - just something to think about...