It seems like a simple question...URI?

Questions about my Levon always seem clear, but there's always a complication in answering it. So, let's try it again!

My Levon is maybe a senior cat. He was diagnosed about a year after I brought him home from "my" shelter. (I work there), then went into remission for over a year (eating bff.) His diabetes is complicated: His numbers are too high for my comfort (200s), but when give just a touch more he can crash (60s to 80s). Fructosamine tests show he is badly uncontrolled, but a curve shows he is controlled. My vet calls him "our problem boy.

Now the question. Levon has been acting "off" for a few days. He usually sleeps on me for most of the night. He gets up for breakfast and a shot, then he comes back to bed with me for a cuddle. In the evening he has his dinner and a shot, then comes to my chair to my chair for a cuddle. What a perfect kitty!

Starting yesterday, I don't see him since I left for work that afternoon. Doesn't sleep with me Does not visit me at all. Hiding all this time. By now (1 - 2) days I think he has a cold. He is doing little tiny sneezes and is licking his lips. I see a lot of URIs in my work. At about ten days in the shelter they break with a cold. Levon had a very bad cold when I brought him home (in the bad old days of 10 day stray periods) as well as dental surgery. It is entirely possibe that I brought the virus home on me. My job makes my kitty a high-risk cat.

OK. Background over. This is now: Kitty may have URI. Or not. The sneezes are tiny, with lip-licking. Behavior has changed. I have a couple of options now. At the shelter we give all URI cats antibiotics, not because they will cure a cold, but because we want to prevent secondary infections, such as lungs. If a cat is healthy, in a home, not stressed, not over-crowded, not very young or old, a cold can be no more dangerous than it is for us.

Now comes the question:For Real. FINALLY. Does a URI affect the BGS numbers. Does it affect the amount of insulin a kitty needs. Does a senior need antibiotics with his senior URI, even if he is in a home, not stresses or overcrowded. How do I deal with his decreased appetite, especially since he does not like the super-smelliest food (fish). Last time he had a cold we ended up giving him Mexican food, or "Brunch Flavor" cat food (cheese, egg, etc.) (No diabetes at the time) What will get his a appetite/attention now, that is still safe for him? Does he still get a shot if he doesn'nt eat?

We will call vet early Mon mornin to take him in if we can, to hopefully figure this out. But right now, I'm lonely. where's my kitty? He should be here sleeping on me. This loss probably makes this seem worse than his cold.

BTW, you can ignore my spreadsheet. It is random info mostly just for my notes.

Please tell me if antibiotics affect BSG # and insulin needs, and if a cold affects affects diabetes.

Julia
Sofapup

 

Any infection, inflammation or pain can raise the BG numbers.....that's the easy answer.

As for antibiotics, I think it's probably not a bad idea.....just being diabetic causes a cat's body to be under "stress"....maybe not like being in a shelter environment, but still stressed.

The caveat with AB's is that a lot of them can cause nausea, especially Clavamox, so that's something you need to consider. My own cat just got over a URI....she was on Baytril and did well but ECID.

Another thing to consider....if you start AB's, it's usually the best idea to also start a probiotic. AB's kill off the good bacteria in the intestinal tract so a lot of times they'll cause diarrhea. A probiotic can help replace the good bacteria.

If you're sure there's no nausea, an appetite stimulant can be helpful. Cyproheptadine and Mirtazapine are both common appetite stimulants. I personally like cypro better because it can be given twice a day as needed, where mirtz is usually only given every 3 days. Remember though, it's not fair to give an appetite stimulant to a cat that's sick to it's stomach!

Cats tend to hide when they don't feel good. It's their nature not to show weakness. Hopefully once your kitty is feeling better, he'll be your loving snuggle buddy again!!

 

We saw the vet today. It's end stage heart disease. The echocardiogram shows his heart is pumping 30% of the blood he needs. We'll start meds to make him feel better, maybe. If he eats, we'll give him his insulin. He hasn't been with me long enough.

 

Oh I'm so sorry to hear the news, but meds can make a huge difference so I hope he responds well!!

No matter how long we have them, it's never long enough. 2 days or 20 years