Expert: Jessica - 10/7/2009

Question
My 1 month (approximately)  old kitten is sneezing, coughing, has a runny nose and his eyes run so much his eyes get sealed shut with green goobers. what is your advise?

Answer
Hi Kelli.  You should get him to the vet right away.  By the sounds of it, this little one needs antibiotics, without which he may die.  If he doesn't receive medical care, he could develop pneumonia or stop eating due to a stuffy nose.  Both are quickly fatal.  One-month-olds develop hypoglycemia if they decide to stop eating and can die in just 24 hours without food.  You'll want to get him on antibiotics before this happens.  He is young to be on medicine, but a small dose of a liquid antibiotic can be given as prescribed by a vet.

The vet will probably also give you an eye ointment or drop to clear his eye infections.  It's very important to keep the eyes open and clear of the discharge you're seeing.  The pressure that builds when the eyes are sealed shut makes the condition even more painful and can lead to serious complications that can threaten the kitten's sight permanently.  Just use a cotton ball soaked with warm water to soften the crust and wipe away the discharge, as often as you can.  Try to be sure discharge gets wiped away before it has a chance to seal the eyes shut.

If the vet feels the kitten has feline herpes, a common viral illness, you can ask about administering a lysine supplement to help get the symptoms under control.  I would recommend Viralys gel or powder for a baby.  At just a month old, the dosage would only be a fraction of that for adults.  However, discuss giving lysine to the baby with your vet, first.  If the vet gives you the go ahead but does not carry Viralys themselves, you can order it online through many sites.  I get mine at www.calvetsupply.com

Best of luck!

Jessica