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Cats/respitory issues

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Expert: - 7/13/2009


Question
i rescued a cat that has lots of issues, but most of the them are better with the exception of his breathing.  he has to breathe through his mouth as best as he can.  he coughs and sneezes a bit.  he has been the vet i cant tell you how many times in the 2 months i have had him.  we can not get the breathing better.  it was suggested that we do a cat scan and a scope, but that is over $2000 and i just can't do that.  i run a ferret rescue and have over 50 little ones here plus one other cat.
do you have any suggestions of what i can try or do for Graham.
we have done the pred, an antihistimine, nasal drops,etc.  i just want him to feel better.
i think he is older, but there is no way of telling.  he had 20 teeth pulled before i got him and all of the other 9 teeth were so bad, i had to have them pulled.  he is eating soft and kibble.  he has put on weight and seems to ok now.
any help would be so greatly appreciate by me and graham

Answer
Linda,

Without knowing the medical history of Graham, it is impossible to know what best to do.  Remember, I am not a vet, but if there was upper respiratory damage due to negligence before you got him, there may be permanent damage, and he is over sensitive to many substances that, normally, would not bother him.

I am not sure there is anything you can give him to make him breather better.  Sometimes an antibiotic flush of the sinuses can help out. Graham would have to be anesthetized, and there is no guarantee it will do any good.

As long as Graham is eating normally, using the litter pan normally,  and relatively active, I would not worry too, too much!

Best regards.... Norm.  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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