Kitten Respiratory Infection

[Jbraaten]

I have a kitten who is about 5 months old, give or take, he had a respiratory infection a little over a month ago and I took him to the vet and got him medication. Now he's started sneezing and coughing again. He finished up the medicine about 2+ weeks ago. We have 2 other cats, one is a week older and the other is a little over 6 months. Neither of them are showing signs. They all have their appetite which I was told could leave when they had an infection. I don't know what to do about my little one though. I don't want to take him to the vet again because it was a little bit of an imposition at $77 the first time around, and it would cost just as much to take him back....We do use clay little but it is a low dust/allergin formula. He doesn't sneeze all the time, but he has fits and will sneeze for a minute or more at a time...

[April2]

My cat had this respiratory  infection, too, right after I adopted her from the pound. It's common there. She had it bad. I had to go back and get antibiotics a few times. It finally just had to work out of her system. I think they will only do about 2 or 3 rounds of antibiotics because any more than that it won't work anymore. It's like humans who can build up a tolerance. I was worried about her because she was sick for a couple of months but she finally pulled through. Sometimes these things can take awhile to get rid of.
You should not need to pay another office visit. They should just be able to sell you the antibiotics. And if the vet is nice enough and understands your financial need they should be able to suggest some other options. For instance, did you know that you can get some of your antibiotics real cheap at Wal-Mart? Even for pets! My vet told me this. They only cost around $8 I think? Something like that. Well, I used them once for some meds for my cat. It's only certain ones that they have on this reduced price list, though. Ask your vet about it. Look at what the name of the medication is and see if Wal-Mart's pharmacy has that brand and if it's on their reduced price list. I can't remember if it's $5 or $8, but it's something like that. It's certainly something worth looking in to.
Best wishes!

[zodiacqueen]

No, I did not know that.  You have to be extremely careful how you word things on the forum cuz EVERYTHING winds up looking bad and is misinterpreted.  Take a look at your post again and analyze it from someone else's view.  It would be better if we could see facial expressions and hear the tone of voice or see some "hand" talking.  

Anyway, since you've already paid for the 1st vet visit to take care of the respiratory infection you shouldn't have to pay again.  Why not just call the vet and tell them that you think the infection has come back.  He/she might just tell you to come and pick up some meds w/out having to put yourself or your cat through another vet visit.  My vet will let me just pick up meds.

[Jbraaten]

I understand the possibility of vet bills, I suppose imposition was a bad word, but I myself recently had surgery and things have been tight, not that you could have known that, but you were quick to think that I was ignorant to animals and their needs. Thanks for your advice anyway....

[zodiacqueen]

The respiratory infection might have come back.  SO, you might have to put up with the "imposition" of a medical bill and take him back.  What, did you think that a cat would never get sick and never cost a dime?  That is not realistic.  Illnesses will come up, what will you do then?  What if the cat needed surgery or an extended stay at the vets?  It could happen.  Something you should've thought about BEFORE you got a pet.