Rudy is still unstable

[shawnapage]

Rudy is a 4 yr old tiger/domestic shorthair cat. I wrote a month ago when he began falling over to the right. After taking him to one vet and having bloodwork etc.i was told maybe he pulled a muscle. A few days later i took him to vet #2 and he put Rudy on Orbax for an ear infection. After 4 days Rudy started acting more stable but after 14 days he still wasnt 100%. Now he seems to be sliding back to being more and more unsteady. He has a history of respitory problems/allergies.  He is sneazy and tired looking and stumbly. The vet is trying him on a different antibiotic because he may have become resistant to the other one. Rudy stays in the basement (kids room) during the day...i think because its cooler and he goes out at night. Ive tried to keep him in but he jumps up on things and knocks things over etc. i think he'd do more harm locked in since his balance makes it hard to jump up. he has a cat door. He sleeps on the front deck in a big chair most of the night. He seems much more skittery with thunder(he trembles) and he licks my bed blankets now. im not sure if those are symptoms but they are new to him. Im scared for him. He also got an Advantage flea treatment 2 weeks before any unsteadiness showed up. what flea treatment should i use until he is feeling better?   thanks for your time.   shawna

[shawnapage]

thanks alot, Rudy is on day 4 and seems to be coming around AGAIN, maybe the other antibiotic wasnt strong enough or he needed it longer. i hope he does not relapse again when this batch is done. he has 16 days worth so i am hopeful. i was hoping its not the flea meds, he hasnt ever had a reaction to them and hes been taking them his whole life. Im just not used to an ear infection causing such a change in a cats personality....i guess all the wierd things could be linked to his balance and such. He is sleeping alot since he started this antibiotic...the other one didnt do that. It is nice to have him rest instead of jumping around like a drunken fool with no balance. He has already kicked the sniffles he had so...onward..................shawna

[GarciaLover]

My cat has cancer and is on all sorts of meds, chemo, pain, antibiotic, appetite stimulant... Doctor said Revolution was ok to use b/c it doesn't directly effect cats systems  if that helps at all.  I hope your kitty feels better. : )

[Thomas Dock, CVJ, Vet. Technician]

I remember your posting and how the second veterinarian found the ear infection.  

While it is not impossible that there is a correlation between these recurring symptoms and the application of Advantage, I am more likely to believe that the ear infection has not resolved completely.  Many ear infections can be difficult to treat, especially if the middle or inner ear is infected.   The tympanic membrane (the ear drum) is going to keep any kind of topical medications from reaching the middle ear so oral medications might be in the kitty's future as well.

Another thing to consider is the fact that he may have a nasopharyngeal polyp in his auditory canal.   These polyps can cause symptoms similar to ear infections, but, since they are often in the auditory canal (which connects the ears and the nasal cavity), it could cause URI type symptoms as well.

The doctors over in the Ask A Vet Expert forum might have some good information for you.   I would consider posting your cat's history there and seeing what they have to say about the continual problem.

[Savas]

How long have you been using advantage on him? Is there any reason to be concerned it's an issue?

[FurballsMom]

Unless fleas are an issue, I wouldn't use any flea treatments on the cat.