Oh man, that Lucy keeps you guessing! I don't know Michelle... I'm
pretty sure I've had vets prescribe a 5 day dose of abx before, usually
it is 7 to 10 days. I think Hideyo told me she gives them just long
enough for symptoms to subside, (definitely not recommended by the
veterinary community!). I guess if I were dealing with this, I'd try to
determine what was most important to her overall health. Do you think
this is some sort of allergic reaction to Clava in particular? If you
think her diarrhea is a bigger threat than the URI (that now seems
better) and that stopping the abx will result in her immediately
regaining her appetite and resolving the diarrhea, then maybe you should
stop them after a last dose tonight. That would give her at least 5
full days of abx, right? I understand why they want to keep her on the
abx for at least 10 days. They want to be sure to knock whatever this
latest episode was out of her system. If it were just the diarrhea, if
she weren't losing weight, if her coat still looked good... Your
comment about her coat bothers me. If you are talking about that dull,
stiff, almost oily appearing coat, well, I know that symptom has been
associated with some pretty scary deterioration in my house. And Heaven
knows her diarrhea and less than enthusiastic eating habits are
something that you've had to deal with on and off for a long time
now... On the other hand, she's still purring and active... Oh honey,
I wish I had the answers. All I can say is you know Lucy better than
any vet. Take a still and calm moment to meditate and see if the
answers come to you.
Reading over this post, I realize it's less than helpful. I'm still
going to send it to let you know I understand your frustrations. Let us
know what the vet has to say and what you decide to do.
Prayers for clarity,
Nina
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Hi, all. Lucy has been doing well getting over her URI-- no fever, no
stuffy nose, just a little tiny bit of clear discharge from her nose
every now and then. But here is the problem-- she now has frequent
liquid diarrhea, threw up this morning, and is not interested in
eating more than a few bites. She has been on Clavamox for 4 days (got
it this morning and today is her 5th day). The course is 10-14 days.
She has IBD so has trouble with her intestines anyway, and I think
perhaps the Clavamox is giving her the diarrhea and nausea. I gave
her some reglan and force-fed her some of her food blended, and will
give her probiotics in about a half hour.
My question is whether you think I should take her off the Clavamox
now or keep giving it to her. I am wary of taking her off before the
end of the course, or at least a week or so of it, because she may
have had a bacterial infection and her immune system is compromised by
the FeLV and I do not want to set her up for a superinfection. But I
really would like to take her off and see if her intestines straighten
out. She is walkiing around and rubbing and purring, jumping, etc.,
but she clearly does not feel well, has lost weight in the last two
days, and her fur looks kind of funny (though it is very dry in the
house). I am also scared of letting her diarrhea go on for a long
time, if it is from the antibiotics, because that is how her IBD
started in the first place a year ago and I do not want to irrititate
her intestines more. I had gotten her down to 6.25 mg of pred per day
and she was doing well on that, intestines-wise, until last night. I
am assuming it is the antibiotics messing her up now, but of course
can not be sure.
My vet is not in until Monday. I left a message asking that the other
vet there call to give me his opinion on this, but I am not crazy
about him to begin with, so would like to hear your opinions. Have
you ever taken a positive off antibiotics after only 4 or 5 days?
Thanks,
Michelle
