Apollo's URI

[Silverrose]

Just returned from the vet with Apollo, one of my boys. I had noticed him breathing a bit labored, and also occasional "clicking." I already knew it was probably the start of an upper respiratory infection. The vet here is pretty knowledgeable and super nice, so we got him checked out asap. Luckily, his lungs are clear, and it all seems concentrated in his sinuses. So for now, he is just on SMZ-TMP, and gentocin drops for his eye which is a bit weepy. he also got some fluids while he was there. But, if things don't get better soon we'll start him on baytril and also nebulization treatments. I am really glad I did get him in early, cuz I know how fast they can go downhill when it comes to respiratory issues. Any further advice and knowledge is appreciated, as I know quite a few people have dealt with this issue. I will keep you guys updated as things go along. Keep good thoughts for my big stud muffin!

 

[tunes]

Good job catching it early Therese. That's probably the biggest fight of clearing up a chins illness.

If you keep him on shavings, consider putting him on paper towels or a fleece liner until this clears. Sometimes the dust from the shavings can be aggravating to a nasal/URI issue.

 

[Silverrose]

Apollo's snorty noises have gone away and he doesn't click when he breathes anymore. But, his appetite has also decreased. I have started to handfeed him. My problem is that he gets snorty and sounds congested when I feed him. I don't want him to choke, so I am paranoid of every sniffle and sputter he makes while I feed him. I have watered down his cc so that he is getting more fluids, but should I keep it thicker and just give him water later? Would that be easier for him to ingest it? I am trying to feed him slowly, but he gets more and more feistly the longer I try, but I don't want to just stuff it down his throat. For now, I am doing 4 feedings per day, and all I can get down him is about 10ccs per feeding (2 hours before and after his medication which is taken twice a day), which I know isn't nearly enough. Is he just making a scene when I feed him and I just need to see through it and muscle through a feeding session? Or do I just need to literally feed him constantly through the day, slowly and surely? Or is there something else I could do? Help! :banghead:

 

[tunes]

Yup, he's just making a scene. Every chin I've had to hand feed has fought and struggled and generally made a pain in the butt of themselves, at least for the first little while. I'm assuming you burrito him, just make sure you have those paws completely contained. When I'm done with the burrito, my chins look like a cigarette. Long and slim. They can't move their back legs, their front legs are completely trapped and the towel is up to their chin (thin towel works, fluffy towel not so much). Then I hold them between my forearm and the left side of my body, with their head between my thumb and third finger on either side of their face, with my pointer finger on the top of the head. There is no way they can move away from me in any direction. After a very short time, they usually just give up the struggle and are actually glad to eat. I can get 50 mL in per feeding and just do it morning and night, into pretty much any chin with a little persistence.

Have you tried a different flavor of critical care? That may be the issue too. Some chins really like the plain, others like the flavored.

 

[Silverrose]

Just another update. I thickened up the cc and added a little bit of baby applesauce. And like magic, he thinks it's the best stuff on earth now. I put some on a spoon for him to lick up, and when he gets tired and bored of that, then I burrito him and syringe it. I don't have too much of a problem now and he will swallow it without too much fuss. I also have meanie sending me some apple-banana flavored to see if likes that even better. I am just soooo glad he is finally getting a good amount of food in him. Besides his appetite increasing, he is still sounding much better than when I first took him in, no more labored breathing, or breathing through his mouth.