corona virus

Question
IN DEC. 2005 WE ADOPTED PETE (KITTY) FROM THE SPCA, HE WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD. THEY WERE GOING TO PUT HIM DOWN BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN IN A FIGHT AND WASN'T DOING VERY WELL. BECAUSE I HAD TAKEN CARE OF OSCAR (KITTY 14 YEARS) BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY IN MAY 2005 WE ADOPTED PETE. I GAVE HIM COLOSTRUM AND ADIDOPHILUS DAILY AND HE BECAME HEALTHY. THE SITUATION IS THAT WE HAD BLOOD WORK DONE JAN 2006 AND APRIL 2006 AND HE TESTED NEGATIVE FOR THE CORONA VIRUS. HE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH URINATION JUL 2007. HE WAS PUT ON ANTIBOTICS. THEN IN AUG OF 2007 WE HAD TO TAKE HIM BACK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. BEFORE THE URINATION PROBLEM HE HAD HIS TEETH CLEANED MAY OF 2007. THEY HAD TO HOLD HIM UPSIDE DOWN TO DRAIN THE BLOOD THAT HE HAD IN HIS THROAT. HE HAD BITTEN THRU THE AIR TUBE WHEN HE WOKE UP EARLY AND THEY ALSO HAD TO DO CPR. WE THOUGHT THAT WAS WHY HE HAD URINATION PROBLEMS DUE TO STRESS. WE AGAIN HAD BLOOD WORK DONE SEP OF 2007 AND HE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE CORONA VIRUS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO KEEP HIM HEALTHY NOW THAT HE HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE CORONA VIRUS? WHY WOULD IT NOT HAVE SHOWN UP IN THE PRIOR BLOOD TEST?

Answer
You might try licorice root.  Some work has been done to study the effect of glycyrrhizin, a component of licorice roots, in SARS, but there is no answer as to whether it is effective or what the dose should be.  Also, of course, the taste and flavor might turn Pete off.  

Some people recommend steroids to relieve symptoms, but long term use will probably impair the immune system, and I am very skeptical of any use of steroids for more than a couple of days.  It might, however, help an acute respiratory problem.

If the effect is diarrhea, support Pete with fluids.  Herbs to try are goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), 20; chamomile (Matricaria recutita), 20 - also good against anxiety; one ml per ten pounds, twice daily in food.  Slippery elm may help.  Of course, support Pete with probiotics.

Basically, I have not seen that it is possible to cure coronavirus in cats.  Support Pete's immune system - feed him meat, raw or cooked.  If you do use a commercial cat food, get the best you can afford.  

Good foods for Pete would be chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, fish (especially those high in Omega 3); vary the meat, to be sure he doesn't develop an allergy.  Eggs are good - cook the whites.  Give about a teaspoon of vegetable oil a day - canola oil is good.  Supplement with bonemeal tablets (three a day - 10 grain each) and a multiple vitamin-mineral tablet.

There could be any number of reasons why a blood test wasn't positive, including lab error, of course.

Be sure to keep regular visits with a veterinarian.  Consult with a vet about contact between Pete and other animals.

I wish you and Pete the best.

Cordially,

Susan