Gentamicin for respiratory infections

Question
I care for feral cats around my house. One started with sneezing and progressed to drooling,one eye running,and audible wheezing. It hasn't eaten for past 3 days. Can I try Genticin with betamethasone,which I have from a previous cat,as a treatment?I cannot afford taking the ferals to the vet,and have no other meds. She is neutered and had rabies shot.

Answer
John,
I don't know if it would be effective if all it is a bottle of eye drops. I don't know of any pills with gentamycin in them. I only know of Genticin, which are eye drops. You can certainly try them, I just don't know how effective they can be for a RESPIRATORY infection. I hope that is more clear. Sorry for being vague.

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Is this an ophthalmic solution? She sounds like she has a URI, as you stated. Most vets treat these with amoxicillin or clavamox, and all those do is prevent secondary infections, as what she has most likely is a virus.Probably Rhinotracheatis, the most common one out there in feral populations. If you used this in one cat for the same thing, then it's your call to use it again if it worked. (I can't prescribe anything).

You should ask your vet about giving you some antibiotics that you can put into food or water, and getting some discounts on 5 way vaccinations for them. That will cover the viruses. You can also get them at a feed store. I don't ever recommend those for house pets but for ferals they are better than having no vaccinations at all.

Thank you for spaying them and giving them rabies vaccs!!

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