Snotty nose follow up

Question
Dear Dr. Fry,

I wrote to you some months ago about my 16-year-old cat with chronic rhinitis.  At that time he had already been tried on various antibiotics with no success.  You suggested Zithromax.  I passed your information on to my vet and we gave the Zithromax a whirl, but to no avail.  According to lab cultures, the cat has a resistant pseudomonas infection.  My vet has thrown in the towel on this one and can offer no more help.  (As an aside, the cat also suffers thyroid disease and takes daily Tapazole).

Meanwhile, Banks (my cat) remains EXTREMELY uncomfortable and can barely breathe.  He is so, so, so congested!  He seems to be pleading with me for help.  Do you know of any kind of decongestant therapy I could use to provide a little bit of comfort for him?  It breaks my heart to watch him struggle for breath.  I would appreciate ANY additional help!

Thanks,
Connie
regorl@operamail.com

Answer
I would definitely recommend that you put him on Transfer Factor to help boost up his immune system.  If you can get capsules into him, then give him the human Transfer Factor Plus...one capsule twice a day to start.  If you can't get pills into him, then try the TF Feline Complete Powder mixed in canned food.   www.my4life.com/drfry
www.4tf-pets.com/testimonials.htm

You can try a nebulizer or check out aerokat.com ... although designed for asthmatic cats, you can put antibiotics as well as bronchodilators in the chamber for treatment.

Sometimes in these cases, a small amount of steroids will help reduce the inflammation in the sinuses.  Dexamethasone would be the one to try--it comes in tablets or can be given by an injection....ask your vet.  

You can also try steroid/antibiotic eye drops and drop 1-2 drops into the nose 2-3 times daily for direct action.

Otherwise, you can try antihistamines to see if that helps ... chlortrimeton (chlorphinaramine) is available over the counter and you can try 2 mg twice a day or ask your vet for cyproheptadine.

COLLOIDAL SILVER may help as well...you can give it orally (mix it into drinking water) and also put a drop or two in each nostril.