UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION

Coughing, sneezing, and runny eyes are some of the signs you will notice. Commonly called URI (Upper Respiratory Infections), these are like human colds and sinus problems. While cats are particularly susceptible to URI, dogs can also have URI, including a common disorder called Kennel Cough. Cats are particularly bothered by URI because their stimulus to eat is primarily smell driven. If they cannot smell, they may be very picky about what they do eat… or may not eat at all! Causes of URI From the holistic perspective, each animal has a balanced energy field; that field be unbalanced by stresses such as infections. So the energy field may be disturbed by many causes to produce these symptoms, the animal then attempts to re-balance the energy field. From the conventional perspective, viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other organisms can each cause different combinations of eye, nose, sinus and throat problems. Smog, chemicals, and cancer are also implicated. A few specific URI diseases include the following for dogs and cats: Rhinotracheitis is a common virus causing coughing, sneezing, discharge from the nares. Fever and poor appetite may plague the cat all its life. Chronic tearing and crusty eye discharge are common and create a rather pathetic look to any cat affected. Calicivirus is an upper respiratory virus that creates ulcerations in the mouth and tongue. Cats can be carriers for life even when having no symptoms. Chlamydiais a tiny organism that creates inflammation of the eyes and nasal passages. Signs include sneezing, ocular discharge, nasal drainage, tearing, salivation and coughing. Kennel Cough in dogs (Bordetellosis and Infectious Tracheobronchitis) causes a dry, hacking cough about three to seven days after being infected and signs last 7 to 21 days. It sounds as if the dog needs to "clear it's throat" and any extra activity or pressure on the trachea (like pulling on the collar) will trigger the cough. Affected dogs usually otherwise appear healthy. The vast majority of dogs that acquire this infection will recover on their own with no medication. Conventional veterinarians often treat with antibiotics, steroids, or cough suppressants. Kennel Cough seems so common, and is even named "Kennel" cough, because it spreads when there are numbers of dogs confined together in an enclosed environment such as a kennel, animal shelter, or indoor dog show. Infected dogs can spread the organisms for days to weeks even after seeming to have fully recovered! Remember that only susceptible animals, when exposed, will get any symptoms. Few holistically treated dogs get kennel cough. Treatment of URI As with any problem, the most important focus is on building up the overall health of your animal. Feed the best diet for your individual, make sure you are creating quality time needed by your animal, and eliminate any environmental factors that might cause stress. Give immune building supplements. Decide if your animal needs to be seen by a veterinarian before you try any treatment. If they are eating fairly well, are fairly active and not in extreme pain or irritation from the discharges, you can try a few home treatments. If you have been treating your own animal for a week and there is no response, or at any time if it seems sick, contact your holistic or conventional veterinarian. If your animal is already under treatment for general health improvement or for another problem, be sure to contact your holistic veterinarian before starting any treatment on your own since the sneezing or coughing or runny eyes may be part of the healing crisis. For all the different conditions, pick one or two treatments with which to start – not multiples of treatments all at once. Select by reading about each one at the website and then decide which is most needed by your animal at this time. Give one treatment, wait two days and record the changes in your journal, then add in a second treatment. Then you will know what is helping. If you are not sure about progress toward good health, consult a holistic veterinarian. Immune Building Supplements These would be good for any URI in dogs or cats... Improve digestion: Prozyme, Wysong C or F biotic, Azmira Digest Zymez, Azmira Acidophilus, Ark Naturals Gentle Digest. Nutritional Supplements: Merritt Naturals EFA, Green Alternative, Multi-vitamin herbal supplement, Vetriscience Nu Cat or Canine Plus, NaturVet Vita Cat or Pet tabs, Nupro All Natural Dog supplement, Missing Link, Solid Gold, Neura Wellness super5Canine supplement, Azmira MegaPet. Specific Immune enhancers: Vetriscience DMG, Anti-ox, and World Herbs Petsiac, Azmira Super C powder, NAN Calcium or Sodium Ascorbate, Animals' Apawthecary Echinacea/Goldenseal Blend, Azmira Echinacea & Goldenseal Root, Azmira Immuno Stim'R, Rescue Remedy. More specific URI treatments: Halo Eyebright Herbal Supplement, Halo's eye wash kit makes cleaning out eyes much easier, World Herbs Allerg-Ease, Azmira Aller'G Free or Aller"G. Final thoughts on URI * When cats are not eating because of a stuffed up nose or sinusitis, feed more odor producing foods like tuna or fish or smoked meats. * Humidifiers can be of great help. If using homeopathic remedies do not use menthol or other very aromatic substances. Simply having your animal in the bathroom when you shower can help you decide if humidifiers are helpful. * Use a harness on dogs that have Kennel Cough and keep the collar off when the dog is inside. * Offer heated areas (heating pads) or cooled areas (a fan, tile floors) so the animal can choose which makes them feel better. * Do not worry about your healthy animal getting infected from others. If they develop symptoms it is helping them become healthier overall and with your or professional holistic treatment most animals totally recover from most of the common URI problems.