Having a fever is not necessarily a bad thing, both in humans and in animals. This is a normal immune response that helps the body recover from a disease by killing bacteria that are sensitive to high temperatures. Furthermore, the increase in body temperature produces an increase in blood flow to damaged tissues, repairing them. However, there are cases where it can be dangerous. If your cat has a fever, you may be able to help bring it down to recover faster. There are many medications to consider. By helping him feel better, you will allow him to heal and return to normal.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Lower Fever with Home Remedies
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms of fever in cats
A cat's rectal temperature is usually around 38-39 ° C. If you have trouble taking your cat's temperature, the following symptoms can help you tell if he has a fever:
- Poor appetite
- Lethargy
- Inactivity
- Weakness
- Excessive hair loss
- Isolation from other cats
- Shortness of breath or shallow breathing
- Chills
- Less interest in cleaning up
- Since fever is often caused by an underlying disease, watch out for other symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, or swelling of the skin. They could indicate the cause of your discomfort.
Step 2. Measure the temperature
The presence of symptoms certainly indicates that the cat has a fever, but the only way to know for sure is to take the temperature with a thermometer. You can do this in the rectum or in the ear.
- Get the supplies. You will need a thermometer, a lubricant (for example, petroleum jelly or a suitable gel), alcohol, paper towels, and some cat treats.
- If you're using a glass thermometer, shake it until the mercury drops below 35 ° C. Alternatively, turn on a digital thermometer or use a pet-friendly thermometer and measure the temperature in your ear.
- If you measure it rectally, lubricate the thermometer.
- Take the cat in your arms, as if you want to rock it, or ask someone to hold it. Raise your tail.
- Insert the thermometer into the anus about 2 cm. If it's glass, leave it for 2 minutes. If it's digital, remove it when it beeps.
- Clean the thermometer with an alcohol-soaked paper towel.
- Give the cat a treat to comfort him.
- If the fever exceeds 39 ° C, take him to the vet immediately. When it is high, it risks causing organ damage.
Step 3. Physically examine the cat
Palpate it, pressing and rubbing lightly. Find out if there is any injury, including broken bones, enlarged lymph nodes, abscesses, wound infections, or tumors - all of these conditions can cause a fever.
- You may feel a bone fracture. Fractures or broken bones can cause swelling or bruising in the affected area. If you put pressure on the injured area, the cat will react with pain. Therefore, be gentle when examining it physically.
- Swollen lymph nodes should be felt under the jaw area and on the shoulders. It is also possible to feel swelling in the back of the legs or near the groin.
- Take your cat to the vet immediately if you notice any of these symptoms. These conditions require immediate medical intervention.
- If you don't notice any of these symptoms, fever is likely a normal immune response. Follow the steps below, unless the cat fever has lasted for more than 24 hours. If you have been in a febrile state for more than a day, see your vet as soon as possible.
Step 4. Help the cat cool down physically
Cats can only lose heat through evaporation through the sweat glands in their paws. Help him lose heat when he is in a feverish state to lower his body temperature. Place it in a cool, dark place, preferably on a slate or tiled floor, so that it can stretch and transfer body heat to the tiles by conduction. You can also try the following methods:
- Place a fan on the floor so that it blows fresh air over his body.
- Apply ice packs to your body or paws.
- If your cat tolerates it, gently wet the coat with water. You can use a damp cloth or spray bottle to moisten the fur. Evaporation will help cool the body.
Step 5. Give it plenty of water
Fever can be caused by dehydration, but it can also cause it, so it's important to make sure you have plenty of fresh water available at all times. If he has difficulty drinking, give it to him via a needle-free syringe. By rehydrating, he will be able to lower the fever. This is why cats are given intravenous fluids when admitted to veterinary clinics.
- A feverish cat doesn't want to get up and walk, so make sure they have water nearby, and if anything, you can also wipe their gums with a sponge moistened with warm water.
- In addition to water, febrile cats from Gatorade or a baby electrolyte solution can be given. It can help restore the animal's electrolyte balance, especially in case of vomiting or diarrhea. You can use a syringe to get him to drink it.
- If the cat is opposed to using the syringe, try making frozen cubes made of water or Gatorade. He may have more pleasure in licking an ice cube than drinking (and the cold will help him cool down).
- Never give milk to a cat! In fact, it is a very sensitive animal to lactose. Milk can worsen your health, causing nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Step 6. Make sure he eats
Fever takes enormous amounts of energy and can make your kitty too weak. He probably won't feel comfortable eating solid foods. Therefore, you can supplement his nutrition, providing him with soft foods. Scrambled eggs or smoothie canned tuna are great options.
- If your cat refuses solid, soft foods, try using a syringe to give him a milk replacer (available in pet stores). It is a food designed to feed sick cats or kittens that are not nursed by their mother. Use a syringe (without needle) with a capacity of 5cc and 10cc.
- Insert the tip of the syringe into the inside of the corners of your mouth, which is closer to your cheeks. Cats and dogs reflexively swallow anything that passes into this inner area of the mouth.
- If the cat is unable to eat, ask the vet if he can take high calorie liquid supplements. She can consume them until she feels better and then go back to eating solid foods.
Step 7. Give your cat vitamin B and energy supplements
It is a good idea to ensure that your cat is getting the right nutrients, stimulating their appetite. In other words, it's about adding B vitamins and energy supplements to your diet.
- It is possible to administer a vitamin and energy supplement, such as Nutri-Plus Gel (5 ml per day for 5 days), to combat fatigue and nutrient deficiency.
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An excellent supplement of the B vitamin complex is Coforta. It has a high concentration of cyanocobalamin (3), which is necessary for energy metabolism. It is injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly, 0.5ml to 2.5ml once a day for 5 days:
- For small cats, less than or equal to 1 kg, 0.5 ml is needed.
- For cats from 2 to 6 kg, 1 ml.
- For big cats 7 to 9 kg, 2.5 ml.
- For cats straddling these weight categories, estimate the dose from those above or consult your veterinarian, always approximating down.
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Never give your cat supplements containing the following ingredients, as they can be toxic:
- Garlic or onion
- Football
- Vitamin D
- C vitamin
Method 2 of 2: Lower Fever with Medication
Reduce Fever in Cats Step 8 Step 1. Take the cat to the vet
If your cat does not respond to home care within 24 hours, you should take him to the vet. A high fever, if it lasts for a long time, can indicate a more serious health problem. The vet can carry out examinations and tests to determine what the cause is.
- Be sure to share the cat's medical history with the vet. Among the information you need to provide is your travel report, contact with other animals, recent vaccinations or other treatments, allergies, and anything else you believe may have caused the fever.
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Fever can arise for a variety of reasons, including:
- Bacterial, viral or fungal infections
- Physical trauma
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Necrotic tissue
- Tumor or cancer
- The cause of the fever will determine the treatment to be followed. The vet will need to run tests to figure out what triggered it. The most common tests include blood and urine tests.
Reduce Fever in Cats Step 9 Step 2. Use antibiotics if prescribed by your vet
If the fever is caused by a bacterial infection, the infection that produced it will need to be treated. Usually the administration of antibiotics is sufficient to lower it. Although this class of drugs is generally not dangerous for febrile cats, do not resort to self-medication. Always make sure that the vet has examined the animal and prescribed the appropriate antibiotics. They are often specific to one strain of bacteria and, therefore, there is a risk that they will not be effective for others. Your vet can recommend the best drug treatment for your cat. The most common and safe ones, prescribed by veterinarians, include:
- Ampicillin and amoxicillin (20 mg for each kg of body weight). Both available in suspension form, they can usually be purchased at a pharmacy.
- Marbofloxacin (2 mg per kg) is commercially available in tablet form, but can be very difficult to dose due to the small size of the pills.
- Doxycycline (5 mg per kg) is available as a paste and is a preparation made for pets that can be purchased under veterinary prescription. This is Vibravet ®, which is sold with a plastic dosing syringe to ensure correct administration.
- Regarding the administration of antibiotics, the duration of the drug should always be one week (7 days). Always complete the full course of antibiotics, even if the cat seems to be feeling better. Shortening it can cause infections to come back and antibiotic resistance.
Reduce Fever in Cats Step 10 Step 3. Learn about Meloxicam
It is a valid antipyretic drug, similar to Tolfedine. Its equivalent is the Metacam. Its use is approved in many countries, although not all studies agree that it is safe for cats. It should not be administered except under veterinary prescription. The recommended maintenance dose is 0.05 mg per day for each kg of the veterinary version of Meloxicam, before or after meals. A 5kg cat will need 0.5ml.
- It should be noted that Meloxicam is formulated in two strengths: for dogs (1.5 mg / ml) and for cats (0.5 mg / ml). It is imperative to give the cat the correct version of this drug to avoid an overdose.
- Meloxicam should only be used in well hydrated cats. Otherwise, you risk compromising the functioning of the kidneys and a lower blood supply to these organs can cause kidney failure in the animal.
Reduce Fever in Cats Step 11 Step 4. Use aspirin only under the supervision of your veterinarian
Aspirin is not the antipyretic of choice in cat care. It can cause dehydration, vomiting, and other severe symptoms. It can be given to cats with extreme caution if prescribed by the veterinarian. Follow the recommended doses.
- The recommended dose for a cat is 10-25 mg per kg, every 48-72 hours. Use pediatric aspirin, which usually comes in 50 or 75 mg tablets, to facilitate lower dosing.
- Give aspirin along with food and water. If you give it to him on an empty stomach, there is a risk that the cat will feel bad.
- Once absorbed through the stomach lining, aspirin decomposes into salicylic acid. However, cats lack the enzyme needed to metabolize this molecule. This means that salicylic acid levels remain elevated for long periods of time and, therefore, high and / or further doses can quickly lead to intoxication. Therefore, it is extremely important to control the dosages to be administered.
Reduce Fever in Cats Step 12 Step 5. Know that cats do not respond to some drugs designed for human use
Lowering fevers in cats is different from other animals due to their physiology. In fact, in the liver they lack an enzyme called glucuronosyltransferase. This means that their bodies cannot metabolize many drugs that are safe for people. In many cases, even medicines suitable for dogs are not safe for them. Therefore, do not give your furry friend any medication intended for human use, unless specifically prescribed by your vet, otherwise you risk damaging his health or even killing him.
Advice
- If your cat refuses to eat or drink, take him to the vet. Chances are you need medical help.
- Do not give aspirin to your cat unless your vet has given you the correct dosage. Cats are very sensitive to aspirin. If you give him the wrong dose, it could make his condition worse.
Warnings
- Consult your vet if your cat has a temperature above 39 ° C or if the fever lasts for more than 24 hours.
- If you have any doubts as to whether a drug is safe for your cat, be very cautious! Consult your vet about any medications you can give him.
- Be careful not to do more harm than good and use extreme caution when giving your cat any medications intended for people, as most are extremely toxic to felines. Follow the dosing instructions, provided by your vet.
