My cat was treated for a URI. Why is she still losing weight?

Cats that are losing protein through their kidneys can lose weight. With your cat's medical history, I would recommend having him examined by the vet. Blood work will check the kidneys and urinalysis will look for extra protein in the urine. The blood work can also screen for other issues that can cause weight loss.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Just like you pointed out, it is possible that this is all related to the trip. I would recommend to just continue with the current plan for now. If it is just related to the trip, she should start feeling better soon. If her appetite has not improved by tomorrow, let your veterinarian know as the other possibility would be that the antibiotics are causing her to lose her appetite which is a common side effect seen with some antibiotics. Good luck! I hope this is just transient and she goes back to normal.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. I am more concerned about the fact that she is not eating well and that needs to be further addressed as it is unlikely to be due to a urinary tract infection. I recommend that you have Luchadora reevaluated by your veterinarian on Saturday for further assessment and treatment. Keep in mind that if she is not feeling well, they may not proceed with vaccines that day. You may take in a urine sample that day. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Infection in the body can be the cause of weight loss if they are sick enough. After it is treated, if the weigh loss continues, you need to move forward with imaging. Radiographs and ultrasound, basically you are looking for any signs of cancer or internal organ disease that could also cause weight loss. If you are worried about this things, you do not need to wait until treatment for infection is over, you can discuss getting those diagnostics done with your veterinarian. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor girl. It sounds like she's been to the vet and is hopefully under treatment. I can't tell from your question how long ago she had the reaction to the collar but get the impression it wasn't the last couple of days. I wouldn't expect on going issues if the collar was the only problem. If it's been more than a week or so, I would be suspicious that something else entirely is going on. Vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss are the classic symptoms that cats get for nearly every disease, so it's hard to know what could be going on with her. If her blood work is normal, I would be concerned about something primarily with her gut such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Lymphoma. The next step is probably an abdominal ultrasound.

Renal failure often causes cats to lose weight. The waste products that build up in the blood because the kidneys can't properly eliminate them cause nausea and gastritis (inflammation in the stomach) and sometimes even ulcers in the mouth. Talk to your vet about trying some medications to manage these conditions - either omeprazole or famotadine are often helpful, as well as the anti-nausea drug Cerenia. Also the drug mirtazipine can be used to help stimulate his appetite. Unfortunately it sounds like he has multiple problems that may be difficult to manage concurrently. I'd also consider running a bacterial culture of the nasal discharge to try to focus the antibiotic therapy and ensure that an effective drug is being used.

URIs may be caused by viral or bacterial means, so your cat may continue to have the virus live dormant in her body even once her symptoms have stopped. If her symptoms have stopped and the antibiotic course is finished, it is likely safe, however it is always best to confirm with the veterinarian that examined and treated your cat as they will know her history and prognosis best. If she is still having symptoms even after a round of antibiotics it is best to bring her back into your vet for a recheck examination.