My cat was recently diagnosed with a head cold. The vet prescribed him Clavamox. I was just informed that Clavamox is an antibacterial drug that will not fight off viruses. I have already gave my cat two doses. The first dose seemed to help him, and then he didn’t get the second dose until just now because he was refusing to eat. I had to end up giving him the Clavamox without food. Will this medication help him since it is antibacterial? Do I need to go back to the vet?

Updated On September 13th, 2020

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 9 years and 4 months old | 15 lbs

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

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Respiratory infections can be caused by bacteria as well as viruses, so if King has one caused by bacteria, yes it can help. I am concerned he's refusing to eat and if he refuses to eat today, take him back into the vet asap. I have some things you can do at home for him in case his respiratory infection is caused by a virus. First, you can try starting him on an L-lysine supplement - this is an amino acid that has been shown to help the immune system fight off respiratory infections more effectively. Enisyl and Viralys are both good brands, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription - just follow the dosing instructions on the label based on your cat's weight. If he's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing him into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections. I hope this helps!

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