Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

zealvia · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 245

my cat "cicak" just recover from eyes infection..now had coughing sometimes. I ask vet nearby he sell antibiotic paste ( tiub) for ulcer, eyes infection and coughing. Is it true. Coz i think just buy that paste could be cheaper than medical fees. Btw that cough nvr effect his eat and toilet schedule. Well I have 10 indoors cats and live in apartment. I couldnt separate if one of them got desease..all of them just stay around hall. How ya..i think another cat also show same symptom like get infection.

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

Firstly, if you have many cats and cant seperate the sick ones, I seriously hope that you have all of them vaccinated (and up-to-date vaccinations).

Secondly, there is not ONE antibiotic that will work for ALL diseases. So, you first need to find out what diease your cat is having, before getting the antibiotics. Some diseases, even antibiotics will not work.

By "trial and error", you'll end up spending more money. Let me give you this scenario:
1. You get the antibiotic paste for your cat.
2. In 1 weeks time, you find that the paste did not work, and your cat's condition is worse than ever.
3. You bring Cicak to the vet, but since he's really bad, the vet needs to give more critical treatments and stronger medicines - which will cost you a bomb! (and there's no guarantee that your cat will survive - since the condition is too advanced).
4. You discover at least 3 more of your cats with the same symptoms at home, since you couldn't seperate the rest.
5. You quickly bring in the other 3 cats to the vet, and is easily cured with the right medications.

So, your total cost = life of one cat, medical treament for critical illness, treatment for 3 cats, plus the antibiotic paste.

If you brought your cat in to see a vet early, the cost would be = treatment for 1 cat.

I'll let you decide if its worth the gamble to just get the antibiotic paste.