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Antibiotics are typically prescribed when a cat develops a sinus infection or cold, and typically, by the end of the dosage, the cat will be doing much better. However, this isn't always the case. If your cat is still experiencing symptoms after completing their antibiotics, here's what you should know and do about it.

Why Antibiotics Are Given

Not every sinus infection or cold will be impacted by antibiotics. In some cases, veterinarians prescribe antibiotics in order to help prevent a secondary infection from developing while your cat's immune system is preoccupied and working hard. If your cat has a bacterial infection that's responsible for their sinus problems, there's a good chance that the antibiotics will beat the illness. However, in either case, sometimes antibiotics aren't enough or don't get the job done.

Not Every Bug Will Be Caught

Even if your cat's infection is bacterial, no single antibiotic is one-size-fits-all. Many antibiotics are broad-spectrum, meaning that they can kill several types of bacteria. However, there are some bacteria that have to be killed by specific antibiotics. Without testing your cat first to determine what's the cause of their bug, your vet likely prescribed a broad-spectrum antibiotic that may or may not have done the job.

What to Do

What's most important here is taking your cat to a vet. First of all, if your cat has a bacterial infection, it's possible that the antibiotic wasn't the right one. On the other hand, it may be the right one, but it's possible that your cat's bacteria is resistant or needs a longer duration of treatment in order for the bug to be beaten. In this situation, you want to get your cat back on antibiotics as soon as possible so that the bacteria doesn't become resistant to them.

Alternatively, your cat could have a viral infection. In either case, your vet will take a sample of your cat's blood and any discharge they're producing to send to a lab. This lab will determine what's behind your cat's infection, which will give the vet an idea of what medication to use. Once they know exactly what's going on with your cat, a new medication (or an extended dose of the original, as indicated) will be prescribed.

While cats usually recover from illnesses quickly with the help of antibiotics, that's not always the case. Remember, if your cat is still having any symptoms at all after their medication is completed, head to a clinic like Animal Emergency Clinic right away.