How can you tell if a baby has pneumonia?

How can I tell if my kittens URI is getting better or worse?

• My kitten was diagnosed with a URI 2 days ago. It's New Years weekend so I can't get in touch with my vet until Monday or even possibly Tuesday. How can I tell if it's getting better? Or worse? Are there any signs or symptoms I can look out for? He is on antibiotics. He was dehydrated but the vet gave him fluids when we went and I've been adding water to his canned food as well as forcing him to drink some with a small kitten nursing bottle. He's been sneezing a lot (which is why I took him to the vet to begin with). Today his sneeze started getting more wheezy. I'm not sure if this means he's getting rid of the mucas in his upper resp. tract or if it's a symptom that he's getting worse/pneumonia. He's 9 weeks old and approx 15 oz. The vet said there's a good chance he won't make it because he's so small initially, but when I spoke to him on the phone yesterday, he sounded more optimistic and said it seemed like he was on the right path. I'm very concerned about this new development and I'm not sure if I'm overreacting or if this is a serious new development. I REALLY can't afford to take him to the vet unless I absolutely have to and I probably couldn't until Monday or Tuesday anyway. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks! Heather and baby Felix

• Answer:

  It has only been two days and I have found that URI's can take up to 3 weeks to resolve. Did the vet give him an injection of antibiotics or are you giving the pills? The pills will take a little longer to kick in. It is hard to say if he is getting better or worse as I don't know what his symptoms were to start. Yes, they will wheeze and the warm steam should help break up the mucous. Be careful with the forcing of the fluids as he could aspirate if they are "forced" on him. If he is eating and peeing that is good. Listen to his wheezes and if they come and go that is good. If he stops eating, starts vomiting, stops peeing or if he starts breathing faster (panting) then you need to get him to a vet ASAP. He does seem quite small for his age so Felix might have something else going on with him. Was he the runt of the litter? Were his littermates healthy? Good luck