Feline Asthma

Dexter is breathing harder today.
I am keeping a close eye on him but really quite concerned.
One month ago he was, along with acute asthma meds,
given an injection of long acting Depo-Medrol.
He did quite well for awhile but now I wonder if it's affects are wearing off.
His vets were hoping that he may not go into chronic lung inflammation but now I am beginning to suspect that he has passed into a chronic stage of this disease.

poor Dexter I hope it gets worked out.


As of today the shot that Lombardi was given he has had no attacks. This is starting to confirm the asthma.

Have a good afternoon!

Originally Posted by xocats

Dexter is breathing harder today.

I am keeping a close eye on him but really quite concerned.
One month ago he was, along with acute asthma meds,
given an injection of long acting Depo-Medrol.
He did quite well for awhile but now I wonder if it's affects are wearing off.

His vets were hoping that he may not go into chronic lung inflammation but now I am beginning to suspect that he has passed into a chronic stage of this disease.

Click to expand...

Originally Posted by akbeck98

poor Dexter I hope it gets worked out.
As of today the shot that Lombardi was given he has had no attacks. This is starting to confirm the asthma.
Have a good afternoon!

Click to expand...

I am glad that Lombardi is feeling better.

My cat, Penelope, has been doing well on the inhaled medications. She takes Flovent regularly (two puffs a day) and Albuterol in case of emergencies. I use this kitty nebulizer to administer the meds:

www.aerokat.com

If you want more information about using inhaled meds for asthma, go to this site:

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/f...a_inhaledmeds/

Thanks for sharing those links Colleen.
Support and knowledge are critical when dealing with an asthmatic cat.

I am glad that Penelope is doing well on her meds....
Does she have a thread in the Health forum about her asthma's history and treatment?
If she does would you add a link in a post here so I can read it...
If not you might want to start her own asthma thread.

The more info. the better....

Originally Posted by xocats

Thanks for sharing those links Colleen.
Support and knowledge are critical when dealing with an asthmatic cat.

I am glad that Penelope is doing well on her meds....

Does she have a thread in the Health forum about her asthma's history and treatment?
If she does would you add a link in a post here so I can read it...
If not you might want to start her own asthma thread.

The more info. the better....

Click to expand...

That's a good idea. Penelope has an interesting medical history so I will do that.

Update on Lombardi....

As of today he had a quick sneezing/phelmy type cough for about 10 seconds. Otherwise no attacks! We go back for a recheck on the 4th of Decmember! I hope we can get on a low dose inhaler.

It sounds like Lombardi is fairly stable.
My fingers are crossed that your boy continues to do well & that at his next vet visit in December,
he gets the meds that you feel would help him.

Dexter is hanging in there with normal breathing but still a bit lethargic.
This may require another visit to his vet.
If this continues, I may as for a referral to a specialist for a complete work-up.

I'll be watching for your updates about sweet Lombardi's progress.

It is really good to know about others' experiences with this. I weas told both by vets in Sarajevo and here that the inhalers for cats were either unobtainable or terribly expensive. What is the average monthly cost? Are they easy to get? Could I get them online, with my vet's agreement? I am concerned about keeping Wellington on steroids longterm.

Jenny...
Dexter has not had to use an inhaler yet,
however, I found this site when I was looking for info. about them.http://www.fritzthebrave.com/meds/inhaled.html

It might be useful for you to start an Asthma Inhaler thread...
I would like to hear about members experience with them also.

I am sending Wellington breathing vibes.

Update on Lombardi,

Today my husband took him for a recheck. The shot did work and he has been symptom free since that first day he received it.

He will now be going on a pill that I am assured is a non-steroid. It is a bronchi dilator. I will tell you the kind as soon as the prescription comes through. He said if that did not control it than we could go the inhalant route. He doesn't think he will need that strong of a dose and that would be too much in the inhalant kind.

So later this week he will begin taking the pills crushed and mixed in with his pills. The vet also said if my other cat ate any it wouldn't harm her. My husband took him, so he didn't write down the med name.

I have a list of more questions to ask when the vet calls to say the prescription is ready. I will have to fill it at a people pharmacy.

Have a great night!

That is excellent news.
I will watch for your next update about Lombardi's new medication.

Thanks for letting us know how your sweet boy is doing.

Thanks for the update and info. When you have more and after you know how he is doing on the new meds I will speak to my vet about it as I hate keeping Wellington on steroids longterm, and he is extra precious to me now.

I had Gizmo's lungs X rayed in late November and she came up 'clean'! The inflammation that was showing on the original x rays taken when I got her, has disappeared!

I can truthfully thank the makers of the good food, the new (non-corrosive) natural cleaners, and especially the air filters and vaporizers, for my kitty's improved health.

Fingers crossed for her heart, but she showed no abnormal rhythms during the exam, either, and has been very active and playful.

No matter what, enjoy them while you can.
I hope that Astrid, Lombardi, and the other asthmatic cats are all well for the holidays.

That is wonderful news on Gizmo. How long has she been asthmatic? I am pleased that Wellington does not have as many attacks here as he did in Sarajevo, but they do still happen. It shows what can be done with good food and good care. You must be so relieved.

I don't know how long Gizmo was asthmatic, since I adopted her when she was four.

It has occurred to me that the real reason the kids who gave her up did so was that she started wheezing, and they anticipated heavy vet bills, and didn't want to take her to a shelter where she would be killed at once. They gave her a chance to live.

It cost a bit to get her this far, and I am not sure if her heart is really strong--but she is happy and playful and active, and so I will (as before) enjoy her while she is here.

May all your kitties also be well for the holidays.

Well the vet called today when I was at work. My husband is off for the next few days so he has been the care giver!

Well he went to the vets and talked again and received 14 days of a some meds (i'm currently not home so I still don't know the name!!!).

The vet said he was doing more research on the inhalents. I think from what I gathered from my husband he would be prescribing a rescue type inhaler for if he has an attack at home. He wanted to do more research and see what he can do. It sounds to me like we are the first to push the issue or the first with asthma in his office.

Honestly I think that it is more that we are being pushy. Most "non" obsessed cat people would be happy with a pill that stopped their cat from attacks. But I keep asking more question etc. I am very happy with the way the vet is handling things.

I will update if I have time what the meds are when I get home tonight. Then in a few days the vet will let us know about the rescue inhaler and stuff.

Have a good night!

I'm glad to hear everyone is doing well asthmaically speaking!

I am glad that you are pushing your vet.
You are a good kitty Mommy.
The answers that you get will benefit all of us who have kitties with asthma.

Tonight was day one of the meds. I crushed them and mixed them in his food. Some nights my cats don't eat all their wet food. So now here is my next dilema. Jaiden can get a little of the meds but it was hard patroling to make sure they stayed on the same plate. Specially since my muchkins love to eat a little go run around and come back for 2nds. Hopefully I will give him a smaller amount of food tomorrow and get it all down in the first serving. Then pour the rest out after that.

The meds are called Theophylline and he is taking 100 mg.

Have a great night everyone!

Amanda

Molly has asthma and yesterday she coughed up a small pile of green liquid with looked like sinus infection mucus. Is this normal? She isn't acting like she has a cold and her breathing sounds the same as always. I thought I read on here that someone has asthma and they said occasionally they have fluid come up. I just wish they could talk to us!