Blasto Lung Fungal Disease

Does anyone out there have any experience with "Blasto" a lung fungal disease? Pardon me for not knowing all the correct terminology.

My vet says this is a treatable disease, and my cat has been on the drugs for 5 days, but is not breathing well unless she is in oxygen.

I'm struggling with the decision to put her down, or wait longer to see if the drugs will kick in. And if I wait, how long?

Again, she does fine when she's in oxygen. She eats, grooms, and of course breathes better. But when she is home, she slowly starts breathing worse, then doesn't eat, and looks like horrible.

Yes, Blastomycosis. She's on Itraconazole. I've read where the first 24-72 hours are the worst, and that breathing can become even more difficult. She started the Itraconazole Monday evening, and last night (Friday) she was still not breathing too well.

Here's the strange thing... At the vet last night they took her out of oxygen and brought her to me, and she gets excited and purrs and makes it worse for her to breathe. So I couldn't handle it and told them to put her back. So they put her back in her cage. I asked to sneak in without her knowing, to sort of spy on her, and she was laying there all curled up and not doing too bad, WITHOUT oxygen. Breathing a little labored, but nothing major. Certainly not what she was like with me a few minutes earlier. What's with that? No oxygen, but doing ok. They tell me she was eating and grooming during the day. That makes me think its too soon to put her down.

I go in to see her this morning. They don't know what to tell me. They don't even know for sure if its Blasto. We're also treating her for lung worm and asthma. Could be lung cancer too, but her problems have appeared too suddenly, so the cancer seems unlikely. They're gonna do another x-ray this morning and compare from last week to see if there are any changes. I may bring her home and put her in a homemade oxygen tent for a week and see what happens. I just don't know how long it will take for the Itraconazole to kick in and start helping her breathe easier. And they don't know either.

Hey thanks. Yes, the vet said it could be 6 months of treatment with the Itraconazole to completely rid the Blasto, but she couldn't give me a good idea about how long it would take for it to kick in and help the breathing. Is your two-weeks based on experience with this same drug and disease? If so that would help me in making my decision to give it a while. I don't mind keeping her in an oxygen tent for a week or two (sad as that is) if it will ultimately keep her alive.

I don't know how old she is, though I think she's past middle age. She was a stray I've had for three years. And healthy up until about two weeks ago. She was always a loud purrer, and then suddenly started kind of making strange exhale noises while purring, and like she had to swallow and clear her throat after some purring. I made an appointment with the vet, but it got pretty bad where I had to take her to the ER.

Thanks. Yes, I'm hoping time will help get the drugs doing what they're supposed to.

She's home, and seems to be doing fine. I've got her in a 55 gallon fish tank with oxygen flowing. The medical supply place was very helpful, and said the fish tank was perfect for this. They explained that oxygen is heavier than air, and will sink to the bottom where she is, and push the bad air out.

Thank you all for your words of encouragement. I'm glad I've got her back home with me where she can see familiar surroundings, giving this drug the time it needs to work its magic. Hopefully the oxygen will keep her spirits up, and enable her to eat and drink regularly, AND take her meds.

She seems tired now, and doesn't seem to want to eat. They said she was eating at the vet. Why won't she eat for me? I'm trying to remain calm and not worry too much. But... its tuff not to be concerned about the eating part. She's just hanging out in her tank looking around at times, but mostly curled up in her little donut thing she sleeps in. I'm hoping she's just wore out from being carted back and forth to the vet and the ER clinic. I hate that she can't get exercise and move around much in her little oxygen chamber. I was more upbeat earlier in the day. Now I'm feeling a little sad, like she's not gonna pull through. (positive, think positive)

Puff. Puff is her name. She's a cute little long-haired thing. All black with green eyes. And the most wonderful personality, so easy going and content. My last cat was so psychotic, she hated other people, and vets, etc. Carting Puff to the vet and the ER was so easy because I knew she could care less who she was with, and what was being done to her. Its hard to see her not feeling good.

Hey, yeah, I just noticed. Hi Neighbor! Keep your eyes to the sky today, hot air balloons just took off from Pellissippi College this morning. Maybe they'll float over your area.

Thanks. She's still with us today. Breathing is ok. Not great, but ok. She seems alert and is looking out at the views. Didn't eat yet. I doubt she will. She ate her regular (during this health crisis) soft food at the vet. She'd been on that urinary tract "S-O" crunchy food from the vet for a couple years since I've had her. I'll try stimulating eating with food on my finger. Wonder if I should try plain ol' tuna? The pharmacist said to put the Itraconazole in a little butter and they'll lap it up, but she's not feeling good, so I don't think that will work. Though I've GOT to get that drug into her somehow. I hate to just drag her out of her oxygen sanctuary and throw a pill into her then put her back. Egads. I hate all this, but I'll continue with this routine for a while to see how it goes.

I had some success finger feeding her. She was doing pretty good up until I BLEW IT by trying to sneak in some beads of Itraconazole, then she'd have no more. Dang! She got about a heaping teaspoon full in her. So I took her out and figured I'd try and throw a pill down her throat, but that too was a disaster. Its a capsule, and its sort of big, and I tried to shove it down there like the vet does, but she kept spitting it out, and she was getting upset and breathing badly, so I gave up and put her back in oxygen. She's up there now calming down and grooming -- I'm glad to see that she's grooming.

I'll try again later with the drugs. I'll either have to sneak it into something like butter or cheese or something. I don't think that pill is going down, not by me. I could take her over to the ER and get them to give her a subcutaneous feeding and hydration and throw a pill down her throat. But I doubt she'd like the ride over and back, let alone being out of her oxygen.

Does anyone know of an over-the-counter drug to increase appetite?

Oooh, thanks. I'll take a look.

Very good videos. Her pill isn't any bigger than those in the videos. I'm just such a wimp when it comes to giving pills, especially when they're already feeling so poorly, I hate to add the extra stress.

I've done it before in the past, and I tried to be confident this morning, but I failed. Perhaps I'll give it another try in just a bit. I can get someone to assist me by holding her, while I do my pill duties.

Wish me luck! And Puff!

I'm gonna run out and get some Fancy Feast, and some Tuna. Anyone have any other ideas about what cats simply can't resist? I'm not as concerned about whether or not its healthy for her, just so I can get more calories in her.

Poor Puff. I'm starting to give up hope. I can't get her to eat anything. I haven't noticed her drinking anything. Though she just peed a little bit ago. I had her out of the oxygen just a little bit ago -- she was wanting to be out. But she almost immediately went to open mouth breathing, so she's back in oxygen again. I've not gotten her meds in her yet. I thought about ending her misery and putting her down this afternoon, but I don't think she'd make it there, and I don't want her last few minutes of life being tramatic.

I wish it wasn't Sunday, or maybe I could find someone to give her some subcutaneous fluids or something to keep her going. Or that drug to increase her appetite. But she obviously isn't feeling good or she'd eat something. I don't know what to do. And even tomorrow, I won't be able get someone here on such short notice.

I know you all have told me to give it some time, but its torture for me to see her stuck in an oxygen tank feeling miserable. I'm torn, I just don't know anymore.

After going outside and blubbering in the woods for a while. I decided to be strong and press ahead fighting for Puff. Since there was nothing I could do about her situation today anyway, all I could do is try and try again.

After watching the films for giving the pill, it still took me 5 tries (even with an assistant), but I finally got that capsule down her throat. Ack! It was SO frustrating -- she so stubborn! I tried to maintain my confidence and positive attitute, but several four letter words were popping out here and there. Afterward I gave her a little bit of water with a syringe. Then we placed her back into her oxygen again and proceeded to finger feed her some of that Fancy Feast. Surprisingly she ate some. Probably had another teaspoon full. I guess thats better than nothing.

(sigh) So I guess I'm back to being a little more upbeat. The person helping me said that maybe she'll respond to my "dangit, I know you're not feeling good, but you're gonna take that pill, and eat some food by golly" attitude and respond by doing better and feeling better.

We shall see, but for the moment I am pleased with MY progress.

Oooh, and I forgot to mention that after eating she proceeded to groom herself.

to Puff!