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Older cat coughing?

post #1 of 9
2/20/10 at 7:57pm
Thread Starter 
I have read the older cat coughing threads here on this site....... Poor Simon my rescued Siamese mixed boy (12+ years old) I am money poor for vet bills here and am unemployed . Simon will have 2-3 minute coughing spells about every other day. I have been feeding him Laxatone for over 2 weeks now for possible hairballs. I comb Simon everyday as he loves it. Simon sheds almost nothing.......... Any and all suggestions are appreciated
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post #2 of 9
2/20/10 at 8:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slave2_Ragdolls View Post
I have read the older cat coughing threads here on this site....... Poor Simon my rescued Siamese mixed boy (12+ years old) I am money poor for vet bills here and am unemployed . Simon will have 2-3 minute coughing spells about every other day. I have been feeding him Laxatone for over 2 weeks now for possible hairballs. I comb Simon everyday as he loves it. Simon sheds almost nothing.......... Any and all suggestions are appreciated
I am sorry Bob, but IMO it is time to call the vet... When Lucky had something similar, my vet gave me a deadline - 2 weeks for her to get better on laxatone, or bring her in. It turned out she had an irritation of some sort on her upper respiratory system, and had to take an antibiotic shot, a short term steroid shot, and was given antihistamine pills to take home until she got better, which she got in a few days.
Cough in cats is usually not good - if it is not hairballs, then something is wrong and he needs a vet.
Calling a vet at least, would be a good idea, and that wouldn't cost you...
Now for hairballs, if it is hairballs, putting him on an all wet diet will help, increasing the fiber content on his diet will help too, by adding some canned pumpkin to his wet food.
Good luck
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post #3 of 9
2/22/10 at 5:23pm
Thread Starter 
Carolina...........I took your advice and took Simon to get examined by my vet today. I have always maintained a pretty close relationship with my vet as I take Simon up to visit the clinic 2 times a month. The visits are not examinations.....just visits as Simon loves to ride in the car, and seeing other animals that come into the front door. My vet examined Simon today and felt that he may indeed have asthma per my description. Simon received a steroid shot and some Clindamycin drops for the next 10 days. If this does not work......he felt that it could be heart-worm........but he stressed that this is very rare in felines. Hopefully Simon will respond well to the shot and we will go from that point The vet also said that Simon may only be 7-8 years old instead of the 10+ that I figured......You never know with rescued cats Thanks Carolina
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post #4 of 9
2/22/10 at 5:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slave2_Ragdolls View Post
Carolina...........I took your advice and took Simon to get examined by my vet today. I have always maintained a pretty close relationship with my vet as I take Simon up to visit the clinic 2 times a month. The visits are not examinations.....just visits as Simon loves to ride in the car, and seeing other animals that come into the front door. My vet examined Simon today and felt that he may indeed have asthma per my description. Simon received a steroid shot and some Clindamycin drops for the next 10 days. If this does not work......he felt that it could be heart-worm........but he stressed that this is very rare in felines. Hopefully Simon will respond well to the shot and we will go from that point The vet also said that Simon may only be 7-8 years old instead of the 10+ that I figured......You never know with rescued cats Thanks Carolina
I am so glad Bob! I hope the steroids work, and that he is in fact 7-8 years old! you know, I never said this, but I have a feeling that Uncle Louie had heart worms, because of the way he died...
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post #5 of 9
2/22/10 at 5:34pm
I see your cat is part siamese.
My CRF cat Coco has had Asthma for years and she is half siamese.
The vet told me that siamese cats are more prone to asthma.
Was the steroid shot Depo Medrol.
That is the shot Coco has got for her asthma before she got the inhaler.
If it is asthma it can be managed.
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post #6 of 9
2/22/10 at 9:01pm
I also live with a Siamese who has asthma.

I hope your boy is feeling better soon, but let us know if the problem persists. There are a number of people on the board who have experience with cats and asthma.
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post #7 of 9
2/23/10 at 8:11am
Heartworms are not as rare as some might think. Riley had them. He is 3 years old, indoor only, but he still got infected. His only symptom was coughing. I recommend the heartworm test to rule it out.
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post #8 of 9
2/23/10 at 1:49pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mews2much View Post
I see your cat is part siamese.
My CRF cat Coco has had Asthma for years and she is half siamese.
The vet told me that siamese cats are more prone to asthma.
Was the steroid shot Depo Medrol.
That is the shot Coco has got for her asthma before she got the inhaler.
If it is asthma it can be managed.
Yes the shot was Depo Medrol ........Simon has not had an attack since the shot so I am keeping my fingers crossed They have inhalers for cats?
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post #9 of 9
2/23/10 at 2:07pm
Oh yes, there are inhalers for cats who have asthma. I am hoping, though, that your boy's problem will clear up. How long have you had him, out of curiosity? Did the coughing start recently?
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