Blann's doing poorly.

This is mostly just me being upset and stressed out.

Poor Blann's coughing is much worse today and his breathing is more labored. To top it off the techs can't get a hold of my vet. I really wanted to get him in tonight and on oxygen. They're too unsure and the big animal vet too spooked to even touch this case.

He's still alert and behaving almost normally - while not lethargic at all he can't really do much of anything that gets him worked up because it will set off a terrible coughing fit. I can't even pet him too much because if he starts purring that will make him cough.
With his breathing how it is I'm too paranoid to even go more than 15-20 minutes without checking him.

.... can you place him in a room with a cool mist humidifer?

I'm not sure if that would even remotely help. He has no congestion. His lungs are just so full of histo and inflammation that they're not able to get as much oxygen through.

Plus.. when I ran it over the winter he was scared of it.

His lungs looked like the cat's in the x-ray on this page. Mottled/fuzzy.

Oh I am so sorry ... that is terrible...

I'm so sorry - it's terrible to feel so helpless to help someone you love. that help comes soon.

Poor thing! Is he on meds or how is it treated? I read in the article that one of the drugs they use is Ketoconazole for dogs. My husband is currently taken this to help with an infection in his sinuses! Hope you both get some relief and things start improving soon!

He's on keto.. I would have preferred itraconazole straight out or fluconazole, even though it costs more. Now I suspect I'll be stuck buying that plus the $130 that was spent on the ketoconazole. I really hope his decision to try the keto first isn't going to cost Blann his life.

Currently it looks like I just have to wait till 8am. As it is they (Blann and his sisters) were all scheduled to go in Tuesday for this.

Thinking of you and your cat.

Sending good vibes your way.

You and Blann are in my prayers tonight.

Oh honey.... vibes for you and Blann!!!

I'm so sorry to hear that Blann's doing poorly. Many, many vibes are being sent your way .

I've had only one experience with histoplasmosis. When I was younger, I volunteered at an animal shelter where I used to live. I worked primarily with the cats while there and a woman who had just moved from Louisville, Kentucky. She thought the apartment she rented would allow cats, but it didn't and she was forced to surrender her cat the shelter. I still remember him -- his name was Jag and he was a beautiful black DLH. I think he was around 3 years old, if I remember correctly. He was there for a few months and was okay and then suddenly developed a cough that didn't respond to anything. They thought it was a URI, heartworm, asthma, pneumonia...you name it. Finally, when he still didn't get better, one of the volunteers offered to take him home to foster him and have him seen by her vet (at her expense). He was quickly diagnosed (following an x-ray and needle aspiration) with histoplasmosis and was put on a medication to help the fungal infection (this was some time ago and I don't remember the drug -- Itraconazole sounds familiar, but was it available for felines 8 years ago?) and he did survive the ordeal. And, his foster mom adopted him. But, it was a long, long process full of ups and downs. And, it was heartbreaking at times. I remember the shelter vet said that he was lucky to have survived. And, unfortunately, I don't know if the infection was limited to his lungs. But, there is hope. And, I'm sending some of that hope to you and Blann (and his sisters).

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. Again, many vibes are being sent your way .

How odd. Was Jag formerly an indoor/outdoor cat? Mine picked it up as tiny kittens before I even got them. It's just taken many months for their immune systems to be overcome by it.

Good to hear that he actually did survive this. Do you recall how sick Jag was with it? His breathing and coughing? And it's a little strange that it took anyone so long to do an x-ray. My vet listened to my account of Blann's symptoms, checked for heartworm, and had already planned to do an x-ray.

I hope Blann and his sisters are so lucky as to beat this.

I wish I had more information to go on. I was barely 19 at the time and wasn't as attuned to what was going on around me as I am today.

I do remember that Jag was trapped by his owner when she had a humane trap set for her previous kitty that had run off. Jag was caught, but her other kitty never did find his or her way back. I think he was around 6-7 months when she found him, but I don't remember 100% and I can't be certain on his age. He was an indoor cat from that point on, but would go out on a harness with his owner. And, what his situation was prior to being caught is something I don't think anyone knew I helped out at his intake appointment, but it was so long ago. The only reason I remember Jag was because he was such a beautiful cat and so sweet. A story like that sticks with you, I guess.

I do believe he was x-rayed early on and diagnosed with pneumonia. The second x-ray with a vet not affiliated with the shelter was the one that diagnosed the histoplasmosis. I also know that the shelter vet commonly misdiagnosed cats and dogs and that there were a lot of problems within the facility. More info than that, though, I don't have. I just know the head vet and some of the staff were let go during the time I volunteered. At the second vet, Jag was diagnosed almost immediately -- like the next day. I feel bad, though, as I know my account of what happened isn't completely clear. I apologize for that...it's just been such a long time now...

As far as Jag's symptoms, I remember he would cough. He would be fine for a while, but then, even at rest, would begin coughing. It wasn't necessarily a wet cough, but it wasn't hacking. He also struggled with a lot of wheezing. To be honest, he sounded like my stepbrother who has asthma. But, instead of it being a rare occurence, he would have these symptoms many times over the course of the day. I remember this one Saturday where he was just a mess. I was afraid to check in on him for fear that he'd have passed. I think it was the following Monday that he was taken in by the volunteer and taken to the other vet. None of us could stand how bad the poor guy sounded. So, I don't know really how sick he was. But, he didn't seem well -- that much I remember.

I wish I could give more info. I just don't remember. I'm so, so sorry. Just know that Blann and his sisters are in my thoughts. As are you...

That's was quite a bit of information actually! Jag getting it from being outside as a kitten sounds pretty typical and the same as what I'm dealing with.

Originally Posted by Alison Joy

I also know that the shelter vet commonly misdiagnosed cats and dogs and that there were a lot of problems within the facility.

Click to expand...

That's terrible. I wonder how many animals died because of that vet messing up?

My vet came out within minutes of x-ray developing - he come right out into the waiting room and had quite a surprised look on his face. I think he's seen it in a dog before, since he gets a lot of farm dogs in, but likely never a cat.

And it sounds like Jag was probably pretty close to how Blann is. Coughing often and breathing hard. I hope Blann makes it through, too. Right now he's over laying on the cat bed by the fireplace looking rather miserable. He's not as alert or active as he was earlier.

How is Blann doing? Today I am moving the bird feeder from the window and putting it further out.

I hope he is able to get to the vets today.

He hasn't eaten since ~noon yesterday. And I haven't seen or heard him drink. I couldn't even get him to eat a piece of baked turkey. I have some chicken baby food stashed in the cabinet that I'll try in a bit.

I spent the entire night waking up roughly every 45 minutes to check on him. Luckily when he's sleeping he's not coughing. He did manage to purr a little for me at 3:30 and at 4.

Hope you are on your way in to the vet with Blann. Lots of vibes coming his way

It's only 6:48 here. Still have an hour till they open.

He did eat a little baby food.

Update: The vet said that the histoplasmosis test actually came back negative. Though due to that miliary pattern in his lungs that means he either has another fungus or lympho sacroma. He didn't like that the keto had no response at all.

I left Blann for them to do a tracheal wash to see if they could find anything at all. This means gas anesthesia which he may not survive. If he makes it we're going to try adding a antibiotic to the keto just in case there is a secondary infection and probably to help with inflammation a little.
Depending on if he finds anything, or maybe even if he does, he thinks that it may be best to see a specialist in Oklahoma City.

I wanted to check in on this thread this morning to see how Blann was doing. I was hoping and praying that he made it through the night. And, now that I see that he has, I'm hoping and praying that he can make it through the tracheal wash.

It's interesting that the test came back negative for histoplasmosis. And, I'm torn as to whether that is a good or bad thing -- unless, of course, a definitive answer can be found today. Even though the histoplasmosis is a serious fungal infection with potentially fatal results, I know, for me, it helps to know what I am fighting against. The fact that you now are fighting an unknown enemy is bound to be anxiety-producing and difficult. You and Blann are in my thoughts and many vibes are being sent your way .

One thing, though. I was doing some research and came upon an interesting subject. Have you seen the x-rays taken of Blann's lungs? I know you've stated that there is a miliary pattern that appears mottled and fuzzy, but I have a more specific question. The pattern you're seeing is actually considered to be an interstitial pattern. However, a key to possibly deciphering what it is Blann is dealing with is looking at the x-ray to determine whether the "nodules" (ie. the spots that give the lungs their mottled appearance) are all of the same size or of varying sizes. If the "nodules" are all the same size, it would appear that they would be due to a fungal infection. But, on the other hand, if they are of different sizes, it may be something along the lines of lymphosarcoma. Here is a website which details a lot more information -- look under the heading of interstitial patterns: http://www.vetlatranquera.com.ar/pag..._animal_58.htm.

That website is where I got my information from. While it's not exclusive to cats, I think it may be a help to you. If not, I apologize. I like to be armed with as much information as possible and, thus, was intrigued by what you described with Blann. Please keep us updated on how the poor boy is doing. Again, many vibes heading to you, Blann, and his sisters .

It was pretty uniform, much like the histo x-rays of that cat's lungs on the page I earlier linked to. That's why my vet was so convinced it was that at first. It didn't look like any one part of the lungs were worse or better.

The confusing part of this is how could it be lympho sarcoma? That's not contagious, why would his sisters have the same exact cough? They were to go in for x-rays tomorrow, and still may. This has the vet scratching his head, too.