Flowerbelle, as an adult, has always had problems with hairballs. When our herbal vet did so well with Chumley, we decided recently to take Flowerbelle to see the vet trained in alternatives to discuss treatment options, because nothing we've done has helped much. (Flowerbelle is 8 years old).
The past few weeks, she was coughing more than usual - but she hadn't gotten up a hairball recently either. Flowerbelle is one of the three cats that isn't on a wet-only diet. She eats a little bit of the wet food four times a day, but she mainly eats the dry food.
Anyway, she had regurgitated some of her dry food two days in a row. The next night, there was a large hairball "gift" left for us to find. That was four or five days ago, and Flowerbelle has hardly been coughing since then.
At the appointment today, the first thing Herbal Doc said was she hears a heart murmur. Now - she's explained that a heart murmur can be from increased heart rate/fear of being at the vet. But Flowerbelle is 8, and the two vets that have seen her over the years have never heard one. So that was a little red flag.
She listened to her, and said she heard slight "crackling." Not "wheezing," but "crackling."
We asked if an xray was in order. (Bear in mind, back in July when we took Lazlo for hairballs/vomiting, we didn't do an xray right away and really regretted it, as his problem turned out to be cancer!). She felt it was. So xray we did.
Her lungs were cloudy. Cloudy in a way that made her think bronchitis. But ALSO cloudy in a way that isn't explained only by bronchitis. She gave her a shot of convenia. She would normally have given her steroids, BUT
She also has an enlarged heart. If she has a heart problem, steroids are contraindicated. So no treatment outside of the convenia for bronchitis until we know more.
Finally (as if that wasn't enough), apparently Flowerbelle's problem with hairballs over the years has been a motility problem, very different than the more normal "spleen Qi deficiency" (chinese medical diagnosis) cause of not properly passing hairballs. Even though she is not dehydrated, she is "dry" (from a chinese medical diagnosis perspective). This is resulting in her stool getting backed up in her small intestine, which is what most likely causes the reguritation, and her "dry" ... "constitution" (for lack of a better word) means she's been constipated... even though I see her going to the bathroom normally, without straining. But with 8 cats, I do not know how often she goes. I just know I've seen her recently, and everything looked fine. Herbal Doc says it's entirely possible to be constipated without the straining, and you can't always tell just by looking at the poop, you'd have to feel it. She says Flowerbelle's would feel dry if I mushed it around compared to other (normal, not constipated) poop. This has created megacolon, though very early stage, and very treatable. *phew*
Most vets would prescribe miralax for the problem. We are treating her with the chinese herbal treatment she recommended for Flowerbelle, Dang Gui Cong Rong (found this, for anyone interested: http://books.google.com/books?id=2ut1Cvgj9pYC&pg=PA523&lpg=PA523&dq=Dang+gui+cong+rong&source=bl&ots=HClhy06llh&sig=XhH6l9Fdr8IE69L-JLd_UudPtpw&hl=en&ei=-4rWTqHgEojk0QHkobHaCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Dang%20gui%20cong%20rong&f=false). This formulation is powdered capsules (cute little ones LOL). I am not to supplement her with fiber or anything, it won't be necessary with this treatment. This should not only improve her "dry" poop, but resolve the megacolon, AND resolve the hairball problem going forward.
The xrays of her lungs and heart are being sent to the Board Certified Radiologist everyone in NJ uses. They are also being sent to the cardiologist her clinic uses.
We SHOULD have the reports from the radiologist and the cardiologist by the end of the week. Depending upon what they say, we may be off to a cardiologist... and we'll just have to see about the potential asthma. Basically, depending upon what the radiologist says, we may just do a follow-up xray after several weeks to see how her lungs are looking (if it's potentially "just" bronchitis). The odd thing is... when I have bronchitis, I cough a lot. Flowerbelle, since the appearance of the hairball, hasn't been coughing.
We'll just have to see. 
Edited by LDG - 11/30/11 at 12:38pm
The past few weeks, she was coughing more than usual - but she hadn't gotten up a hairball recently either. Flowerbelle is one of the three cats that isn't on a wet-only diet. She eats a little bit of the wet food four times a day, but she mainly eats the dry food.
Anyway, she had regurgitated some of her dry food two days in a row. The next night, there was a large hairball "gift" left for us to find. That was four or five days ago, and Flowerbelle has hardly been coughing since then.At the appointment today, the first thing Herbal Doc said was she hears a heart murmur. Now - she's explained that a heart murmur can be from increased heart rate/fear of being at the vet. But Flowerbelle is 8, and the two vets that have seen her over the years have never heard one. So that was a little red flag.
She listened to her, and said she heard slight "crackling." Not "wheezing," but "crackling."
We asked if an xray was in order. (Bear in mind, back in July when we took Lazlo for hairballs/vomiting, we didn't do an xray right away and really regretted it, as his problem turned out to be cancer!). She felt it was. So xray we did.
Her lungs were cloudy. Cloudy in a way that made her think bronchitis. But ALSO cloudy in a way that isn't explained only by bronchitis. She gave her a shot of convenia. She would normally have given her steroids, BUT
She also has an enlarged heart. If she has a heart problem, steroids are contraindicated. So no treatment outside of the convenia for bronchitis until we know more.
Finally (as if that wasn't enough), apparently Flowerbelle's problem with hairballs over the years has been a motility problem, very different than the more normal "spleen Qi deficiency" (chinese medical diagnosis) cause of not properly passing hairballs. Even though she is not dehydrated, she is "dry" (from a chinese medical diagnosis perspective). This is resulting in her stool getting backed up in her small intestine, which is what most likely causes the reguritation, and her "dry" ... "constitution" (for lack of a better word) means she's been constipated... even though I see her going to the bathroom normally, without straining. But with 8 cats, I do not know how often she goes. I just know I've seen her recently, and everything looked fine. Herbal Doc says it's entirely possible to be constipated without the straining, and you can't always tell just by looking at the poop, you'd have to feel it. She says Flowerbelle's would feel dry if I mushed it around compared to other (normal, not constipated) poop. This has created megacolon, though very early stage, and very treatable. *phew*
Most vets would prescribe miralax for the problem. We are treating her with the chinese herbal treatment she recommended for Flowerbelle, Dang Gui Cong Rong (found this, for anyone interested: http://books.google.com/books?id=2ut1Cvgj9pYC&pg=PA523&lpg=PA523&dq=Dang+gui+cong+rong&source=bl&ots=HClhy06llh&sig=XhH6l9Fdr8IE69L-JLd_UudPtpw&hl=en&ei=-4rWTqHgEojk0QHkobHaCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Dang%20gui%20cong%20rong&f=false). This formulation is powdered capsules (cute little ones LOL). I am not to supplement her with fiber or anything, it won't be necessary with this treatment. This should not only improve her "dry" poop, but resolve the megacolon, AND resolve the hairball problem going forward.
The xrays of her lungs and heart are being sent to the Board Certified Radiologist everyone in NJ uses. They are also being sent to the cardiologist her clinic uses.
We SHOULD have the reports from the radiologist and the cardiologist by the end of the week. Depending upon what they say, we may be off to a cardiologist... and we'll just have to see about the potential asthma. Basically, depending upon what the radiologist says, we may just do a follow-up xray after several weeks to see how her lungs are looking (if it's potentially "just" bronchitis). The odd thing is... when I have bronchitis, I cough a lot. Flowerbelle, since the appearance of the hairball, hasn't been coughing.
We'll just have to see. Edited by LDG - 11/30/11 at 12:38pm
I just think you are handling this SO very, very well. It is just a true testiment of the especially strong woman you are 
Just want you to know - we are all here to help you through this rough patch of sick kitties 
Somehow we just seem to manage day to day - whatever comes our way 
I am really sorry about this news of sweet darling little Flowerbelle. But she couldn't have a better mommy and daddy and is one lucky girl to have been blessed to find her way into your home and your hearts. I am sure you feel the same way about her too 
) It almost sounds like " Dang Girl, Gone Wrong" in english 
or some fancy chinese fruity drink 
Anyway - I think that absolutely could be of a benefit for another cat experiencing the same problem with "motility".
. With miralax, she recommends it, but apparently this works differently enough. 
(Bad mommy and daddy!)
Keep feeling better, beautiful Flowerbelle 
Hope to hear you have poop very soon 
all around for the kids 
