Please help Manny!!! -breathing problems, vomiting and "cherry eye"

helpmanny

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 27, 2012
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
Massachusetts
Hi! I have come to this site to see if anyone has any idea what is wrong with poor Manny. He is 5 years old and a strictly indoor cat. About a year ago he was diagnosed with feline asthma and was put on an oral steroid to open his airways. We had brought him to the vet originally because he was vomiting multiple times a day and was vomiting up food which apparently is quite rare unless over feeding is an issue which is not the case here. He never showed a loss in appetite and seemed to be in good spirits. Then he stopped eating and we noticed a gagging/wheezing fits which we later learned was an asthma attack. The vet noticed it was a breathing issue and did the testing and X-rays and treated him for the asthma, leaving the vomiting and lack of appetite a mystery. The meds for the asthma seemed to also stop the vomiting and loss of appetite completely which still confuses my vet to this day. With no idea what the vomiting issue is we have been treating him for the asthma and have seen no problems with him at all while he is off the meds. About a month of not being on the meds he starts the vomiting again and we end up putting him back on them.
About a month ago we woke up and his thrid eyelid was swollen and the eye had discharge under it. My vet put him on an antibiotic which didn't help the eye at all. She recommended an optomologist. Took him there and he was diagnosed with "cherry eye" which is common in dogs but very rare in cats. In fact it is really only seen in the Burmese breed which Manny is suspected to have in his shelter cat gene pool. I can't help but think that all of his rare mystery conditions are related and all symptoms of one underlying issue. If anyone has any ideas please throw them out there because Manny is our baby and he is only 5 and has so much life to live and I hate to see him with all of these issues. If you can please help! Thanks for reading this rant. :-)
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,391
Purraise
7,131
Location
Arizona
I am so sorry that no one ever responded to your inquiry.  For some reason, I am just now seeing it for the first time, and cannot offer any thoughts as to what the underlying issue is, but am hoping that by bumping this up, someone else may see it now and have some opinions.

for your little guy.  I know how frustrating it must be not to have any answers. 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

helpmanny

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 27, 2012
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
Massachusetts
Thank you very much! My poor buddy is still not doing well. He is at the vet right now for a bladder/urinary issue that occurred seemingly out of no where. Last night we noticed him sitting in his litter box for about 20 min. Upon investigation we found that he did not go at all. He was also walking funny and when he sits he lifts his leg like not to squish anything down there. The poor thing! Still need to schedule his eye surgery but that costs $1300 and I just don't have the means at this time. But I can't help but think that all of these issues are related. Any ideas at all might help or people with similar issues might have input as to what their expierence was. I just want to thank you again for helping bump this so more people can see it. I appreciate it. I really do.
 

becbec709

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Sep 15, 2012
Messages
49
Purraise
1
Location
Ohio
I know it may be pricey as well but has your vet ever offered an ultrasound?  That may give some indications for the vomiting.  Hope Manny gets better soon!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

helpmanny

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 27, 2012
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
Massachusetts
No. Our vet has never offered an ultrasound. She thinks the vomiting is cause by the spasms that he has due to his breathing. She thinks he has extra fluid in his lungs and he is "coughing" up this gunk not necessarily vomiting. We got the prescription diet for his urinary issue. After analyzing his urine sample they found crystals in his urine. So we are feeding him the new food and this is day 3 on it and I woke up to him throwing up again this am. He is on a semi-permanent oral steroid for the breathing issue and that usually stops the vomiting. He gets one pill every other day right now. Have to call the bet again this morning and mention that. Ugh... I feel so bad for my little angel. He is the most well behaved cat I have ever heard of and he so doesn't deserve all of this crud. I know a couple humans I would wish this on but it is not fair... Wish I had all the $$ necessary to figure out what all of these issues truely are and to give him the care that he needs. Right now he is getting a overdose of love hoping that makes him feel better anyway. Thanks for the suggestion.
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,391
Purraise
7,131
Location
Arizona
So, upon reading this more closely, Manny was diagnosed with asthma, and the treatment that helped with the vomiting?  But you stopped the asthma treatment because his asthma got better and then the vomiting came back?  Is that right? So now he's back on the asthma meds...what are they, BTW?   Then he developed cherry eye and now a UTI?  Have I got all that correct? 

I really don't see how the cherry eye could be connected, but it's possible all the other stuff is, although I'm not sure how.  I've just got to ask how confident you are with your Vet.  Have you gotten a second opinion, because this really IS very strange.  I'm wondering also what you are feeding him?  It seems odd that an asthma medicine could stop him from throwing up if it's related to his diet, but figured it doesn't hurt to ask anyway


Poor little guy!  Hope he's feeling better now.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

helpmanny

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 27, 2012
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
Massachusetts
Yes you laid that out exactly right. He is on predailone (excuse my spelling) which is a steroid for the asthma. We feed him blue buffalo indoor cat food. He was eating Science diet before that and that is what he has been eating since we brought him home from the shelter at 9 weeks old. He gets a little wet food in the morning and dry food throughout the day. These problems all started about 2 years ago with the vomiting and he was diagnosed with the asthma this year on valentines day. At my vets office there are 2 different doctors and they both seem to agree with the current diagnosis. I took him to a cat optomologist for his eye and she isthe one who confirmed the cherry eye. Ithought that might be related to his other issues because apparently the eyes are very closely associated with the respitory system in cats.
He is a tough guy and hardly ever shows any discomfort or pain. I wish he would show it so we could fix it quicker. We love this cat so much and it kills me to know he has this whole mess going on. Thanks again for your concern.
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,391
Purraise
7,131
Location
Arizona
So he doesn't really need the Pred for his asthma anymore though?  Did it resolve itself?  I am asking all these questions because there are several people on this site who have lots of experience with the use of Prednazone, and from what I can find, it appears Predalone is a derivative of Prednazone, and I'm thinking maybe you could re-title your thread and get more response.  I, personally, have no experience with asthmatic cats, or the use of prednasone, but I keep hoping by bumping this thread (by replying), that someone else will respond

I DID see, however, when researching Predalone, that one use of it is for Ulcerative Colitis, which is related to the digestive tract (although the lower part), so I suppose that could be why it stops his vomiting.  That being said, medicating it isn't finding the reason for it.  They (the Vets) need to be looking for the reason for his vomiting, IMHO, not just "fixing" it by medicating him, especially with a steroid.  Ok, OK, OK, I'll get off my soapbox now


But I wonder if, even though he's been on the Blue Buffalo for a few years, and if I read correctly, WAS on it for a couple of years before he started getting sick, wonder if he's developed an allergy to something in it that's causing him to be sick.  Maybe they changed their formula?  Does he like his canned food?  Have you tried putting him on ALL canned food with no dry at all?  Just brain storming here.  Have the Vet's asked about what you are feeding him?  (not that Blue Buffalo isn't a decent food, but many cats have food allergies these days)
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

helpmanny

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 27, 2012
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
Massachusetts
He is on the prednisolone strictly for the asthma. He is on the prednisolone rather than the prednisone because apparently cats have to turn prednisone to prednisolone before it has any affect. It is better for long term use.
It started with the vomiting. He was vomiting like 3-5 times a day and it was normally pretty much food. He couldn't keep anything down and wasn't eating at all which is not like him. He is a little on the chubby side. He was not himself and was hiding in strange places. After a couple vet visits and feeling better for A couple weeks he started with the same symptoms but like wheezing/gagging fits and I honestly thought he had swallowed a hair tie or something and was trying to hack it up. So I brought him back to the vet and she noticed the wheezing as an asthma attack and did the chest X-ray to confirm it. He tested negative for all diseases that this issue could be a symptom of and if steroids worked and eliminated the issue it was asthma.
And they did. He started with one pill a day for 2weeks then one every other day for 2 weeks, one every 3 days etc. After being off the meds for a couple weeks he would start vomiting a white foamy saliva kinda stuff. It was bloody a few times like tinted red. More vet visits more meds and when he is on the meds he is fine! I know meds are not an answer and that is why I am posting.
The steroids help asthma because asthma is swelling and fluid in the airways. Steroids help to open the airways. Inhalers are a steroid that when inhaled it goes directly to the issue and is the ideal treatment in Mannys case. Yes inhalers for cats. They are apparently very expensive and I know Manny will hate the face mask deal. If he will let me do it at all. Ugh...
Now to the food. He was on science diet until a few months ago. We recently switched him to blue hoping to help control his weight. He was neutered at 9 weeks old and that is apparently very young. And it cause hormone imbalance which causes excess weight buildup in the lower belly. He is a big cat anyways... Very long and tall but he has gradually gotten heavier over the years and we switched him to blue hoping to increase his protein and slowly reduce his meal size. Didn't get that far. We tried all wet and it was different and he hated it. Always asking for food cause he didn't have any. Now he is eating a prescription diet for the crystals in the urine issue. He seems to be doing much better. He is still on the pred though. I don't want to keep him on the meds long term but it seems to be the only way to make him feel ok. I really want to find the reason for this.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #10

helpmanny

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 27, 2012
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
Massachusetts
And how do I rename the post? Lol. I am willing to do whatever to draw more attention to this and hope to find an answer. Thanks again for all your help!
 

taterbug

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 10, 2006
Messages
2,583
Purraise
32
Location
hills of TN
Ok. I have to ask about his eye/ Has it improved any with the steroids? Were you given any meds for it?
 

nekochan

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 5, 2006
Messages
2,760
Purraise
22
Location
Chicago, IL
Has he ever had an x-ray? I also would wonder whether something like IBD could be involved?

My cat Mr Grey has allergies/autoimmune issues which caused him to have symptoms of IBD also, poor appetite and weight loss, and the steroids he was on for his allergies improved his appetite and helped him gain weight.

I don't know why your vet would be surprised that pred would help with the vomiting and loss of appetite though, it is known to be an appetite stimulant and sometimes anti-emetic, at some dosages.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

helpmanny

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 27, 2012
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
Massachusetts
His eye has not improved. We were given antibiotics and that didn't help at all. The optomologist said it is cherry eye which is common in dogs but very rare in cats. It is genetic. The only way to fix it is surgery where the make an incision in his eye socket somewhere and stuff the thrid eyelid into it and sitch it up. This seems more like a solution for the immediate problem but with all of his other issues I was hoping there was a connection and another way to solve this. We have not done the surgery yet for that reason as well as the fact it is $1300 and we just simply don't have that.
What is IBD? It doesn't sound like the issue because he has never lost weight even off the meds and the only time he has a loss of appetite is when his breathing gets really bad. You can see his belly area almost convulse when he is trying to vomit/spit up. Which the theory is induces the vomiting. And sorry if I was misleading. But the vet is not confused as to why the steroids help. She is confused by the issue itself. We think it is him naturally trying to get rid of the excess fluid in his airways and when food comes up it is because his body is working so hard to try to breathe that his stomach is to disturbed by the attacks that it reacts as well. He has had X-rays on both his stomach and his lungs. No visable blockages in his gut so we were going to do a barium X-ray to ensure there were no blockages when she noticed his breathing.
We have never owned a cat before and Manny is just the love of our lives. He is half ferrel so he is very very loving and affectionate with us but hates any new environment and new people. He follows us from room to room the whole time we are home. He plays fetch and has a stuffed animal toy (like for people) that he has had for almost his whole 5 years of life that he brings all over the house. Takes him to all of his favorite napping spots every day. Anyways we never ha a cat before so we didn't know that his breathing was excessive. The vet told us to count his breaths. Less than 30 a minute is good. Do it while he is sleeping because when affectionate they breathe heavier. He has always been 28,32 around 30 since we started and that is on the meds. Ugh my poor baby.
 

taterbug

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 10, 2006
Messages
2,583
Purraise
32
Location
hills of TN
You weren't given steroid eyedrops? And you went to a feline opthamologist?  Don't want to scare you or anything, but you might want to consider a second opinion on this. About a year and a half ago, my cat was doing the coughing, vomiting thing also,  but not as severe as your cat. When I took her in to have it checked, the vet "on call" diagnosed her with "cherry eye". After a week on steroid/antibiotic eyedrops it hadn't improved. I took her back in and saw her regular vet, who noticed that the edges of her third eyelid were "irregular". She had surgery to remove her third eyelid and it was found that she had squamous cell carcinoma of her third eyelid, which is even more rare that a feline "cherry eye". As I said, I don't want to scare you, but please get a second opinion!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

helpmanny

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 27, 2012
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
Massachusetts
Don't worry. New ideas/ theories as to what might be wrong with him are why I posted on here. The thing is the optomologist was the third opinion. At my Vets office there are two vets and the both suspected cherry eye but wanted him to go to a specialist to ensure that because of all of his other issues. The optomologist came up with the same answer. The only other eye specialist in my area is at the emergency vet which costs $250-$300 at the door. If I had the extra cash I would take him no doubt but my fiancé and I bought a house 3 years ago and I just started a new job so we are kinda hurting for cash right now anyways nevermind all of Mannys issues. He has had more emergency vet visits than I can count this year and that has put us back. I am going to research this squamous cell carsinoma and see if the symptoms match and if it is something to take up with the vet. I appreciate you sharing your expierence. Is this deadly? How dangerous? How's your cat now? I guess I'll look it up now. And no the vet never gave me eye drops. He was put back on the pred cause his breathing was heavily elevated and put on an antibiotic which didn't help. So they suspected cherry eye and recommended this eye doctor which was great. She spent probably 15 minutes looking in his eye with different lights. She said his eyeball was in perfect health and diagnosed the cherry eye. It is only one eye and has not gotten any worse or better since.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #16

helpmanny

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 27, 2012
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
Massachusetts
I looked it up and it doesn't seem to be what manny has going on. It is most common in white cats with prolonged exposure to sunlight and manny is solid black and is strictly and indoor cat. Also the list of symptoms with this on the eye doesn't seem to be right either. Which is good news! Thank you for the suggestion and for sharing your expierence to help manny out. Much appreciated.
 

taterbug

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 10, 2006
Messages
2,583
Purraise
32
Location
hills of TN
Well, it's not deadly if it's caught in time, which it wasn't with my Lil Bit.  Her vet thought we had caught it in time, but it returned a year after her surgery, behind her eye and her eyelid.   Lil Bit was a grey and white kitty, but she was mainly an indoor cat. Her vet was really surprised when the labs came  back as cancer. Fingers crossed that everything goes great for Manny, and for you too!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #18

helpmanny

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 27, 2012
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
Massachusetts
Aww sorry to hear that. It is so sad when someone you love passes. Human or not. Sorry :-(
I am pretty confident that this is not the case with Manny. There was a list of symptoms regarding the eye and none of them seemed to apply. And cancer was my main vets concern when we brought him in. Maybe because of all of his other symptoms. Cherry eye as unsatisfactory of an answer it is seems to make the most sense. I have tried to research online other cat eye issues to get some new ideas but you know how that goes. It is easier to have something to start with and your suggestion was very helpful. I sincerely appreciate you sharing your story to help my little buddy. Thanks ever so much!
 
Top