Gagging/Cough

Let me preface by saying we are keeping a careful eye and will be calling the vet if her issue continues...

We have had a few issues since bringing home out newest kitten on 9/29 so I hope you can follow along.

Lilli is a 9.5 year old Burmese girl. Most recently, 11/5 we had taken her to the vet for this cough/gagging sound that started a bit more periodic but had gotten more frequent as the day pressed on.  Her slightly younger sister, Gina, had been to the vet for the same issue (although Gina was bringing up some thick clear fluid) and then an overnight pet ER stay two weeks prior.  They treated her for stomach issues (not vomiting nor diarrhea) and given pain medication and reflex type medicines.  Since it was a similar issue, the vet treated Lilli for the same, giving her anti-emetics and fluids.  X-rays were taken and there was much air/gas in her colon, but nothing really remarkable aside from that.  No fever, no pain evident, and mouth/throat looked clear.

The following day she had to go back because the cough/gag was occurring more often.  Lilli was also sounding like there was congestion in her throat.  They did another xray and showed some clearing of the air/gas, but nothing else remarkable, again.  A different vet, same practice, gave her steroids and antibiotics which has seemed to have helped, until yesterday.

Last night Lilli made a couple of coughing/gagging sounds and has continued to do so today.  Previous coughing/gagging occurred in April, when I had my foot operated on...I had my other foot operated on 11/2.  Two weeks after we brought the new kitten home, Lilli's nose turned raw and was treated with antibiotics.  We had changed litter and attributed the nose to the litter - it has since been changed back.  Aside from the kitten and my surgery, there has been no other changes...same food, same water, same cleaners, shampoos, detergents, etc. 

I am really frustrated and going broke with these kitties!  Gina was about a $1000 vet bill and Lilli is working on $500 with no real answers.  I am trying to figure out some differential diagnoses to pursue.  Her first DX was gastroenteritis and then pharyngitis.  Our oldest (Kasha, 19) has asthma and what Lilli has doesn't really sound like Kasha.  Lilli isn't heaving like she is trying to vomit- it seems to be all in her throat.  I also worry that the home changes (new kitten, surgery) may be triggering stress that is manifesting in physical symptoms.  We have been letting her in the bedroom alone (she enjoys it) to keep away from the kitten, but she still can't avoid my walker or my heavy bandages.  The vet said if it didn't clear up then they might consider blood tests, but I don't see what that is going to show.  I am considering talking to my vet just as a consult to see what they plan to do and what they are thinking, but I wonder if another set of eyes might be helpful. 

Anyone have any insight?

_bump_

Does she have any other symptoms like watery eyes, runny nose, nasal congestion or sneezing?  Sounds like it might be airborne allergies/nasal drainage.
 

She has no eye weeping, nasal discharge, nor is Lilli sneezing.  Of course, this doesn't mean she doesn't have post nasal drip.  The gagging seems to be aggravated when she yawns which seems to point to a sore throat, but it isn't exclusive to her yawning; activity triggers it as well.  The only other thing I can think of is reflux as she has no other symptoms of most of the other common DXed...CRF, CHF (xray was negative for heart enlargement/fluid), or asthma.

As of now, she is eating well, not vomiting, and is active.  Her coughing/gagging isn't getting worse at this time.  I am hoping she can stay stable or improve until I can at least drive again in 10 days. 

My kitty has had some similar symptoms.  We adopted a 6 month old kitten 10/7/12.  Had not noticed any coughing until 11/1/12.  My other cat has never had a hairball so at first I thought it was a hairball but there was no abdominal movement with it.  It was a non productive wet cough (or so I thought but his mouth was not open while "coughing").  I took a short video of it on my phone and took him with my other cats recheck last week.  The dr said he sounded very clear in his lungs and by the video, it seemed as if it was all in his head (like upper respiratory) because after he "coughed" he would swallow.  Also when he did this at home, it could happen any time.  He did it after wrestling with the other cat and he did it while laying on the couch with me.  The dr said that we would just keep an eye on it for now since he also had LOTS of energy and was eating well but if it got worse, we'd take xrays.  Well the vet called on 11/14/12 to check up on him and he was doing fine (I think they jinxed him!).  11/15/12 he didnt come downstairs for breakfast (he is usually always by your feet and you almost trip over him and he is ravenous when he wants food and eats) and so I went and got him and he ate a little but not his usual amount.  The remainder of the morning he just seemed very dull, didnt want to play and just wasnt acting himself.  Then I dont know if I was just paranoid but I thought he was having some effort breathing.  I called the vet and they got him in early afternoon and we got xrays done.  The dr said he sounded really clear still but his xrays MAY have shown a very very mild case of bronchitis (she saw signs of it on one view but not on the other).  She put him on Amoxicillin drops in case it is an infection an told me to call her if he wasnt better in 24-48 hours.  Well his personality is back and he is very intersted in eating and wrestling with my other cat.  He is still "coughing" but it seems a little more dry I think.  She told me that if it was asthma, he would cough for 20-30 minutes and that was not the case.  Hopefully the antibiotics work for him.  But with your kitty, could you maybe try a course of antibiotics in case it is an infection, or try some asthma meds and see if she responds?  Keep us posted!

Thanks for your story.  Lilli did take a course of antibiotics (Clavamox) after she went the second time to the vet.  Her coughing seemed to had stopped until about 10 days into it.  My oldest cat (18.5 years) does have asthma, but she doesn't cough for 20-30 minutes at a time.  We have our asthma cat controlled with periodic steroids because the inhaler was a disaster...even the vet said it stressed her out too much to benefit her. 

Gina, who had something similar a few weeks prior actually had the ER vet comment that her lungs showed some changes but didn't elaborate.  I think I am going to call the ER place during their down time on Monday to see if they can expand on what that might have meant.  While Gina is doing well, it might shed some light on what Lilli may or may not have.

Lilli is still eating well and was playing with the kitty teaser with her sisters this evening.  Aside from the cough, at the moment, all is well.  But obviously coughing is not normal!  I feel like tearing everything apart and cleaning it, dusting it and getting industrial sized air purifiers!
 

Have the checked under her tongue to make sure she doesn't have anything stuck?  Maybe she does have some sort of allergy.  My vet also mentioned that about any new cleaners or detergents.  I hope your kitty stops coughing!

Remove any air fresheners you have from the house, I've seen this happen with those and cats before. No essential oils as those are toxic to cats, so make sure you aren't burning anything like that. If you have those glade plug ins, get rid of them. Try a different cat litter like Dr. Elsey's Respiratory Relief.