Got Ares echo done today - good news! But need adive.

As some of you may know, my kitten, Ares, has been having breathing problems. The vet took some xrays and said that his heart looked big - indicating that he could have heart disease. The vet sent me to the biggest hospital in RI to get the echocardiogram done, and the cardiologist said his heart looks great! He says it is big, but not overly so. It's not HCM and the blood flow is fine. He did say, however, that he thinks the reason Ares' breathing is a problem is due to scarring in his lungs. He had a very bad URI as a kitten that almost killed him - it lasted a good month. He says there's nothing you can really do for scarring, and just to keep an eye on him.

I'm so happy to know he doesn't have HCM, but at the same time a little sad that mt poor boy has lung scarring. Are there any supplements people would recommend for lung health? Anyone else here have a cat with lung scarring? Thanks!!

I'm so glad it's not HCM! I have a kitty with lung scarring. Hers is due to a severe lung worm infection and horrible herpes virus infection when she was rescued. She had no issues until she was 9, and then she developed slight asthma (usually can't be seen on x-ray), is prone to bronchitis, (well, was. Since transitioning to raw and starting the supplements we use, there haven't been any further episodes), developed a heart murmur (may be unrelated), and high blood pressure. We had a cardiac ultrasound done, and the murmur is "just" mitral valve prolapse.

But the consensus is that her high blood pressure is the result of her lung scarring. So at your annual vet visits, you may want to have Ares blood pressure checked.

The supplements I give Flowerbelle are an omega 3 (krill oil, 500mg once a day), probiotics (5 billion CFU 2x a day), and bovine lactoferrin (125mg 2x a day), though you may want to consider L-carnitine. :dk: I know from my research on supportive care for FIV cats that L-carnitine is safe for use in cats (with the note that they don't have thyroid issues). This is about COPD in humans, but discusses the issues and supplements and natural (alternate) treatments in one of the sections: http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease

I don't know if any of the herbs suggested are safe for use in cats.

I use the probiotics and lactoferrin to provide general immune system support (I use a human supplement with acidophilus, bifidus, and L. rhamnosus). The gut accounts for about 70% of the immune system, and the main thing you want in a kitty with lung scarring is to avoid infection, especially lung infections.

Here is an example of lactoferrin resolving a URI in a dog where antibiotics did not. The dog's problem was related to neutrophilic dysfunction (a component of white blood cells that helps fight infection), but the point is that lactoferrin helps regulate (NOT "boost") immune system function, specifically as it relates to upper respiratory infections. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21676472

I use Jarrow Lactoferrin (it is bovine lactoferrin, not lactoferrin produced by genetically modified rice), 250mg. I give her 1/2 capsule in the AM and PM. She is 10 years old, but weighs 7 pounds. I don't know how much Ares weighs, but depending on size, you may want to give him half the dose until he's older/larger.