Breathing Problems and Zyrtec Question

--luv-my-cats--

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Hi Cat Lovers!

I'm new to these forums and I am desperate for any advice for my 17-year-old cat named Mama Kitty. She's had a bit of a cough for a couple of years. Not bad, just a little coughing episode 2-3 times a week. Until a couple of months ago. The cough left and her nose became stuffed up. She doesn't enjoy mouth breathing so her stress level goes extremely high and she becomes buggy-eyed with large pupils and paces and yowls, even though she can't breath! She's been in to the vet 4 times in the last 2 months. She's had 2 cortisone shots that work wonders for a week, and then it comes back. At one point we had to force feed her because she was refusing food. Tried prednisone tabs, but that makes her really crazy and panicky. My vet wanted to sedate her and do x-rays, she thinks it may be a nasal polyp or tumor. I don't like the idea of sedating her, and if it is a polyp or tumor there isn't anything we can do for her. So now that her cortisone has worn off from 12 days ago,  my vet suggested us going to a specialist (which I can't afford) or putting her to sleep. I'm thinking I'm not going to give up on her yet, even though she was very upset all night and is pretty stressed out today. She's drinking water and is eating a little, but is extremely finicky.  I bought some Zyrtec and thought I'd try that route before throwing in the towel. I'm going to have to force it down her, and I was thinking 5mg 2x a day. She's 10 pounds. I did research online and that seems to be the standard dose. My question is (sorry for the long build up to it) how long does it usually take for Zyrtec (Cetirizine) to start working? Not sure how long I should wait and watch my girl go through this nasal torture before I make other decisions for her. 


Thank you for reading my story!

Blessings...

Cheryl
 

cinqchats

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It only takes maybe a day to really see the effects for Mr. Squiggles. 5-10 mg a day is what I've heard for the standard dosing. Probably should call your vet and at least alert them that you're trying it, they'll want to know for their records in case Mama Kitty needs meds in the future. Wouldn't want any accidental drug interactions.

If it is a polyp, it can be removed. Mr. Squee was checked for that, it wasn't his issue, but the vet told me that if it was the case they go up there with a tiny little forceps and pull that sucker out. They can also flush out their noses in case some other crud is stuck up in there.

Has anything changed in her environment lately? New carpet, laundry detergent, food, etc?
 
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--luv-my-cats--

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Thank you, CinqChats!

How old is Mr. Squiggles? Mama Kitty is 17 and I'm just afraid that she wouldn't do well with surgery. Her son was 11 when he had surgery and he had really bad side effects from the anesthesia. He ended up with brain damage. It just scares me. I also have read that polyps can come back. I hate to put her through a lot at such an old age. We did that with 2 of our dogs, and in retrospect I don't regret it, but I can see how we may have just put them through more than they should have gone through at their senior ages just to live a few more months. But I know that each case is different.

I gave Mama 5mg of Zyrtec about an hour ago. She seems a little more relaxed (maybe a little lathargic), but her breathing isn't any better. It's just so hard. I cried my eyes out this morning. I want to wait and see how she does by tomorrow morning. I'll give her the second dose this evening.

The only changes we had was moving Mama's chair (she loves a certain recliner) at Christmas time so that our Christmas tree could fit into the room. She ended up taking over the ottoman. I think it may have caused her some stress, but there aren't any new allergens in the house...that I can think of. Right now Mama is in our guest room. It's now her bed. She has earned it. :) I slept with her last night. Every time I had to get up to check my son's blood sugars (he's a type 1 diabetic and his blood sugars were whacking out last night), Mama would run after me yowling. She doesn't want to be alone right now.
 

stephanietx

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Sounds like something else is going on.  Has she been checked for heart or lung  problems?  I would also suggest a feliway diffuser being run in your home to see if that helps cut down on her stress.
 
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--luv-my-cats--

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Oh, wow, never heard of these deffusers! That is awesome! I had to look it up on Amazon. We use essential oils in our home and Mama seems to like cedarwood. Can't put it on her, of course, but we think she likes the scent.

The vets have listened to Mama's heart and her lungs, but we haven't had any other extensive testing done, other than blood work. We think her problem, right now, is in her nose. I've been steaming the room up for her. The room is connected to the shower room. I also keep a humidifier by her.
 
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