I've read so many posts here from cat lovers who've had problems with their kitties coughing. My Velvet is only 5 and he's been thru the mill and beyond. He had a serious surgery in April where his penis was removed. He had crystals forming and had his ureter blocked on 3 separate occasions where he had to be catheterized. Thankfully, I'm very observant and I was able to get him to the vet in time as male cats can die in as little as 36 hours if their blockages aren't cleared because sepsis sets in. So now, even if he produces crystals, it won't be a life and death situation as it was before because his opening has been enlarged and he's basically like a female kitty in that area now. You should know that even though my Velvet was on nothing but Hill's Prescription Dry Food for urinary care for 2 years, he got blocked repeatedly. I learned from a cat nutritionist afterwards that dry food creates dehydration in most cats and contributes to very many diseases. I was so discouraged. Vets don't know enough about nutrition just like human doctors typically don't know anywhere near as much as they should about nutrition.
About 2 months ago, he started coughing, a few episodes daily. I brought him to the vet and he was concerned that it was asthma. That possible diagnosis shook me up as I lost my beloved Bijou (only 5 years old) not 18 months earlier from a serious asthma attack. Bijou had been on shots that were given every 6 weeks and then every month and then the shots weren't enough and I had to give him syringes of prednisone. He didn't have a cough the way my Velvet has but he had terrible episodes of open mouth breathing, which Velvet doesn't have.
Had 2 x-rays taken and my vet is a bit inexperienced and I didn't really trust what he was telling me (my previous vet retired and was wonderfully knowledgeable). Radiology report showed bronchial shadows and a smaller heart. I was frantic and found a specialist who viewed the x-rays and even with his experience, short of doing a tracheal wash (a very expensive procedure) we wouldn't know whether or not the lung views were abnormal because of asthma or bronchial illness (bronchitis). The go-to medications that vets offer in this situation as some of you already know is steroids, and my Bijou didn't do well with them. He only lived a year after starting them. A bronchodilator like Aero-Kat has been suggested to see if Velvet's cough responds to that and if it does, we don't need to look any further. I am terrified of trying to use this device on my Velvet. I live alone, have arthritic fingers that aren't particularly strong, unlike Velvet who is VERY strong, and I'm pretty sure most cats don't like the idea of having a mask like device put over their face a couple of times a day, even if it is for only a short time.
I've seen herbal remedies like Newtown's Cough-Asthma and I'm wondering since the medicine for the Aero-Kat is very very expensive and if I can't administer that medicine via the inhaler, whether or not I should give Newton's a try. I'm sorry this went on for so long but I'm awfully scared for my kitty...and for myself. I've had cats all my life and in the later stages of their lives, every one of them hated me because I was no longer their loving mommy but the dreaded medicine lady who came after them a few times every day to try to keep them alive with medication.
Velvet is the very last of my family. There are no relatives left, only my beautiful boy and I'm desperate to keep him healthy and around as long as possible. I would appreciate any info/suggestions you cat lovers may have. Thanks so much for listening.
About 2 months ago, he started coughing, a few episodes daily. I brought him to the vet and he was concerned that it was asthma. That possible diagnosis shook me up as I lost my beloved Bijou (only 5 years old) not 18 months earlier from a serious asthma attack. Bijou had been on shots that were given every 6 weeks and then every month and then the shots weren't enough and I had to give him syringes of prednisone. He didn't have a cough the way my Velvet has but he had terrible episodes of open mouth breathing, which Velvet doesn't have.
Had 2 x-rays taken and my vet is a bit inexperienced and I didn't really trust what he was telling me (my previous vet retired and was wonderfully knowledgeable). Radiology report showed bronchial shadows and a smaller heart. I was frantic and found a specialist who viewed the x-rays and even with his experience, short of doing a tracheal wash (a very expensive procedure) we wouldn't know whether or not the lung views were abnormal because of asthma or bronchial illness (bronchitis). The go-to medications that vets offer in this situation as some of you already know is steroids, and my Bijou didn't do well with them. He only lived a year after starting them. A bronchodilator like Aero-Kat has been suggested to see if Velvet's cough responds to that and if it does, we don't need to look any further. I am terrified of trying to use this device on my Velvet. I live alone, have arthritic fingers that aren't particularly strong, unlike Velvet who is VERY strong, and I'm pretty sure most cats don't like the idea of having a mask like device put over their face a couple of times a day, even if it is for only a short time.
I've seen herbal remedies like Newtown's Cough-Asthma and I'm wondering since the medicine for the Aero-Kat is very very expensive and if I can't administer that medicine via the inhaler, whether or not I should give Newton's a try. I'm sorry this went on for so long but I'm awfully scared for my kitty...and for myself. I've had cats all my life and in the later stages of their lives, every one of them hated me because I was no longer their loving mommy but the dreaded medicine lady who came after them a few times every day to try to keep them alive with medication.
Velvet is the very last of my family. There are no relatives left, only my beautiful boy and I'm desperate to keep him healthy and around as long as possible. I would appreciate any info/suggestions you cat lovers may have. Thanks so much for listening.
