Dexamethasone making cat feel warmer than normal???

[hvcac]

Hi everyone,

Long time reader, first time poster. First I want to say how helpful you all are! Second I need to ask some question based on your exerpiences / knowledge. I have a 9y.o. Neutered male ( Cy )that we've had for almost all of his beautiful life.

He started acting a little depressed several days ago and went to the vet on Saturday (no temp) for a mild intermittent cough. A shot of dexamethasone cleared that up, but he was still "down." Last night, still droopy, we went for bloodwork. Everything looked fine, but a temp of 103.4. Now we have another shot of dex at 2.5 days later, and clavamox for possible infection. All this time, still eating and drinking well, even before the 1st visit.

Finally the questions...i took his temp this morning with a brand new Vicks digital thermometer that my vet uses (but doesn't sell) and got 101.3 several times much to Cy's displeasure, but his ears and nose were very warm. He wasn't in the sunshine either. Vet mentioned that dexamethasone could cause extremities to warm due to a little bit of vessel expansion. Anyone have similar experiences? Also, anyone else use a Vicks comfort flex thermo? I also questioned it's accuracy, but It hit the same # and showed different numbers under my arm ( after disinfecting of course ). I just feel like something is amiss. He did eat and drink this morning also! Thank you all for your help!

 

[hvcac]

Anyone?

 

[hvcac]

I know no one has chimed in yet, but I'm still looking for opinions. Fever is gone, but still slightly lethargic and still elevated respiratory rate. If I posted the lab results, would anyone help me with an opinion on the numbers? Someone please help if you can!

 

[quiet]

Post them now if you can I will go and read thread now

 

[quiet]

This is the thing. If you feel something is wrong with your cat then something is wrong. You know your cat better than anyone else. Is the vet thinking asthma? Is that why the steroids? I question the second injection. It seems to me a bit much. Sure the ears could feel warmer. I have never heard that though. Did they do a chest xray? what did it show? I would not be concerned about one incident of a temp at 103.5 if it was only one time. Vicks thermometer is just fine. You can also get an under the arm temp on your cat so as to not tick him off so much. Just kind of get an idea for what it is running normally and any increase then check rectal. You cleaned it before putting in under your own arm. Newbie

I will only be online a few more minutes and will look at the blood if you post it. If not then later tonight. Have a hungry and probably angry horse to feed.

 

[hvcac]

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• hvcac
• Jul 16, 2014

 

[hvcac]

Quiet,
No chest x-ray yet, vet felt like it was likely viral. If it persists beyond the weekend, I'm likely to go for x-Ray and or scope for the throat if needed. One of my concerns would be about sedation given the respiratory rate. Steroid for inflammation in the throat as far as Cy would let us see. Cough is gone as far as I can tell, but even then it was a weak cough, like a slight tickle...not a hacking cough. His behavior which is just off a little, coupled with the respiration is what concerns me (and unknown cause of course). And yes, I did wash the thermo before and after putting it under my own arm! Haha. He's a heftier cat, it could be possible that 30 is his normal breath rate? Thank you for your help! It is very appreciated!

 

[quiet]

Hi.

So, all this is just my opinion of course and I am in no way telling you what to do, I am only saying what I would do if it was my cat.

I would make an appointment with a boarded internal medicine veterinarian ASAP and get your cat into see them. I would either ask for a referral from the original veterinarian or I would most likely just find one on my own and set up the appointment myself. Also I would  ask current vet for all the records. As long as he isn't vomiting and is still eating and drinking I would continue the Clavamox until the appointment with the new vet. If I couldn't afford the specialist, ususally about twice the cost of an exam at a regular vet, I would at least try to find a feline only practice to take the cat to also asap.

So, here is why:

I think that the current vet is way to fond of steroids. I think two injections in such a short amount of time without actually knowing what is going on is uncalled for.  (I am not a vet but this is just what I think).

The first diagnostic to be done for a coughing cat is a chest xray as coughing is almost always a sign of asthma in cats. A chest xray would show if it was asthma or not and then once asthma is determined a dexamethasone injection would be appropriate with a follow up of either oral prednisolone or an inhaler for cats with one of the inhaled asthma medications out there for cats.

Blood work should have been done but not on one of those in house lab analyzers unless it was an emergency it should have been sent into the lab because I hold very little trust in those machines. Do you know if they are maintained or have the results verified on a regular basis? The other thing is that for abnormalities you want a real pathologist to review a blood smear as sometimes there are things that the machines do not interpret correctly. Such as a low platelet count, without being verified by a pathologist with a blood slide there is no way to know if it was just platelet clumping. Also there are tests that cannot be preformed with an inhouse lab that you should know that are run as part of a routine panel sent to the lab. Unless of course it is an emergency then by all means you need results ASAP, and do it in house but follow up with a lab.

It is concerning to me that this blood work was done and the steroid was given, yet no urinalysis was preformed. That is a standard that should go along with any blood work done on a cat. Reason for this is tat for any renal issues to show up you need to have a 70% loss of kidney function for it to be apparent in the blood tests. A urinalysis will show how dilute the urine is or how concentrated so it is a great test to be done if there is any kind of lab work being done.

So, like I said if it were my cat I would get to a specialist. I think that you are right in that your cat is ill and like I said if you feel that way do not let anyone else tell you different. Good luck.

Final note: There is such a thing out there called a "Vetosaurus" They are veterinarians, can be any age, but they practice medicine from the 1970's. Clients usually love them but they have no idea.

 

[quiet]

And another thought. If this vet thought it was viral why give steroids which suppress the immune system? If the steroids were for inflammation, why did he think it was inflamed? I guess unless there is something I don't understand I just don't like this vets idea of wanting to scope the cat either. If he is already inflamed what help will shoving and endoscope down his trachea do?

OK got to run but I will check back tonight. Take care. Hope your cat is feeling better.