Kitty diagnosed with Asthma-using Aerokat

[merlinsmom]

Hello all!  My 14.5 year old domestic long hair Merlin was diagnosed with Feline asthma this past week.  I bought the aerokat to save him from having to take pills etc.  We started with albuterol, because she wasn't sure if he was bad enough to start with steroids.  He had a chest infection too so we gave him clavamox for 8 days, though it said to do 10.  Day 9 we had to take him back to the vet because of his coughing not getting better and she prescribed Flovent for him.  He seems to be improving somewhat, but still sounds a little rough when purring.

I am full of questions and nervous about doing things right.  Merlin actually takes the aerokat pretty well, though he does fight some.  I gave him a treatment by myself this morning, normally my husband has to hold him.   I think I left it on long enough.  My question is, should I go ahead and give him the rest of the antibiotics, starting back on them today, or just continue with the flovent.  He sounded a little mucousy this morning, but didn't go into an attack thank goodness!

Thanks for any help with a nervous mommy!

Debra

 

[puck]

IF you only have 2 days of Clavamox left, this would not affect or reduce any bacterial population currently infecting him. He'd need to start another set of 5 to 7 day duration of antibiotics for an effect. You can ask your vet for more antibiotics.

Cats tolerate the newer HFA inhaler drugs better than the old pump, with less after-taste and bitterness associated with the powdered metered spray. The old formula of inhaler albuterol was a bugger for many, smelled and tasted so bad. The Aerokat adapters have been lifesavers; some cats will bite the rubber edging until accustomed to the invasive mask and the "sudden" burst they feel when the inhaler is pumped (actuated). Glad he's not one of those, because enough holes in that rubber flange and you have to buy a new one.

It is a good idea to rinse it and allow to air dry weekly; more often if he sneezes or breathes any purulent discharge into it, using warm water flush until clean. Isopropyl (70% rubbing) alcohol is okay occasionally, but the alcohol does deteriorate the rubber's seal to the plastic over time.

Another investment for an asthma kitty is a nebulizer, which has a chamber for inhalent medication to vaporize with the saline he inhales. Albuterol as well as acetylcysteine can be used in the nebulizer, great during active infections; even saline alone in the nebulizing mist applied directly in front of his nose for 7 minutes multiple times a day can be a huge benefit for asthma cats. An open-ended inhalant tube, rather than the mask, is better tolerated during their nebulization. Steamy bathroom is a beneficial alternative to tide one over, but not as effective, or for those cats with occasional URIs that need it just for a week or 2. But, the nebulizer is a good value for asthma cat owners that use it multiple times weekly for life. Side note, the original machine is made for humans, and we adapt for animal use, so you could use your own inhalant tube for self nebulizing also! Yay, cost efficiency.

Seasons when there is higher debris content in the air, such as during pollination, increase the tracheal/bronchial inflammation. Also, during seasonal changes, such as when artificial cooling and heating of the air increases, eliminating humidity as well as releasing debris from the ventilation system after long period of no use. They are more prone to respiratory infections and inflammations during these changes. Stress, also, will trigger their asthma.

Hope Merlin's breathing easier and clears that infection soon!

 

[merlinsmom]

Thanks for the reply.  In the interim I called my vet and they said that it was ok to just stop the clavamox.  She listened to his lungs yesterday so I will take her word that's it ok.

Merlin is tolerating the aerokat pretty well.  What he has been doing, since yesterday, which kind of concerned me is that he has been hiding more than he used to.  He sounds better, but I think all the stress of the new meds and he not feeling well has caused him to hide.  He will come out to eat though, so i think he is just in the "leave me alone" mode and trying to get better.  When I pet him, under the bed, he purrs, but he doesn't come out and follow me.  He has exhibited this behavior one other time when he had a bad UTI and was just over the medication.

He is using the pan and eating and drinking, so I am just giving him his space right now.  The nebulizer is a good idea.  I have tried to get him to lay on my lap with the humidifier on, but he doesn't seem to be doing it that well.  I have a small bedroom and that's his favorite hiding place.  I thought about putting the humidifier in there and letting it help him.

I haven't heard him have an attack since yesterday, so I hope that means he is improving!

 

[mingking]

I hope Merlin will do better in the coming weeks. Sending you and Merlin good vibes! 

 

[merlinsmom]

How long does it take for the steroid inhaler to work?   He seems to be breathing a little quieter but he still seems pretty lethargic and is only eating the treats I am giving him plus a tiny bit of tuna.  he was checked for everything so I am confident its the asthma but still worried

He was pretty sick so I assume it will take a bit to get back to normal right?

 

[merlinsmom]

Merlin is not doing as well this evening.  Still no coughing, but he is breathing hard and even after his flovent.  He isn't eating either tonight. 

He just seemed worn out and can't do anything.

I know it will take a while for him to get over this, but I feel like this is a setback.

I am upset tonight worrying that this won't fix the problem.  I'm not ready to lose my baby

 

[Columbine]

Sometimes not eating on this situation means that they haven't got enough breath to eat...especially if he's interested in food. If your vet is friendly and approachable it might be worth a phone call to talk through symptoms. I did that a lot with my chf cat (asthma came as a symptom/complication of the chf). I live out in the country though and have an 18 year relationship with multiple animals with them though.

Try not to worry too much. It can take a while to get over a big episode. for you and for Merlin.

 

[mingking]

I'm sorry to hear that Merlin is not well this evening. Sending good vibes to you and Merlin *hugs* (I wish I could do more but if it helps, please keep writing or speak to someone)

 

[merlinsmom]

Its obvious he does not have enough breath to eat. I think that I may not be getting a goid seal in his aerokat though. I gave him a treatment this morning but the indicator flap wasnt moving. I trief again and no luck. I think he is getting some meds but not enough. I have to go for my own biopy procedure this morning so I cant call the vet. I am going to try to give him a treatment when we get home with my husbands help to see if it gets better.

 

[Columbine]

Hope he picks up soon (and hope your biopsy goes ok too) for you both.

If the indicator flap wasn't moving I used to check it by making the seal with the palm of my hand - just to be sure there wasn't a hole in the mask. It takes a while to get the knack of the aerokat consistently - I was a bit hit and miss at the beginning...especially when the patient was protesting! You're doing wonderfully with Merlin. He's lucky to have a mum like you.

 

[Columbine]

I found this site really helpful too http://www.fritzthebrave.com

 

[merlinsmom]

Spoke to my vet. They say he should be much better by now and want me to take him to an internal med specialist. So I am going at 930 tomorrow. Its a town a out an hour away. I hope he is ok traveling that far. I got a bad diagnosis myself today. I have thyroid cancer. So i have to arrange surgery for myself. This is just a disaster and my finances are getting to the breaking point. So upset

 

[Columbine]

Huge There's nothing I can say to make things easier. You're in my thoughts. I hope the specialist can help Merlin, and that he handles the trip ok. It's awful when your furbaby is ill, and so much harder when you're battling health problems yourself. Lots of healing for both of you.

 

[mingking]

I'm so sorry this is happening! I know these may be empty words, but I'm thinking of you and Merlin and really hope something good comes out. 

 

[merlinsmom]

Thanks everyone. One or the other would be bad enough. Just a lot to absorb today. I pray that he will be better in the morning and I can put this behind me. But he probably needs seen even if it it is to relieve my mind that its asthma and i have to be patient. The thought of having to put him down is so horrible to me that i cant deal with that and my own health

 

[merlinsmom]

Back from the specialist.  They just think my little guy has a really bad case of asthma and we are going to have to do more intervention than we started with.  I have to give him flovent two times a day and a liquid prednisolone once a day until he gets better.  They also gave him an appetite stimulant..  He had a super rough care ride though.  He has been breathing super badly since we got home and had two coughing fits.  Gave him the rescue inhaler, but it upsets me to see him like that.  So, going to be a rough time of it, but right now we have a plan

 

[Columbine]

I'm glad you have a plan, and that at least it's only asthma you're dealing with (a big only I know, but you have to grab any positive you can in this situation).

It's good that he's had an appetite stimulant (I'm guessing vit B injections). They made a real difference to my boy. I hope they work as well for Merlin as they did for Cal.

He'll take a little while to settle from the trip. It's awful seeing them fighting for breath - it can just make you feel so helpless. The best thing you can do is get him comfortable somewhere,stay really calm and be a soothing ,reassuring presence. I know how hard that can be though.

and healing to you both. You're in my thoughts.

 

[merlinsmom]

Thanks for watching my posts. I almost rushed him to a local vet due to his attack when he tot home because he was mouth breathing a little. But when i was calling the local vet he seemed to calm down. I left him alone and i took a short fitful nap and went back to check on him and though he still sounds rough he is better and had eaten a little. Right now he associates me with bad stuff so im leaving him alone for awhile to rest. Its hard when they struggle like this. I never dreamed this would be so rough on him and me.

 

[Columbine]

I know how rough it is. I can't say anything to make it better. Do keep posting if it helps. Feel free to pm me too. I was dealing with chf with asthma complications. At one point we were at the vets every 48hrs (always out-of-hours too...they do pick their times!). Despite all that Cal had a good quality of life for 7-8 months after end stage chf was diagnosed (and I do mean end stage. Prognosis for asthma alone should be significantly better. It's just a matter of finding the optimum meds and doses for Merlin).

If you haven't looked at the link I posted,please do so. I found it immensely helpful in coping with Cal.

again. I'm sure you can use them right now.

 

[merlinsmom]

Ive read the fritz site. It helped me too

I hope merlin has a good quality too. I just feel bad that my happy little guy is so sick. It was like night and day. But as i look back the signs were there. Chf is rough. I thought that was what we had going on here.