Respiratory issues after starting steroids

[DT83]

Hi everyone,
Our cat Kylie who is 15 years old starting losing weight and an odd wheezing/hair ball fit which some have described as asthma it randomly happened, blood in stool (no longer having this issue). We took her to the primary and her blood work didn’t indicate any infection but an X-ray found a mass in her chest area. From there we were recommended to see a specialist where we had an ultrasound performed. They confirmed the chest mass (likely cancer), thickening of the intestines, and spots on her spleen. They wanted to perform multiple procedures on her ct scan, aspirate the mass and biopsy, and endoscopy. This was just so much to put her through so we discussed palliative care and they provided us with prednisolone steroid and it was going well. She was eating more and increased energy the past week or two. Last Thursday we noticed that she started snotty sneezing and her one eye was watering all clear fluids. Each day it has increased but less liquid in the eye. I spoke with the specialist and all he could say it sounded like an upper respiratory and perhaps it was the meds and mentioned to taper her off the meds??? Would the medication really cause her to have this respiratory issue, she was not having this issue previously?? We rarely see the wheezing now. He recommended seeing the primary vet if this gets worse. He also recommended a lot of info I knew on my own, we have been running a dehumidifier . It’s a tough time with all that’s going on right now and I find myself getting upset very easily especially being told to taper her off the meds that are suppose to be helping her and no other backup plan. I would really appreciate anyone’s input/support on this medication and Kylie’s situation.

 

[stephanietx]

The stress of the visit to the vet probably brought on the upper respiratory infection. The steroids are an anti-inflammatory, but actually weaken the immune system.

 

[white shadow]

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Hi DT83.

The 'one eye and runny nose syndrome' discharge causes me to suspect herpesvirus. It might be that this is flaring because the pred is supressing her immune response that had previously been keeping it in check.

There's a simple way to find out - with your Vet's OK, using L-lysine, which we know stops herpesvirus replication and quickly suppresses its flareups. It has no side effects and isn't contraindicated with any steroid.

If she were here (and, this is my usual regimen with my herpes kitty) I'd be giving 500mg twice a day for a couple of days then half that for the next few days. With my guy, the discharge will have stopped within 36 hours. I use this one: .nowfoods.com L-lysine 500mg Capsules. It is tasteless and I mix the powder into a teaspoonful of wet food to ensure it's consumed.

That would quickly tell you whether/not it's herpesvirus. If the discharge stops, you wouldn't have to stop the pred - a periodic 'pulsing' dose of lysine could then keep the sneezys away. (maybe 250mg, half a capsulefull every few days) My own cat's flareups are not on any regular basis, so I don't have to do the pulsing protocol.

It certainly couldn't hurt (from all we know).

Let us know what your Vet says - and, what results if you proceed.
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[mrsgreenjeens]

My thoughts exactly. I immediately thought, ok, immune system suppressed with the steroid, this could be Feline Herpes! So I, too, would try the L-Lysine and possibly Lactoferrin

Here's a (long) thread about using them together: Stubborn herpes infection? Add Lactoferrin in addition to Lysine

 

[DT83]

Thank you for all the advice. I should have some in the mail tomorrow . Her eye is doing better but the sneezing persists! I’ll keep you posted. Kylie currently is having a sun bath

 

[Oysterbay]

I have an FHV kitty whose condition became acute after over half a dozen vets prescribed antibiotics and steroids, over and over and over. Any kitty with weak immunity will eventually worsen with immune-suppressing drugs like antibiotics and steroids. These tip the balance to bad bugs in the body. I've been through the wringer with vets and emergency animal hospitals and specialists wringer and would not wish what I've gone through on anyone. Here's what I've found, save yourself a fortune on vet bills and drugs!

Cancer - fenbendazole which is a common animal dewormer. You'll find the protocol by googling this and "Vitality Science" which was the first animal care company to publish recommended dosages. The way this works is to break up the tumors and other cancers.

Chronic immunity issues - citricidal which is an inexpensive grapefruit extract. You'll find it on amazon. This sanitizes everything in the body and only eliminates pathogens, not good bugs which are necessary for digestion, etc. It's way more powerful than lysine.

General immunity and anti-aging - black seed oil which has an active compound in it called thymoquinone. It's being researched for everything from heart health to cancer to kidney disease to dermatology and more. It seems to work by expelling diseased material in the body. There's no other way to describe it: after my kitty started on it she had a bout of diarrhea and some reflux and rash. And then she turned back into her kitten self. She is now twelve and a bratty drama queen. I was beyond overjoyed and grateful.

Hope this helps! Remember there are no death sentences, only God judges and only God knows when it's time.

 

[DT83]

we’ve been using the lysine for about a week. The eye was getting better before we started the routine but she was still sneezing. The eye is clear now, sneezing has mostly reduced. The thing we notice is that wheezing/sneezing that some refer to asthma. We run the humidifier to help out. These attacks happen once a day at least if not every other day. I will have to check in more on the items oysterbay mentioned.

 

[Oysterbay]

Would you consider trying b12 for the asthmatic attacks? The preferred format is methyl/adenosylcobalamin. There’s one on amazon by Global Healing Center.

I’d be happy to answer any safety & efficacy questions on the suggestions I made previously especially as compared with chemo/radiation/surgery and/or antibiotics and steroids.

Here’s a thought for today: what if everything we needed were at our fingertips? And everything we truly wanted were actually right under our noses? Sending love & care from Chairman Meow and her butler (me)