Parents of asthmatic kitties

[Thesixs]

My Truman is asthmatic. I notice a spike in his BG 24 to 36 hours after his prednalisone. Has anyone adjusted the Pred dosage to decrease the spikes? Truman currently takes 1/2 of a Pred tablet every 4 days. I think they are 5 mg.

 

[Callie & Patches]

I would talk to my vet and ask if there is something else Truman could take for his asthma. Pred is great for somethings, but it's bad for FD. You might lower his dose a bit , but I would call the vet first

 

[Tuxedo Mom]

Some people with asthmatic kitties will use the Aeorkat inhaler tube with a steroid inhaled medication. This way the steroid is getting into the bronchial tissue and lungs but not as much into the entire system the way an oral or injected steroid does. If the asthma treatment will be ongoing indefinitely you could ask your vet about using this method. The inhaled steroid will cause a lot less effects on the glucose levels than the systemic steroids.


ETA Here is a link with information on the Aerokat :

https://www.trudellmed.com/animal-health/aerokat

 

[Olive & Paula]

I use the inhaler Mary Ann mentioned above. Smokey is not a acute asthmatic. I use albuterol for him and it is only occasionally he needs it. Pred has never been used on him so I can't answer that.

 

[Anitafrnhamer]

Having just recently acquired an asthmatic kitty and having experienced steroid induced diabetes with Squeaker; I would advocate use of the inhalers. Raven had one steroid injection to get the asthma under control and then when I got the inhalers he has been taking those since. Please consider joining this group: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/felineasthma/conversations/messages.

 

[Thesixs]

Thank you all. My vet and I are talking about switching Tru to aerokat.

 

[DebG]

My kitty Fritz has been having the aerokat for a little over six years now. I buy Flovent from canadadrugs for a lot less than what you will pay in the US. The only difference is that it doesn't have a counter you have to keep track of the 120 doses.
You can get 110 or 220. I have both doses for Fritz as his asthma changes and I dose according to his symptoms. Usually 1 puff of the 220 or two puffs of the 110. I also keep on hand the Albuterol for asthma attacks.
I don't use anything with ascent in the home. I have a cool mister humidifier running 24/7 as well as a air cleaner. I have in the past gave Fritz oral prednisolone. his GB did run a bit higher.
@Melissa & Tarragon her kitty has asthma and she is able to keep Tarragon well regulated.

 

[Melissa & Tarragon]

Hello! I'm sorry to hear about your asthmatic kitty. Tarragon has had asthma for 11 years and diabetes for 6 years. We use the aerokat inhaler mentioned above with flovent 220 (2 puffs twice a day) and abuterol for rescue inhaler. Tarragon's asthma is bad and the inhaler was not able to keep it controlled alone so he is also on 10 mg of prednisolone each day for the last 4 years. We have always used the approach that breathing comes first so we have adjusted his insulin to compensate for the pred. When T first went on prednisolone, we used the approach of increasing his insulin by .25 U every 3 days that he was not under 200 until we found the right dose. He is well regulated now and breathing easy. Let me know if you have any questions or need anything!

 

[Thesixs]

Hello! I'm sorry to hear about your asthmatic kitty. Tarragon has had asthma for 11 years and diabetes for 6 years. We use the aerokat inhaler mentioned above with flovent 220 (2 puffs twice a day) and abuterol for rescue inhaler. Tarragon's asthma is bad and the inhaler was not able to keep it controlled alone so he is also on 10 mg of prednisolone each day for the last 4 years. We have always used the approach that breathing comes first so we have adjusted his insulin to compensate for the pred. When T first went on prednisolone, we used the approach of increasing his insulin by .25 U every 3 days that he was not under 200 until we found the right dose. He is well regulated now and breathing easy. Let me know if you have any questions or need anything!

Truman's asthma is well controlled. And as a healthcare professional, I agree the ABC's come first. Our vet had kind of left us alone to determine the dosing for the Pred. I really need to get him on aerokat.

 

[Melissa & Tarragon]

I hope the aerokat helps Truman! It didn't take T long to learn to use it. I too buy my flovent from Canada. It's much cheaper.

 

[Anitafrnhamer]

I really need to get him on aerokat.

The AeroKat is the just the chamber used to deliver the inhaler. The typical inhaler is fluticasone (Flovent brand) and albuterol as a rescue inhaler. When Raven was first dx, I joined the yahoo feline asthma group. They were so very kind to send me 2 inhalers, the AeroKat chamber with 2 masks, and direct me to a pharmacy where the inhalers were about $30 each.