9/10/17 Update on Civvie and Jones is stuck in the high blues.

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Tracey&Jones (GA)

Tracey&Jones (GA)

Member Since 2016
Yesterday

Well, that looked like a short lived bounce. Maybe he heard you @Wendy&Neko yelling at him to get off the trampoline?

Will be doing some extra testing today, see what he will show me.

My civvie Libby has been doing this dry cough in the last 4 or so days. Took her to the vet last Saturday for blood work and she was fine. Her thyroid number is still the high side of normal but virtually the same as 3 months ago. No other clinical signs that we can see. The weight loss is planned weight loss as she has been on a monitored diet for 6 months now. She has actually lost a whole 1.5kgs. This cough, it is like she is trying to hack up a fur ball but nothing is coming out. Our air quality has been atrocious lately with all the smoke coming in from the BC fires, so I am wondering if maybe asthma? The Vet did mention possible heart issues with cats that run higher thyroid numbers but didn't mention signs to look for. Just throwing it out there to see if any body has any ideas.

I did buy some hairball relief medication last week as well, but I don't think that would have anything to do with it would it?
 
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Tracey&Jones said:
This cough, it is like she is trying to hack up a fur ball but nothing is coming out
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Doodles had the same thing going on and All his BW was normal too. I would get a echocardiogram done to check for heart issues. By the time I took Doodles to the cardiologist he was already in CHF. Asthma is hard to diagnose but something to look into.
 
Ginger was hyperthyroid and would do the cough for a few scary seconds, where it looked like she was trying to cough up a hairball, but nothing came out. I took her to the vet, and the vet said twice that it was just probably a hair in her throat that was tickling her, because it would happen when she was purring. Anyway, I have seen a lot of people on the Hyperthyroid Cats facebook group report the same kind of cough. I have not seen Ginger doing that cough since she was cured with the i131.
 
I am taking Jones and CKD Civvie Rain in soon. Will discuss with the vet to see what she thinks - see if a we can get those things booked. Want to talk about a dental on Jones as well. $$$$$$$$$$$. I really wish my regular vet would come back from maternity. I keep getting bounced around from vet to vet and there is no consistency at the moment. The one that called with the blood work wanted to do another blood test, which if it was needed we should of just gotten at the time of the first one :rolleyes:.

I will keep watch on this cough thing and count how many episodes I can catch.
 
Tracey&Jones said:
The one that called with the blood work wanted to do another blood test, which if it was needed we should of just gotten at the time of the first one
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I once had to do an additional test after blood work results were called in and Idexx was holding some extra blood (for 48 hours?) and was able to do that additional test. I'm not sure of this, but I think my vet always sends extra blood, for just in case.
Good luck with all the vet appointments and finding a decent alternative to your usual vet. I know Ginger needs a dental, and I think I'll be taking her to a veterinary dental specialist, just because I trust them most.
 
It was like 4 days later when the results came in. He said she would have to come back in. If we are going to do that, we may as well get everything we want done at the same time. If she is hyp-T - that is just one more thing to manage here. :rolleyes::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:.

Just hoping CKD civvie is holding as the whole given fluids was a no go. She just fought and last time I had saline everywhere, the needle pulled out and her bleeding, DS freaked out....figured if she had that much fight I would leave it alone. Just added more water to her wet food.

Man, when it rains it pours.
 
I had the same experience as Karen with a civie and a cough. Turned out to be HCM, he had a thromboembolism two days before his scheduled echo. Still kick myself for delaying that as long as I did.

Our smoke is from Washington State this time. :rolleyes: Thank goodness for today's long overdue rain..
 
So, I take it if it doesn't clear up over the next few days I should take action then. I guess that replacement crown will just have to wait a few more months.
 
I would try counting her respiration rate or RR. When she is at rest, count the number of complete in and out breaths. It should be below 30. If above, I would talk to the vet. An x-ray, which is cheaper than an echo, can detect enlarged heart or fluid on the heart, but not other heart wall thickness (HCM). I hope your air clears out soon.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
count the number of complete in and out breatht
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I am getting between 21-25. I just looked at her last bloodwork...her total T4 was 34 on a range of 10-54. That was May 20th. Her latest was basically the same he said. Asking for a copy of that. I don't think this is a hyper T issue as she has no other clinic signs of hyper-T.

Watching closely and have everyone watching. If no improvement will call Monday for an appointment.
 
Those are all really good signs. It's what we were hoping to see but didn't. We never got to try lasix.
 
My rescue civvie Jester, after about 4 days being home started doing that cough. He had already been on antibiotics for a bacterial infection in his lungs. He started breathing rapidly, and that was it for me, off to emergency vet. They kept him overnight, ran an x-ray, diagnosis was asthma. They have an internal vet specialist there who looked at the X-rays and confirmed diagnosis. I was sent home with prednisolone.

So I'm just mentioning my experience because it really turned out that (I believe anyway), maybe the flare up my Jester had was because of some dusty cat litter I had left out, and it was really still this bacterial infection in his lungs that was the main problem to begin with, he just couldn't get enough air at the time of flare up. Likely the prednisolone helped with opening up the airways, and he was slowly reduced down over a few weeks to not needing anything now for 2 years.

Sorry about the air quality, that can't help much, It's been really smokey here in Calgary for the last few day as well. Hope you can find some some answers to what's going on with Libby.
 
She is more subdued today. Still eating though. Appt booked for tomorrow. Would like to get this figured out fast. Her breathing is ok if a little rapid after coughing spell.
 
Tracey&Jones said:
She is more subdued today. Still eating though. Appt booked for tomorrow. Would like to get this figured out fast. Her breathing is ok if a little rapid after coughing spell.
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Appointment with the cardiologist or regular vet? You really need that echo. It's good she is eating. :bighug:
 
tiffmaxee said:
Appointment with the cardiologist or regular vet? You really need that echo. It's good she is eating. :bighug:
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Regular vet. The cardiologist is at the emergency clinic and there isn't a cardiologist on duty this weekend PLUS they said I would need a referral before they would like to book her in for the specialist. VCA GRRRRRR.

There seems to be less episodes. RR is still under 30 - hanging out 20-25. She is just very subdued.
 
Tracey&Jones said:
Regular vet. The cardiologist is at the emergency clinic and there isn't a cardiologist on duty this weekend PLUS they said I would need a referral before they would like to book her in for the specialist. VCA GRRRRRR.

There seems to be less episodes. RR is still under 30 - hanging out 20-25. She is just very subdued.
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She could just be worn out from the experience if subdued.
 
Once you have a referral to the cardiologist, you can deal with them directly for subsequent visits. The other route to see a cardiologist is through a referral from ER. Ugh, been there done that on the paperwork!

Heart issues can also cause lethargy. Your vet can still figure out a lot by listening to her so is a good start.
 
Good idea Wendy, about the ER. I did that with my cancer kitty and recently to see the cardiologist for my sister's dog not because we needed referrals to to fast track.
 
I thought the same thing Wendy. At ER now. She just isn't right. They don't hear a heart murmer or crackles in the lungs. There seems to be some extra work being done by the lungs however though they are not sure why. All other vitals are normal. Going for bloodwork and xray.
 
Update: blood work was boring according to the ER vet. Only her goblins were slightly elevated which is indication of possible infection but not what kind of infection. The x-rays is consistent with a severe case of asthma. So....we are going home with antibotics specific to blood "micro something" basically a blood infection. It could be something she has carried for awhile and something just aggravated it. Being a stray for her first three years...anything is possible. Some prednisolone for 5 days to help get the inflammation down quickly so she can breathe easier and an inhaler for long term support.

Recheck in 5 days with regular vet.
 
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I'm glad you took her in. I hope the meds help.

Have you ever used an inhaler with a cat before? It can be quite an experience. There are some good videos online to help you see how to do it. Good luck!
 
Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey said:
It can be quite an experience
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No, I used one on my drooler for a couple of years. I am a little worried about it....she is not the easiest cat when she doesn't want to be touched or held.

I will doing some research online. She is highly food motivated, so I am hoping that I can use that somehow. I will pick up the inhalers tomorrow, so I maybe posting a 911 for medical help sometime tomorrow night.:kiss:

To top it off - my DH which has been off work for over a year due to MVA - is going to his new job - flies out tomorrow night for 60 days. So this is going to be a learning experience with just me and the DS. I am hoping to use her love for him....hahahahaha. :D Again...maybe a 911 tomorrow night.


Her cough has already subsided...she is sleeping lots tonight but it is restful sleep.


Thank you for all the good wishes and the check-ins.
 
I use an Aerokat inhaler with Flixotide (fluctisoline (spelling?)) with Girlie for her asthma. She's a very accommodating cat, but is not overly fond of the inhaler. Just a quick tip: when the vet was showing me how to use it, we were both wondering why the little green flap that shows that she's inhaling wasn't fluttering. It wasn't until we looked at her from the side (rather than straight on from the front) that we realised that she couldn't breathe because the inhaler was mashed up against her nose! I have to laugh: I wonder when she would have finally told us that she couldn't actually breathe? As I said - very accommodating and accepting cat.

It can be hard to see whether the front part is positioned clearly so that they can actually take unobstructed breaths. Please ask if you have any questions and I'll try to help, although I'm sure there are many, many more experienced people here who use the Aerokat.

Getting them used to it: I did use the "get your treat out of the mask" thing for Girlie so she felt more comfortable about having it on her face. I can try to find the videos that really helped me when I was first trying to learn how to do it, if you like - just let me know. My "never fail" trick with any new medication with Girlie is to try it when she's half asleep and less aware of whatever dasterdly thing I've decided to do to her...
 
She has fluticasone...that is the constant. Then salbutamol that can be given constantly or as needed. For my drooler I used the salbutamol daily with her during the summer as pollens were her issues. Then during the winter she didn't get anything but a shot of salbutamol when she had an attack.

With Libby...I really don't know the trigger so...for the next bit I will give both and then see if I can wean her off the salbutamol.

I was going to search to tonight after dropping off DH at airport for some videos. Libby is a 50/50 cat. She is good until she isn't then you get a yowl and a swipe that says she is done. But she can be pilled so easy. Just put food dish in front of her...lit head..give pill and let her continue eating. Repeat till done.
 
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