Best inhaled medicine for asthma?

[FurBabiesMama]

Willow has upper respiratory issues and asthma (confirmed by x-ray). She has not had to be on any medication for this yet. She gets Zyrtec each day to help with her allergies which aggravate the other 'stuff', but that is it. We saw an Internal Medicine Specialist late last year, and he suggested I buy an AeroKat and just start getting her accustomed to it. He said we would then talk about getting the medicine to be used with it. Well, he ended up leaving to do national consulting, and there is nothing in the paperwork I have that indicates what he would have prescribed.

I really want to have something I can do for her if her attacks become more severe. I have this fear of sitting there having to watch her die from not being able to breathe and not being able to do anything to help her. I took her in for an annual exam today and talked to the vet about wanting to get something for her. She made a comment that she wished she knew what the specialist had been thinking of prescribing. Great. I was hoping that was a clear 'go-to' for this, but apparently not. So, help, please. I know some of you have babies with asthma.

I think the specialist was planning to prescribe an inhaled steroid. When I research feline asthma, I see that is what is usually used, but I also see that bronchodilators are also often used. Does she need both? Just one or the other? Do you use these regularly or just when there are bad attacks? Are there particular brands/kinds that are best/safest? Any help you can give would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Usually, you use the inhaled steroid daily and have a bronchodilator for emergencies

The steroid I see used most here is Flovent, but I know Advair and Symbicort are used occasionally too

 

[JL and Chip]

I use Flovent 110mcg with the AeroKat for my asthmatic guy.

 

[Beenie (GA)]

I see that is what is usually used, but I also see that bronchodilators are also often used. Does she need both? Just one or the other?

Ming was diagnosed with asthma and we use Flovent by way of the Aerokat chamber. This is used daily. A rescue inhaler is only used for an emergency where kitty can't breathe and needs the airways opened asap. Ming was never prescribed the rescue inhaler because his asthma isn't that severe. He has on opacity in his left lung that contributes to the breathing issues and had testing done and doesn't seem to be anything sinister and is being monitored. There's a Yahoo Feline asthma group I would recommend you check out. Flovent is very expensive so most get it overseas a a particular pharmacy but I don't remember the name. We have pet insurance so its covered for us. Regularly goes for roughly $265 each. The Yahoo group suggests the highest starting dose but since Ming is not a typical asthmatic having that opacity I've kept his dose to 2 puffs twice a day and recently down to once a day. Its the 110mcg dose.
I bought the Aerokat and left it by Ming's food bowl for about 10 days and found a you tube video on tips to get him to accept using to it. Way easier, to me, then FD testing and shooting insulin.

You should see if you can find another IM vet, one who has some experience with feline asthma if you can. The Yahoo group is a great group but very different format than our FDMB. Everything is through email correspondence not a message board so it took me a while to get used to.

Good luck! Chin scritches to Willow

 

[FurBabiesMama]

Thanks for the responses.

You should see if you can find another IM vet

The IM Specialist that was hired to replace the other one seems to be an arrogant, 'my way or the highway' kind of guy. I do not know if he has much asthma experience - he probably thinks he is an expert on everything - but I hope to never have to go to him. I have not looked for others in the area.