01/02/2022 - Whiskey AMPS=173 -reverting to SLGS while infection clears, see discussion for reasons

stannarp

Member Since 2021
Previous thread:

31 Jan 2022

I'm arranging to get her to the vet today or tomorrow. I think there is something happening with her ears, she goes nuts every time I test.

Minor challenge of my car being in for repair, but I'll try to get my partner to take us if he can.
 
Yes. She needs to be seen.
She is there now, they say it is a nasty fungal infection in her ears, they are cleaning them and have given me some mutti (meds) to apply.

More than a single episode of vomit? Foamy? Undigested food?

Are you taking her to the vet today?

No, single episode, I think referencing the above she is very stressed about her ears, and the testing doesn't help as they are inflamed - they have been getting worse, although I've been cleaning them as directed but a stronger intervention is needed. She basically threw up what she ate this morning. She also hasn't been really hungry yesterday and today, but I think again down to the ears.

They want me to bring her in for sedated ear cleaning again (after today) after 5 days and then again after 7, then do daily applications of the meds (miconazole) which I've been a bit cautious with - but apparently too cautious (they told me not to let it get into the ear drum as it could cause deafness).

Good news is that on the culture slide we couldn't see any ear mites, 'just' the fungal infection, so hopefully if we can get that under control it will help.

He suggested testing a bit less for now (pre shot tests) and maybe trying to test from the tip of her tail instead, as she has started hiding from me and reacting really badly when I test. He says we don't want her to create a long term association between her care giver (me), ear testing and ear pain.

As a result, I want to try to maintain her on the lower dose for the moment unless her BG starts climbing radically - essentially reverting to SLGS until this clears.

I know that we have made great progress, but if I carry on as we have been with tests while the ears are this bad, I am going to end up with a traumatised cat who doesn't trust me at all :(
 
OK, update back from the vet, very grumpy lady, but she has eaten something.

Treatment protocol is as above, but he has also given her a long acting antibiotic jab to prevent a bacterial infection, and wants me to apply the miconozole daily, and give her pain meds (onsior) daily for 4 days, thereafter half a day for another 4 days.

Check up and another sedated ear cleaning on Friday or Monday (depending on how she is recovering), then another one on the Friday or Monday after, whichever will be 7 days after the next.

Judging by her reaction to the miconozole application I did earlier, I will have to revert to SLGS on her current dose (unless she starts climbing into higher yellows) and limit my testing for a bit.

She's already started hiding from me, so I want to follow the vets advice for testing until we stabilise.

Came out of the blue, she was fine for ear testing until Sunday, they were a bit sensitive but maintaining with the cleaning routine, then they flared up like crazy yesterday afternoon to the point where she fights like crazy with every test and I am sure her growling can be heard from a mile away.

We have temps into high 30's (Celsius) and high humidity at the moment (think Florida in summer) so I think the fungal infection has gone nuts.
 
Wow. You are going through a lot with her. I’m sorry! Poor Whiskey! I hope it gets cleared up very soon. I worry about giving that much Onsior, but I understand she needs something for the pain. Fungal infections are the worst!
 
Poor Whisky. I agree about switching to SLGS temporarily. Some people poke the paw but I didn’t ever try that. A minimum number of pokes makes sense right now. Like you said you just need to make sure the bg doesn’t get too high. I hope it clears soon. I agree with Suzanne about a large dose of Onisor. It can be hard on the kidneys.
 
Poor Whisky. I agree about switching to SLGS temporarily. Some people poke the paw but I didn’t ever try that. A minimum number of pokes makes sense right now. Like you said you just need to make sure the bg doesn’t get too high. I hope it clears soon. I agree with Suzanne about a large dose of Onisor. It can be hard on the kidneys.

OK, I am going to have to shoot blind, and I understand the implications, but...

I can't test her ears...they hurt way too much

I can't test her paws...she just doesn't allow that

The tip of the tail recommended by the vet is not an option.

So I am sticking with the lowest dose I possibly can 0.10 (current TR level) and her standard low carb food.

As soon as her ears have recovered enough for testing I will give it a try to test.

Sorry guys, usually I am a test / shoot feind but circumstances dictate that tests now are not an option until Friday at least.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Wow. You are going through a lot with her. I’m sorry! Poor Whiskey! I hope it gets cleared up very soon. I worry about giving that much Onsior, but I understand she needs something for the pain. Fungal infections are the worst!

Yes, also not happy with Onsior. Usually I'd use CBD for pets, but I'm not sure it would help with the level of pain.

Will probably try to switch to that on Friday.
 
And I don’t want to be an alarmist, but I hope they will be careful/not too aggressive with the ear cleaning. I have a friend whose cat developed Horner’s Syndrome from overly aggressive ear cleaning. Hopefully, the vet is going to be cautious and that is why they want to do it in stages (i.e. more than once.)
 
And I don’t want to be an alarmist, but I hope they will be careful/not too aggressive with the ear cleaning. I have a friend whose cat developed Horner’s Syndrome from overly aggressive ear cleaning. Hopefully, the vet is going to be cautious and that is why they want to do it in stages (i.e. more than once.)
I hope so too. They are pretty inflamed right now, so I think he wants to go slow and allow the inflammation to settle before trying more.
 
I was just going to suggest that. It’s what my vet always gives me. Seems many vets now use gabapentin.
Will ask about that too, if either is available in South Africa I'll ask for them instead. The only alternative they had on hand is Petcam which is worse :(
 
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