? 10/26 Chanel AMPS 230 PMPS 156 Baby does not like the inhaler&mask...any suggestions?

Laura & Chanel

Laura & Chanel

Member Since 2019
Sorry for not posting yesterday. We have an ongoing audit until Friday and yesterday I felt like a headless chicken.
Chanel's yesterday BG values were AMPS 240 and PMPS 173
Still keeping her on fluticasone inhaler, orbax, vitamin C, and Zobaline. She does not like the new food, tried some Weruva, no luck. Still looking for better alternatives in the food department.
 
The little baby is upset with me, we are just fighting each other when I have to administer the inhaler, she hates the mask and she looks at me afterwards with horror and sadness.
Any ideas/suggestions to make the whole process somewhat acceptable?
 
Laura & Chanel said:
The little baby is upset with me, we are just fighting each other when I have to administer the inhaler, she hates the mask and she looks at me afterwards with horror and sadness.
Any ideas/suggestions to make the whole process somewhat acceptable?
Click to expand...
Going to tag a few members who have experience with asthma in cats

@Margaret (and Pearl)
@Scdal
@Max & Lori
@Jessica A

Here's an old thread with a lot of info on asthma
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/12-5-phoenix-bg-566.256322/
 
Every cat is different. But, I found stroking my guy’s head/ears (with the hand that was holding his head steady) helped during the treatment. I also followed up with some of his favorite treats. Make sure you’re not pushing too hard on the mask and jamming it into his face, which is easy to do with a squirmy cat. And lots of pets and positive attention after, if your cat likes that sort of thing. Sometimes they just need to get used to this strange mask thingy being put over their face and get more accepting of it over time.
 
I found this
The Feline Asthma group is also great for specific asthma related questions.http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/feli ... haledmeds/

I also found this that a member posted to another member about mask she said

If Bubba doesn't like the mask put on his face from the beginning (Oscar is pretty paid back and didn't mind much), make sure you acclimate him to the aerokat by leaving it in his sleeping places, put a treat in the mask to have him get, etc. The acclimation stage is the hardest, but many kitties get used to the treatments and actually like the bonding time.
 
Sometimes it helps to start slow, just get them used to the mask before you even start administering the meds- if it is just too hard to give this could be an option. So just very casually put mask on face without pressing the inhaler and do that a few times a day.

You can press the inhaler before you get to their face, so the noise doesn’t bother them. Some are jarred by the sound.

The mask size can really make a difference. If it’s too large or too small it can bother them. My vet actually ordered a small anesthesia mask for Biggie’s sister because she had a really small face, so it fit perfectly. It fit on the spacer, too with no adjustments.
 
Last edited:
Jackie and Biggie said:
Sometimes it helps to start slow, just get them used to the mask before you even start administering the meds- if it is just too hard to give this could be an option. So just very casually put mask on face without pressing the inhaler and do that a few times a day.

You can press the inhaler before you get to their face, so the noise doesn’t bother them. Some are jarred by the sound.

The mask size can really make a difference. If it’s too large or too small it can bother them. My vet actually ordered a small anesthesia mask for Biggie’s sister because she had a really small face, so it fit perfectly. It fit on the spacer, too with no adjustments.
Click to expand...
^^^ This is how I trained my asthma cat for the inhaler. Several times a day, mask on face for a split second, treat. Mask on face, treat. Repeat and repeat, leaving it on a little bit longer with time.
My cat Wicket prefers the bigger size of the two masks, but some cats like the smaller one better, I would try both and see what fits best.
Like Jackie said, it also helps to press the canister BEFORE you put the mask on. Just cover the mask with your hand so the medication doesn't get out. Cats in general don't care for that pssst noise right next to their face, so doing it before putting the mask on can make it a little less stressful.
 
Virginie said:
^^^ This is how I trained my asthma cat for the inhaler. Several times a day, mask on face for a split second, treat. Mask on face, treat. Repeat and repeat, leaving it on a little bit longer with time.
My cat Wicket prefers the bigger size of the two masks, but some cats like the smaller one better, I would try both and see what fits best.
Like Jackie said, it also helps to press the canister BEFORE you put the mask on. Just cover the mask with your hand so the medication doesn't get out. Cats in general don't care for that pssst noise right next to their face, so doing it before putting the mask on can make it a little less stressful.
Click to expand...
The treats are a great idea. And lots of love, adoration, brushes and scritches, too. I think practicing the same way with making the puffer sound so they get used to the noise would help. Probably not too many times since the meds aren’t cheap. BTW, I get my Flovent from inhousepharmacy.vu and they end up being around $32 each if you order a few at a time. My vet recommended them a few years ago. It takes a few weeks for them to come, so I try to order pretty far in advance.

One other thing- even though it can take a bit for them to get used to it, most cats eventually act very calm for their inhalers and I think it’s because they start to realize that they are going to feel very good after they get it. I hope your kitty Chanel starts to feel better soon @Laura & Chanel
 
Last edited:
The slower you go, the fastest they get used to it (cats in a nutshell!). After years of this, Wicket now lets me know when he's not feeling good and needs his rescue inhaler. He'll come find me and nudge me repeatedly, and do a little koff-koff sound if I don't get the message. Then sits nicely while he gets the albuterol. Makes my heart melt :cat:

ETA: I also get his meds from inhouse pharmacy, they are soooo much cheaper, and I have never had an issue with them.
 
I agree with everything Virginie said. I got Minnie used to just having the mask on her face. A second at a time. A treat immediately after and just increasing the time slowly until she was okay with 5-10 seconds than I added the medicine. Sometimes she’d stand still the entire time and sometimes she’d move her head away half away through it. It’s a process but she def wasn’t angry or scared of it anymore once she got used to it
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top