Deanna & Billie
Member Since 2014
Hello LL!
Yesterday: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=126332
Billie's coughing was bad again overnight - 4 fits with a louder "barking" sound in her cough. So, I kept her vet appointment. I got a video of one of the fits so he was able to check that out. He listened to her lungs and said they sounded okay considering her cough - no crackling or wheezing, which is great. He asked me if I wanted to do x-rays to get a fuller picture of things, and of course I said yes. If I had said no, I would have spent the whole night thinking I should have done them. Her last x-rays were from about 5 weeks ago when the coughing first started, and they looked normal with a tiny bit of inflammation that he said wouldn't be unusual for a 12 year old kitty. In today's x-rays, the inflammation looked worse, and there were a few of the "donuts" that represent inflammation characteristic of asthma.
I don't want to jump into an asthma diagnosis and call it a day, because we know she has allergies causing the inflammation. So, if we can get rid of the allergens, we can solve the problem. I have to give the food trial at least another two weeks - this vet suggested sticking with it even longer because he has seen it take up to 8 weeks in some cases. I asked why it takes so long and he said the short answer is that antigens can hang out in the liver/other places in the body for a long time causing immune responses. If the food trial doesn't work, we'll be going for environmental allergy testing. The food trial is at least working for her hives, because she hardly has any at this point. But, the hives and cough could be caused by different allergens.
Anyway...in the meantime, I don't want Billie to be coughing and not breathing well. The vet was initially hesitant to give a steroid because of her diabetes, but after seeing the x-rays, thought that a short course of prednisolone could be helpful. I agree and was going to ask about it if he didn't bring it up. I know that steroids increase BG, but I know that inflammation also increases BG and in this case, it's giving her coughing fits. We talked about trying a bronchodilator (aminophylline). But, it won't help the inflammation, and I'd rather address the root of the problem (or as close to the root as I can get for now since the real root is allergies and that can take a long time).
So, she's on prednisolone in liquid form (thank goodness) 2.5 mg twice a day for 5 days, then once a day for 5 days, then once every other day. If she's still coughing after that, we can go from there. I'll be checking her BG of course, and I'll increase if I need to. I told him I would do that and he seemed okay with me making dosing decisions, which was nice - I must have given him the impression that I know what I'm doing, because he asked me if I'm a nurse. I'll also be stalking the litter box for ketone tests. I really hope her numbers don't go through the roof! But I feel like I am doing the right thing.
Tricia and Julie, I fell asleep right after posting so I didn't see your comments till this morning, but thanks for the visits last night!!
I hope everyone is having a nice day. Sending lots of vines to all who need them!
Yesterday: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=126332
Billie's coughing was bad again overnight - 4 fits with a louder "barking" sound in her cough. So, I kept her vet appointment. I got a video of one of the fits so he was able to check that out. He listened to her lungs and said they sounded okay considering her cough - no crackling or wheezing, which is great. He asked me if I wanted to do x-rays to get a fuller picture of things, and of course I said yes. If I had said no, I would have spent the whole night thinking I should have done them. Her last x-rays were from about 5 weeks ago when the coughing first started, and they looked normal with a tiny bit of inflammation that he said wouldn't be unusual for a 12 year old kitty. In today's x-rays, the inflammation looked worse, and there were a few of the "donuts" that represent inflammation characteristic of asthma.
I don't want to jump into an asthma diagnosis and call it a day, because we know she has allergies causing the inflammation. So, if we can get rid of the allergens, we can solve the problem. I have to give the food trial at least another two weeks - this vet suggested sticking with it even longer because he has seen it take up to 8 weeks in some cases. I asked why it takes so long and he said the short answer is that antigens can hang out in the liver/other places in the body for a long time causing immune responses. If the food trial doesn't work, we'll be going for environmental allergy testing. The food trial is at least working for her hives, because she hardly has any at this point. But, the hives and cough could be caused by different allergens.
Anyway...in the meantime, I don't want Billie to be coughing and not breathing well. The vet was initially hesitant to give a steroid because of her diabetes, but after seeing the x-rays, thought that a short course of prednisolone could be helpful. I agree and was going to ask about it if he didn't bring it up. I know that steroids increase BG, but I know that inflammation also increases BG and in this case, it's giving her coughing fits. We talked about trying a bronchodilator (aminophylline). But, it won't help the inflammation, and I'd rather address the root of the problem (or as close to the root as I can get for now since the real root is allergies and that can take a long time).
So, she's on prednisolone in liquid form (thank goodness) 2.5 mg twice a day for 5 days, then once a day for 5 days, then once every other day. If she's still coughing after that, we can go from there. I'll be checking her BG of course, and I'll increase if I need to. I told him I would do that and he seemed okay with me making dosing decisions, which was nice - I must have given him the impression that I know what I'm doing, because he asked me if I'm a nurse. I'll also be stalking the litter box for ketone tests. I really hope her numbers don't go through the roof! But I feel like I am doing the right thing.
Tricia and Julie, I fell asleep right after posting so I didn't see your comments till this morning, but thanks for the visits last night!!
I hope everyone is having a nice day. Sending lots of vines to all who need them!
