11/6 Doodle (it's emphysema)

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Michelle and Doodle

Michelle and Doodle

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(This is cross-posted on the Lantus board.)

I took Doodle to the vet this morning. His BG was 400 and he was snorting and wheezing and blowing
spit bubbles the whole way - it wasn't pretty, and I was a little panicked -
but his respiratory rate stayed below 30 and they assured me we weren't dealing
with congestive heart failure.

The vet I saw today was usually our secondary vet but from now on will be our
primary. She looked down his throat and up his nose and did x-rays and
bloodwork, etc...
She was able to show me a side by side comparison of the x-rays from a week and
a half ago. She said she has no doubt that this is emphysema rather than asthma
and that it had progressed rather dramatically in a very short time.
The brochiolar pattern is much more prominent and his his
trachea is extremely dialated - which is where the snorting noises are coming
from.

He also has an ear infection and although she didn't think he actually had an
URI she agreed to start him on Baytril - jic.
She strongly supported my choice to start the flovent inhaler and said that it really was
his only chance at this point.

On a positive note, his kidney values were stable (not good but stable) his liver
values are improving and I was able to give my little guy his new inhaler meds with very little stress.
--so yay for that at least.

Our relatives are arriving today so I will probably not post tomorrow or Monday
- unless something significant happens.
Thank you guys so much for being so supportive and loving my Doodle bug
 
good vet. you and doodles are very much loved here. take care of doodlebutt and yourself. really hope this treatment acts fast. pleas update when you can and try and enjoy your company, yea,I know, but try
 
I had no idea cats could get that. I'm so glad that you have a dx. I hope the Flovent works. Please give Doodle some chin scritches and a kiss for me. Hugs to you.
 
Any idea why he got the emphysema? Exposure to any chemicals, dusts, or toxins?
 
BJM said:
Any idea why he got the emphysema? Exposure to any chemicals, dusts, or toxins?
Click to expand...

oh gosh BJM, you know I've been asking myself that same question over and over...

I posted this the other day:

"I've been going over everything I can think of.
No one smokes here.
I stopped using perfumes and scented anythings a few years ago when I read how sensitive cats are.
We don't have carpet (and I only use vinegar to clean the hard floors) and I ditched all the plants when we first got Doodle, because he nibbled them and I wasn't sure what was safe and what wasn't .
There's only a few things I can think of:
1. We bought some new furniture a few weeks ago and it outgassed quite a bit. I opened the windows and put an air cleaner in the room after that though.
2. Brielle got a new memory foam mattress - which probably also outgassed a bit as well. (though I didn't really smell that)
3. Abbey was peeing out of the box so I decided to try scoopable clay litter about 2 months ago. They didn't have unscented so I got the scented one. Abbey stopped peeing out of the box so I stuck with it. It's way dustier and smellier than the feline pine and swheatscoop they were used to.
---I got rid of that litter the day after his cardio appt. but it hasn't really made much of a difference yet."

This is all I can think of. He doesn't go outside on the lawn. I just don't know.
I guess I wonder the most about the litter.
 
I've been using World's Best in my upstairs litterboxes (flushable); it clumps a bit better for me than the Sweet scoop (which reminded me of very disintegrated bran flakes when it got wet!)

If the lung function returns, it may be reclassified as reactive airway disease.

I found this link which may be useful http://maxshouse.com/feline_asthma_and_bronchitis.htm

Clay litter dust may be problematic - the dust is small enough to be inhaled and its designed to clump ... maybe it is doing that in the airways?

Did they test for heartworm? Although it can be rare in cats, it is possible.
 
Hope Doodle gets better sending healing vines and a ton of snowflakes
riveraside_q5nvb939.gif
 
Hi Michelle

I just looked at your video today, and I was already getting the feeling from your latest descriptions of his breathing that this was not asthma. Did she say emphysema due to what? Are the x-rays digital, and can she email them to the cardiologist?

I don't think you'll get an answer here without scoping -- there may be something stuck in his mouth/nose passageway, or in his trachea. It's possible, given his age, that there is C somewhere but it is also possible that something else is physically obstructing his airway. Respiratory problems can cause emphysema (air pockets in the lungs).

I think he needs an internal med specialist and probably to be knocked out and scoped. They can take tiny tissue samples for biopsy at that time. Your vet can call them and say she's worried about an airway obstruction and they will fit you right in.

I'm not saying this is the most likely problem, but a few months ago we saw a cat that was making weird noises breathing, and then panting ... a rhinoscopy showed that the cat had a giant, disgusting hairball jammed up its nose (probably from forceful vomiting). The emphysema (if your cat does have emphysema) speaks to a more chronic or serious issue, but anything is possible -- there just isn't enough info at this point.

I'm sorry Doodle's still having so much trouble, and you have to host company, to boot :( Please keep us posted.
 
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