3/17 Cargo AMPS 318 ASTHMA QUESTIONS

Mel and Cargo

Mel and Cargo

Member Since 2020
Last post

Good morning! Poor Cargo has had another breathing fit overnight so I'm going to take him to the walk in vet this morning. I'm thinking possibly asthma or some other URI as this really isn't normal for him and is getting worse, and I think may have even coincided with his BG spike. I'd like to appeal to the experience of the group:

What questions should I ask of the vet?
What medications, assuming asthma, are safe for sugar kitties?
I think I've read several folks with asthmatics are able to use the breathable steroids, is that correct?
Are xrays the best method for determining asthma vs. URI or other problem?

Thank you so much for all your experience!
 
You will need some x rays when you go to the vet - they will show asthma and/or pneumonia. Pneumonia looks like cotton candy filling the lungs or blotchy in spots. Asthma is when you can clearly see the feathering pattern of the bronchial tubes. You may have one or both or neither. YOu can ask to see the x rays, they can send them in picture format to you. And ask the vet which of these patterns they are seeing.

URI is not diagnosed with x ray as far as I know, but is symptomatic diagnosis. Pay attention to his breathing - if he is congested, does it sound high pitched and sharp, or does it sound lower in pitch? High pitch indicates upper airway disease (URI) lower indicates lung.

If lung infection (you may need to treat as if both infection and asthma if they can't figure it out) then a Quinolone antibiotic is best (in my book, essential). These are: Veraflox, Baytril, Zeniquin (Marbofloxacin).

For asthma, yes inhaled steroids are needed and great and don't affect BGs. These are Flovent (maintenance inhaler) and Albuterol (to stop attacks). If you cat is already flared up, you maaay need additionally need higher dose Prednisolone with a quick taper temporarily to get the flare to break off, this happens with some asthmatics. (For my Pearl, it is a regular thing). Maintenance meds may not be able to break off the flare alone (and you usually have to order them so it takes a bit of time for them to arrive - Canada Cloud a great online place, you will need scripts).

If URI, Azithromycin usually given. I ahve also found adding in Cyphroheptadine is GREAT for help with the congestion (and it's an antihistamine in the chance that there is an environmental allergy component).

I hope this helps you.
 
:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:Amethyst has had Asthma since she was 2. She takes the Flovent inhaler 2 puffs 2x a day. She needed an XRAY to show that it was Asthma PLEASE do not delay!!! Respiratory Distress can happen VERY quickly!! Good Luck
 
My Molly has Asthma too. She also had a Xray to diagnose that. My vet had mentioned if we had smelly things around. We had quite a few candles so we got rid of them. Her coughing has stopped. My husband and I also have asthma and I have to flovent that I use. My vet had said I could use it for Molly also. I bought the aerokat chamber for her to use. When we hear her coughing I just give her the flovent. Good luck!
 
Thank you so much to everyone who wrote to help. @Margaret (and Pearl) , @Pamela & Amethyst , @Adrienne & Molly ! I was really spooked by his coughing fit so off we went to the vet yesterday. After 8 hours of him being there at the dreaded vet, they finally took an xray and found that indeed he has asthma. It's never great to hear something like that, but honestly I'm over the moon that it's something fixable and something that FINALLY explains his disregulation! So I have ordered the Aerokat from Chewy and for the moment - just to get things rolling faster - I'll order the fluticasone and albuterol from Costco until I can get started with a pharmacy in Canada. Is everyone using Mike's Marine for these asthma drugs, along with their Lantus?

Any other advise on giving the inhaled steroids?

Thanks again for all your help and thanks @Bron and Sheba (GA) for checking on Cargo!
 
So glad to hear you got some answers, Melinda! Remember that you may need Pred to calm down the flare, if you find that the Flovent and Albuterol alone don't do the trick right now (it takes 2 weeks of consistent Flovent use every 12 hours to build up the medicine to full strength). Don't be discouraged, you're on the right track. I order my stuff from Canada Cloud (but Pearl was an asthmatic before a diabetic). Have a good night!
 
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