8/27 Billie PMPS 313 +5 165 back from vet - vet is stumped

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Deanna & Billie

Deanna & Billie

Member Since 2014
Hello LL!!

Yesterday's condo: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=124215

Billie had another extended coughing fit just now and seemed very uncomfortable, so back to the vet we go in a few hours. Unfortunately, Billie's usual vet won't be there. I don't know who we are seeing, but I hope (s)he has time to be filled in on all the details of Billieboo!

I will have them do bloodwork, test for pancreatitis, heartworm...is there anything else we should look into?

Billie's vet did an exam and took x-rays last week and thought the issue was nausea. She said she ruled out asthma.
 
Re: 8/27 Billie AMPS 220 +3.5 105 +5.5 137 going to vet

I was told that x-rays would show asthma as well. I sure hope they figure this out today. I'm sending prayer and vines.
 
Re: 8/27 Billie AMPS 220 +3.5 105 +5.5 137 going to vet

Sending tons of good vetty vines your way. I'd get the vet to check her heart too if they haven't done already. Fluids in the lungs can also cause coughing, although that's more like wheezing.
 
Re: 8/27 Billie AMPS 220 +3.5 105 +5.5 137 going to vet

Thanks Elise and Wendy!!

They took heart and lung x-rays, and I think stomach too. She said heart and lungs looked good and sounded good.
 
Re: 8/27 Billie AMPS 220 +3.5 105 +5.5 137 going to vet

I will. Thank you for checking in! Our appointment is 2 hours at 5:30 EST. I'll post when we get back.
 
Re: 8/27 Billie AMPS 220 +3.5 105 +5.5 137 going to vet

We're back. I like the vet that we saw today. He wasn't afraid to say that he's stumped. He thinks that she's allergic to something, but isn't sure what.

He said that the hives look like an allergic reaction that turned into a bacterial skin infection, so she is on 1 ml of Clavamox twice a day for 7 days. He wanted to give her a shot of Convenia but I asked for Clavamox instead because I remembered the word of caution that Convenia can be risky since it stays in the system for 2 weeks (thank you Julie!) Billie will drink Clavamox mixed with milk, so that's not a problem.

He said that the cough may be part of the allergic reaction and/or a respiratory infection, and hopefully it will clear up with the antibiotic, but he's not totally sure. I actually got a video of Billie coughing earlier, so he got to see and hear it. He thinks it's definitely a cough rather than nausea related (what our regular vet thought). He doesn't think it's asthma based on the x rays and her breathing. He said her breathing did sound stressed, but not excessively stressed.

He also did bloodwork which should be back tomorrow. He suggested waiting on the bloodwork to see if the antibiotic helps, but I'd rather know where she's at anyway. He doesn't think this looks like pancreatitis or heartworm, so we didn't test for those, but I can go back for that if we don't find answers.

Billie had her dinner, her shot, and her first dose of Clavamox in some milk. She's angry at me, but she never holds a grudge for too long, especially when I'm giving her milk.

Thank you for all the vines!! I really appreciate them! I hope everyone is having a nice night.
 
Re: 8/27 Billie PMPS 313 back from vet - vet is stumped

Sounds like a good vet. Convenia was developed for skin infections, so the suggestion was reasonable. The clavamox should work too and if she's allergic to it you won't have a big issue.

Fingers crossed this helps her.
 
Re: 8/27 Billie PMPS 313 back from vet - vet is stumped

As much as I wish the vet wasn't stumped, it is nice to hear the honesty. The convenia injection can be risky if a kitty has a negative reaction to it, but there is an oral version of the same med, too, so that could be an option if Billie does have a skin infection of some sort.

Actually, Melissa's drooler, Charlie, was having breathing difficulties earlier this summer, and it did turn out that he had a staph infection under his fur. So, this vet could be on to something. Maybe shoot her a PM and ask her about it.

Sending tons of quick healing prayers to Billie!!
 
Re: 8/27 Billie PMPS 313 back from vet - vet is stumped

Thanks Julie and Amy!!

I will PM Melissa about the staph...that's a very interesting theory. I googled it, and it does sound like a possibility.

I forgot to add one happy detail in my last post! Billie's weight is back to 10 lbs!! When she was diagnosed with FD, she was down to 8 lbs after weighing 10ish her whole life, and she had lost those 2 lbs in just 6 weeks. I thought she was gaining weight but don't have a scale at home, so I wasn't sure, but it's great to know!!
 
Re: 8/27 Billie PMPS 313 back from vet - vet is stumped

Hi Deanna, I am so sorry to hear Billie is having allergies, it's so difficult to pin things down. Glad you liked the new vet, hope he can help her out and I hope the AB works for her. So here's tons more healing vines for Billie :YMHUG: :YMHUG:
 
Re: 8/27 Billie PMPS 313 back from vet - vet is stumped

Hi Ruth and Sienne! Thank you for the vines. The vet did not suggest allergy meds. I told him I've been trying to give her Benadryl with very minimal success, and he didn't say anything about that. That should have been one of my questions, but I didn't think of it.
 
Re: 8/27 Billie PMPS 313 back from vet - vet is stumped

I was hoping for answers for you but instead hope the antibiotic knocks out whatever this is. Max's vet did give him a shot of convenia and I worried for a month about it as I read while they say it lasts two weeks it stays in their system a lot longer. His vet got a little upset with me when I questioned whether I wanted him to get it and he never gets upset with me. My friend just went to an dermatologist for her dog the day before yesterday and he gave him a convenia injection as well for problems related to mites. He gave him another medication and her dog had a bad reaction which they were blaming on the other medication but I told her it could be the convenia as well. I was lucky that Max wasn't allergic but I read just because one injection doesn't cause problems doesn't mean it couldn't happen the next time so I would be hesitant to let him have another injection of convenia.

Paws crossed the combo of no neosporin and the antibiotic will take care of all this.
 
Re: 8/27 Billie PMPS 313 back from vet - vet is stumped

Deanna, when did the coughing start? Was it after you went on your road trip? Just curious? Please give Billie hugs and scritches from me!
 
Re: 8/27 Billie PMPS 313 back from vet - vet is stumped

Thanks Elise!! I figured it would be better to play it safe and avoid the Convenia. It's like with insulin - once it's in, you can't take it out. Billie has taken Clavamox before without any problems. Our vet seemed a little surprised that I was asking for a alternative, but he said "that's a fair concern." I like him. I'm glad Max wasn't allergic to the Convenia!

Ruth, the coughing did start after our road trip - 5 days later. The hives started maybe a few days to a week before the road trip, then started to get better, then got worse again around the time the coughing started...then got better, then got worse again as of 2 days ago. It's tricky!! Billie is napping right now but I will absolutely give her some hugs and scritches from you when she wakes up! Thank you :-D
 
Re: 8/27 Billie PMPS 313 back from vet - vet is stumped

Poor Billie! How frustrating knowing she's not feeling well, but not to have a clear cut answer. It is good to hear, though, that your vet was honest about not being sure what the problem is. I hope the AB knocks out whatever is making her feel yucky. Healing vines headed your way.
 
Re: 8/27 Billie PMPS 313 back from vet - vet is stumped

Thanks Jen!! The vines are much appreciated. I hope we see some improvement after a few doses of the AB.

So far, she has only had one coughing episode since we got home tonight, and her appy is good.
 
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