My sister's cat has asthma. Until recently, no treatment has been needed. The vet is suggesting oral steroids. Is this the typical first step with treatment? I know some of you use Flovent but didn't know how treatment is staged.
Asthma question
- Thread starter Sienne and Gabby (GA)
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Linda and Bear Man
Very Active Member
I have no experience with treating asthma in any of my cats, but I think that this is a very well respected website on the topic:
http://www.fritzthebrave.com/asthma/overview.html
http://www.fritzthebrave.com/asthma/overview.html
Squeaky and KT (GA)
Very Active Member
IMHO, the absolute BEST information on feline asthma is Fritz the Brave's website. FRITZ WEBSITE HERE
Most start with something like prednizone to attempt control then move all the way to inhalers if necessary. That site above shows all that, has videos and articles about management, etc. Snow very seldom has a bad attack any more unless I have to use another litter in emergency. He also had a deep infection in his lungs that took lots of meds and a loooong time to clear up. He had it when we got him and had had it for long enough for it to do permanent damage to his lungs. No one knows his story before 2 years old but I know some of it wasn't pleasant by the way he STILL totally freaks out when he thinks someone's upset with him.
It's just as manageable!
Most start with something like prednizone to attempt control then move all the way to inhalers if necessary. That site above shows all that, has videos and articles about management, etc. Snow very seldom has a bad attack any more unless I have to use another litter in emergency. He also had a deep infection in his lungs that took lots of meds and a loooong time to clear up. He had it when we got him and had had it for long enough for it to do permanent damage to his lungs. No one knows his story before 2 years old but I know some of it wasn't pleasant by the way he STILL totally freaks out when he thinks someone's upset with him.
It's just as manageable!
Squeaky and KT (GA)
Very Active Member
Linda - I was typing while you posted.
Great minds....
Great minds....
BJM
Very Active Member
Info for the vet on the AeroKat
If there were any comorbid conditions that would benefit from steroids (arthritis, IBD), then an oral or injectable form would be OK as the systemic effects would be beneficial.
With no comorbid conditions benefiting from systemic steroid effects, an inhaled steroid will treat the lungs and nothing else. There'll be a lower overall dose of steroid to the cat, treatment only where there is inflammation, and fewer systemic side effects (like upset stomach, irritability, voracious appetitie) - much better for the cat.
If there were any comorbid conditions that would benefit from steroids (arthritis, IBD), then an oral or injectable form would be OK as the systemic effects would be beneficial.
With no comorbid conditions benefiting from systemic steroid effects, an inhaled steroid will treat the lungs and nothing else. There'll be a lower overall dose of steroid to the cat, treatment only where there is inflammation, and fewer systemic side effects (like upset stomach, irritability, voracious appetitie) - much better for the cat.
My cat was on oral steroids for 2 weeks & the Flovent at the same time. It takes the flovent 2 weeks to build up in the sytem. The fritz link someone else posted is excellent & you can buy cheaper Flovent from 4 corners pharmacy online- they are in the UK but I got 3 inhalers for &74 shipped compared to 1 @ $128 at my Target pharmacy!
Thanks for the info. I passed the links along. It's sounding like the vet wants to try a short course of oral steroids to see if there's benefit and then move to inhaled.
Kelly & Oscar
Very Active Member
Just make sure they don't wean off the steroids before the flovent has had enough time to build up. Many get a depo steroid shot, which lasts a month, and immediately start with the flovent. In 99% of cases the kitty will need at least one puff of the 220mcg strength BID. I have ordered my flovent (flixotide) from 4 corners pharmacy for the past 2 years with absolutely no trouble.
Jean and Megan
Active Member
From what I've read (preparation, since 2 of my cats have mild asthma), starting with oral pred plus inhaled (Flovent) is the recommended path. It takes a little while for the inhaled steroid to build up to effective levels, so the oral bridges the gap. Depo shots also bridge the gap *but* with a far greater chance of undesired side effects (like diabetes).
Inhaled is safest but doesn't take effect for 2 or 3 weeks. Oral is next safest and becomes effective immediately but should be discontinued if possible once the Flovent has built up to effective levels. Shots are the least safe, by a wide margin.
I believe there are short-acting steroid shots, too, so a month-long shot isn't the only choice. My intermittent diabetic reacts strongly to even a small dose of injected steroid with a substantial rise in BG. By small dose, I mean something the vet assured me was far too small to make any difference to BG. Even steroid-containing ointment will make this cat's BG soar. So far it has always gone down within a few days, but one of these times it might not.
Inhaled is safest but doesn't take effect for 2 or 3 weeks. Oral is next safest and becomes effective immediately but should be discontinued if possible once the Flovent has built up to effective levels. Shots are the least safe, by a wide margin.
I believe there are short-acting steroid shots, too, so a month-long shot isn't the only choice. My intermittent diabetic reacts strongly to even a small dose of injected steroid with a substantial rise in BG. By small dose, I mean something the vet assured me was far too small to make any difference to BG. Even steroid-containing ointment will make this cat's BG soar. So far it has always gone down within a few days, but one of these times it might not.
Jessica & Boo Radley
Active Member
Sienne and Gabby said:
Sienne, I would strongly advise.... her to request....no...insist...on inhaled. It makes no sense to start on systemic meds for a lung condition. And unlike oral corticosteroids, inhaled corticosteroid medications have a relatively low risk of side effects and are generally safe for long-term use. My guess is that this vet is not familiar with the Aerotek Chamber that was designed for cats and is going to the old school method of pill form.
If he says he's prescribing a pills because of an acute attack, there are bronchodialators that are fast acting and can be used instead. They should actually be prescribed along with the long acting meds, in the event an acute attack happens. The most common is Albuterol, it's rapid acting and used in acute situations. It too can be used through the Aerotek Chamber.
Traci and Boomer
Very Active Member
ITA with Jessica and Boo Radley.
Merlin has mild asthma. I'd never put him on oral steroids. Boomer became a diabetic from pred so there's no way in hell I'd use oral steroids (even for a short time) unless it was the ONLY option.
Mer is on flovent. (flixotide) 2x's a day. I'm still adjusting his dose. I watch his coughing. I've gone from 125 mcgs twice a day to 250 in the AM and 125 in the PM. He still coughs so he probably needs 250 twice a day.
I get my flovent from 4 Corners also. It's much less expensive and totally reliable. Merlin is doing great.
Another tip that I think Kelly and Oscar gave me was about litter. I use Dr. Elsey's because its not dusty. I saw an improvement after the switch.
Merlin has mild asthma. I'd never put him on oral steroids. Boomer became a diabetic from pred so there's no way in hell I'd use oral steroids (even for a short time) unless it was the ONLY option.
Mer is on flovent. (flixotide) 2x's a day. I'm still adjusting his dose. I watch his coughing. I've gone from 125 mcgs twice a day to 250 in the AM and 125 in the PM. He still coughs so he probably needs 250 twice a day.
I get my flovent from 4 Corners also. It's much less expensive and totally reliable. Merlin is doing great.
Another tip that I think Kelly and Oscar gave me was about litter. I use Dr. Elsey's because its not dusty. I saw an improvement after the switch.
ehsuan
Member
I agree with Traci and have had similar experience. Tableau was on prednisone for his asthma for several years. We have since changed to inhaled using the Aerokat chamber. Also, his asthma is intermittent since we moved to L.A. (a much drier climate).
Anyway, I've since heard from several vets, as well as read, that systemic steroid usage can lead to the developement of diabetes.
I would say that if he's having serious, sudden, life-threatening asthma attacks, then yeah I would use or let the vet use steroids to get things quickly under control. Otherwise, oral inhalers are the way to go.
Anyway, I've since heard from several vets, as well as read, that systemic steroid usage can lead to the developement of diabetes.
I would say that if he's having serious, sudden, life-threatening asthma attacks, then yeah I would use or let the vet use steroids to get things quickly under control. Otherwise, oral inhalers are the way to go.
BJM
Very Active Member
In humans with an acute asthma flare, BOTH a systemic corticosteroid (sometimes injected, followed by an oral taper of successively lower doses) AND a quick acting bronchodilator are used, in addition to any regular inhaled meds. (Been there, done that, too many times!) There are nebulizers which may be used in giving the cat the albuterol in a mist form during an acute flare; this may require a specialty cage (I've seen 'em online - pricey) if the cat resists the mask.
This may be the case for your sister's cat - first, knock down the acute symptoms of high inflammation and bronchoconstriction to ensure the cat's survival (if you didn't already know, asthma can kill), then start titrating the maintenance drugs and doses.
For maintenance, using the AeroKat makes much more sense, of course, as it keeps steroid doses low.
This may be the case for your sister's cat - first, knock down the acute symptoms of high inflammation and bronchoconstriction to ensure the cat's survival (if you didn't already know, asthma can kill), then start titrating the maintenance drugs and doses.
For maintenance, using the AeroKat makes much more sense, of course, as it keeps steroid doses low.
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