Need advice on Squirt...

[Cindy and Patches]

Squirt is one of my diabetic cats. She has been acting like she is chewing with her mouth open or can't swallow. I took her to the vet on Friday last week and she had double ear infections. We discussed whether she could have a tooth problem, but Dr. Katie thought it sounded more like nausea. She started Squirt on pred, nausea medicine, and ear drops. Her ears are better but she still acts like she is having mouth problems. Dr. Katie did glance in her mouth, but didn't see anything. Further eval would have to involve sedation.

We are taking her in for further tests on Friday. We will do complete lab work and xrays... before proceeding. Squirt has gone into respitory arrest several times at Dr. Katie's. She has both stress induced asthma and diabetes. Frankly, Dr. Katie is afraid to give her sedation.

I am throwing this out to see if anyone has other ideas as to what this could be. I am asking for good thoughts on Friday. Squirt will have been diet controled 5 yrs in Oct 10. If you have any ideas please let me know. I am very worried... nailbite_smile

 

[dian and wheezer]

oh gosh cindy.I have nothing to offer but good vibes and wishes it is something small and can be taken care of. very fragile cat you have huh?. poor thing

 

[Linda and Mandy]

Cindy, If she does not have any bad teeth and ear infection is healed. Could she have tonsilitis? Years ago my poodle did that and come to find out she had tonislitis. Or could something be lodged somewhere in her throat or back of her mouth or gums? I have no Idea. That is just afew of my thoughts. Sending good thoughts and hugs.

 

[Steph & Cuddles (GA)]

Any way you can give her an oral med to sedate her before going to the vet? Not sure if that would be safer than what they use there or not. Assuming the vet was able to look in her mouth enough to rule out stomatitis, or any redness on the gums or throat? I'd say I hope it's something as 'simple' as an irritated tooth, but if she can't be sedated, then it's not all that simple. I hope it's a piece of something caught in between her teeth that's easy to remove! ;-)

 

[Emmy & Dude]

Wish I had some advice, kiddo, but as I said on the phone, I don't have any. Just good wishes and vibes and hopes that it's something that can be found and taken care of without any sedation since Squirt doesn't do well with that at all.

Keep us posted, okay - will be waiting to hear what Katie says on Friday.

Hugs - good talking to you. Hi to John.

Emmy & Dude (& Mittsi too)

 

[Cindy and Patches]

Thanks guys. We will be sedating at the vets to do the xrays and to do a deeper look in her mouth. Just praying that it is something simple and no respitory problems. But something is wrong... so something has to be done... sigh. But she doesn't appear to be in alot of pain, just uncomfortable at times. :?

 

[Lisa and Merlyn (GA)]

Sending lots of healing vibes for Squirt. Trust your gut. If its telling you something is wrong then it probably is. I noticed Carly wacking herself on the nose like she was cleaning, after she ate.. then she did this "squirrel" move, and had both front paws pushing on the sides of her nose..also stretching her mouth like something was stuck, after she ate.

Today was her dental, I thought it was just FORLs like last time but somehow she chipped a tooth so bad it was exposing the pulp! Very painful. So that tooth was probably the culprit for the pain.

I hope Squirts issues are that simple, that a dental solves it.

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((CINDY))))))))))))))))))))))

 

[feathersby]

Sending good wishes for Squirt and that the problem is an easy fix.

 

[Kelly & Oscar]

Does Squirt only do the open mouth thing while eating? I am thinking about what would cause a human to do that - is it possible that kitty has allergies and is causing fluid behind the ear drum? (possibly the underlying cause to the ear infections)

If the open mouth thing happens at times other than eating - could it be that the asthma has become more than just stress induced? Open mouth breathing can also indicate heart problems sometimes too.

Sending purrs and good vibes you way! I will be thinking about you both on Friday cat_pet_icon

 

[Jess & Earl]

Squirt is one of my diabetic cats. She has been acting like she is chewing with her mouth open or can't swallow.

Can you take a video?

She started Squirt on pred,

Really? No prob with the BGs?

We will do complete lab work and xrays...

I don't think you can get good skull films without sedation, to be honest. You may want to save your money for x-rays under sedation.

Frankly, Dr. Katie is afraid to give her sedation.

I appreciate your vet's honesty, and would not encourage her to do something she's not comfortable with.

I am not sure exactly where you live-- can you have Dr. Katie refer you to a specialty facility? To be blunt, these places do better monitoring and are better at anesthetizing cats than regular vets. I was never quite sure exactly what happened with Squirt, because an intubated cat (or dog) on anesthesia sometimes does need help breathing; in those cases it is because the anesthesia is a little too deep. You can breathe for the cat with the machine, and adjust the anesthesia, and go on. If you've sedated the cat without intubating and she stops breathing, you put the tube in and give them a few breaths as you reverse the sedation. I'm not saying it's no big deal; my point is rather that it sounds like this will require sedation, and it is possible to have to done more safely.

Anyway, I'm worried that it is actually a jaw issue and an orthopedist (surgeon) would be the best to safely and quickly evaluate this, and fix it if that's possible. Most facilities also have a critcal-care specialist and with Squirt's history, this means that the criticalist would basically hover over her the whole time.

As a side note, do you have a rescue inhaler (albuterol)? You can ask Dr. Katie if it might be worth it to have one so that you can give Squirt a puff before stuffing her in the carrier. This medication forces the airway open.

 

[Cindy and Patches]

Most of the time, it is after eating she start looking like she is chewing.

Squirt can handle preg... causes bg's to go to 120- 150 and she drops back down. Moniter her closely on preg. But she has been on it several times since diagnosed with diabetes. Worse case senario is she need insulin... doesn't worry me.

We are doing sedation on Friday. Squirt is funny. Squirt has had 3 respitory arrests...no cardiac involvement. Each one for a different reason... first one for sedation, second for a blood draw, and third due to an asthma attack. Dr. Katie has been on the ball with handling her 3 episodes, but given that she has had 3 it worries her that she will continue to have problems.

I would think cardiac or asthma, but only happens after eating. Can't get a video. But it seems to be her jaw or teeth. Dr. Katie specializes in dentals and oral problems. It is her passion. I am going to let her make the first diagnosis...only specialist are at UT KNOXVILLE and in Atlanta.

Good idea about the inhaler... will mention it to Dr. Katie.

Squirt is a tough ole girl, but has multiple issues from diabetes, asthma, severe arthritis, and severe skin allergies. I don't see her living to be 20 yrs old, but I don't think she is ready to go yet.

 

[Cindy and Patches]

Does Squirt only do the open mouth thing while eating? I am thinking about what would cause a human to do that - is it possible that kitty has allergies and is causing fluid behind the ear drum? (possibly the underlying cause to the ear infections)]

That is what we initially thought. She has severe allergies and we thought it could be drainage that was making her nauseated. But the treatment has helped the ears, just not the funny movement with her mouth.

 

[HollyandSpader(GA)]

No advice. Just good thoughts.