Newbie Charmin's respiratory allergies and diabetes??

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Faith and Charmin

Faith and Charmin

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Charmin has always had respiratory allergies and recently was hospitalized because of it (didn't eat/drink for 8 days). Before it escalated to this level (and after) he was being given mild steroids. Our vet said this COULD have triggered the diabetes. SO, we might have a problem if his allergies flair up again. He continues to sneeze, so I'm worried.

Has anyone had a cat with both of these ailments, which apparently cannot be treated simultaneously?

Thanks for helping this worried catmom in advance!

Faith (& Charmin)
 
Faith,

No personal experience with both in the same cat, but I have seen others on here with cats that had multiple health problems and have been able to treat them along with the diabetes. If it takes steroids to let Charmin breathe easy then that is what it takes and you will just have to adjust his insulin accordingly. Now granted that may take away from his chances at going in remission, but that still doesn't mean he isn't going to have a long and happy life.

Now my one cat with allergies, once we got everyone off dry food, did have his allergies disappear, he wasn't a diabetic, just allergic, and seemingly to something in the dry food.

Mel, Maxwell and The Fur Gang
 
If it is an allergy asthma you guys are experiencing, you might look into giving Charmin Singulair to help control that daily. That way you won't have to worry about steroids. Singulair is a relatively new drug for kitties. I am in the process of working with my vet on getting more info to start my Oscar on it since his flovent isn't controlling all his breathing issues.
 
Thanks so much, friends! I'm working on the wet food and will ask my vet about Singulair today! I truly appreciate your help!
Faith (& Charmin!)
 
Has asthma been ruled out? Or is "respiratory allergies" your vets way of saying asthma? My vet kept saying Carly showed "bronchial inflammation" and stopped himself from saying asthma.. I think vets do sometimes use different/less scarey terms to avoid scaring people. And my vet knows me better than that LOL!

See this site for a video on what an asthmatic breathes like... and also talks more about inhaled steroids which are better for diabetics in particular but all cats who need steroids for breathing issues because its less systemic. It might even help even if it is an allergic response.
http://www.fritzthebrave.com
 
Whether it turns out to be allergy or asthma, you might try the inhaled steroid treatment instead of the oral or injectable steroids.

Both of those conditions cause inflammed tissue within the lungs.

Using an inhaler, steroid is delivered to the lungs, where the inflammation is a problem, and much less of it is absorbed to affect any other problems, such as the diabetes.
 
Our diabetic cat Tarragon also has asthma. Actually, injectable steroids he was given for his asthma is what caused the diabetes. We use an aerokat and flovent inhaler twice a day, which has helped tremendously. I hadn't heard of singulair for cats, but that would be great.
 
Maverick was asthmatic and managed with a twice daily puff of flovent. There is a chamber called the aerokat. It didn't impact his blood glucose at all. Steroids would. His symptoms were mucous and a cough. Three great sites - google Fritz the brave. This is where I learned about asthma. And there are two yahoo forums which are amazing - feline asthma relief and feline inhaled meds.

Maverick had more trouble in the spring and summer. There were triggers for his asthma. He couldn't go outside. We put allergy pads in the forced air vents and got an air purifier and changed the furnace filters often.
 
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