Deanna & Billie
Member Since 2014
Hello! I am Deanna and my kitty is Billie. We usually hang out in Lantus land, but I am looking for as many opinions as I can get today.
Billie has had FD for about 6 months now. She is currently on 1.75u Lantus BID. She started having coughing fits in August and was diagnosed with asthma. The coughing coincided with hives she was having from food allergies. She has been on a novel protein diet and the hives cleared up, but the coughing did not. We saw an allergy specialist who said that different allergies can exacerbate each other, and the food allergy likely triggered environmental allergies/allergic asthma.
She was put on oral pred (liquid) for about 3 weeks starting at 2.5 mg twice a day for 5 days, once a day for 5 days, then every other day until the bottle was empty. Before the pred, she was having 4-5 attacks most days. After starting the pred, the coughing stopped completely within a few days. After tapering off, she did not have any coughing attacks for about 3 weeks, which was great.
But, this past week, the coughing came back with one mild attack a few nights ago and about 20 minutes of mini attacks last night. It is not as bad as it was when she went on the pred last time, but she was clearly distressed last night, so I want to do something about it.
The vet recommended putting her back on the oral pred for another 3 weeks, but I want to try the Aerokat with Flovent. From what I have read, it has less of an effect on BGs and does not have the systemic immunosuppressive side effects of pred. That is a big overall concern, because she ended up with a UTI after being on pred last time.
I am thinking of trying a shorter course of oral pred at a smaller dose (the vet said we could start at 2.5 mg once a day for 5 days then every other day for 5 days), ordering the Aerokat, and starting with the Flovent in a few days when the Aerokat arrives. Does that sound like a good plan? Does anyone have any other ideas, recommendations, or experience with asthma and FD?
Any advice is very welcome!! Thank you :smile:
Billie has had FD for about 6 months now. She is currently on 1.75u Lantus BID. She started having coughing fits in August and was diagnosed with asthma. The coughing coincided with hives she was having from food allergies. She has been on a novel protein diet and the hives cleared up, but the coughing did not. We saw an allergy specialist who said that different allergies can exacerbate each other, and the food allergy likely triggered environmental allergies/allergic asthma.
She was put on oral pred (liquid) for about 3 weeks starting at 2.5 mg twice a day for 5 days, once a day for 5 days, then every other day until the bottle was empty. Before the pred, she was having 4-5 attacks most days. After starting the pred, the coughing stopped completely within a few days. After tapering off, she did not have any coughing attacks for about 3 weeks, which was great.
But, this past week, the coughing came back with one mild attack a few nights ago and about 20 minutes of mini attacks last night. It is not as bad as it was when she went on the pred last time, but she was clearly distressed last night, so I want to do something about it.
The vet recommended putting her back on the oral pred for another 3 weeks, but I want to try the Aerokat with Flovent. From what I have read, it has less of an effect on BGs and does not have the systemic immunosuppressive side effects of pred. That is a big overall concern, because she ended up with a UTI after being on pred last time.
I am thinking of trying a shorter course of oral pred at a smaller dose (the vet said we could start at 2.5 mg once a day for 5 days then every other day for 5 days), ordering the Aerokat, and starting with the Flovent in a few days when the Aerokat arrives. Does that sound like a good plan? Does anyone have any other ideas, recommendations, or experience with asthma and FD?
Any advice is very welcome!! Thank you :smile:
