Susie's Coat and Coughing

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Summer and Susie (GA)

Summer and Susie (GA)

Member Since 2020
Hi Mogs,

@Critter Mom, I was reading Saoirse's profile and a few things jumped out at me. At one time you mentioned her coughing. Susie does this too. You think it could be asthma? Also, her coat is not good. She has the dander and some bald type spots on her back near her tail, underneath her tail and what seems to be around her ears over her eyes. She also has some red spots on her belly and does seem to groom that area a lot. Could all these factors be due to diabetes and maybe asthma? I think I need to get her in for another senior panel blood/urine test. It has been two months. What do you think and how often should I have her blood checked at the vet with this diabetes diagnosis. Thank you for any advice. Saoirse was very beautiful.

If anyone else is or has experienced these symptoms please let me know.
 
Hi Summer,

Summer and Susie said:
She has the dander and some bald type spots on her back near her tail, underneath her tail and what seems to be around her ears over her eyes. She also has some red spots on her belly and does seem to groom that area a lot. Could all these factors be due to diabetes and maybe asthma?
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Dander-ridden coats are a classic clinical sign in diabetic cats that aren't yet well regulated but there are also other conditions that may give rise to poor hair coat condition (e.g. hyperthyroidism). The presence of bald spots around the tail and eyes/ears sounds like a far more localised problem than the general unkempt quality of the whole hair coat that diabetes can give rise to. Speculating here, but it might be worth investigating whether there is some issue with allergies or parasites? Frequently allergies can be caused by foods so it might be worth checking the ingredients in Summer's diet.

Summer and Susie said:
She also has some red spots on her belly and does seem to groom that area a lot.
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No idea about the red spots. If Susie is overgrooming that area then there is likely to be some form of discomfort driving the behaviour (might be internal or external).

Summer and Susie said:
At one time you mentioned her coughing. Susie does this too. You think it could be asthma?
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It's actually Lúnasa that has the problem with intermittent coughing at the moment. Currently possible causes being considered are acid reflux or asthma (no diagnostic procedures carried out for either yet). The former seems like the stronger causal candidate since the intermittent coughing bouts are consistently triggered by ingestion of larger volumes of food/fluids.

With regard to Saoirse, for a few months she experienced some coughing bouts which the vet at the time diagnosed as asthma (via x-ray) and she was given a steroid jab for it. At the time we were living a few miles from a quarry and there was fine dust in the air 24-7. We moved away from the area a few months later and the coughing stopped completely, never to return.

There are many things that can lead to coughing in cat.

Coughing in cats

My best suggestion to you would be to take Susie to the vet for a check-up to see whether they would be able to determine what's behind the clinical signs you're observing.


Mogs
.
 
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You might want to take a video of Susie when she's coughing to show the vet, just in case it would be helpful and she doesn't do it while at the vets.
 
Following on from Dyana's suggestion above, other things to note are whether the cough sounds wet or dry, whether or not it's productive, and whether there is any particular stimulus that seems to trigger it.


Mogs
.
 
Critter Mom said:
Hi Summer,


Dander-ridden coats are a classic clinical sign in cats that aren't yet well regulated. However, the bald spots around the tail and eyes/ears sounds like a far more localised problem than the general unkempt quality of the whole hair coat that diabetes can give rise to. Speculating here, but it might be worth investigating whether there is some issue with allergies or parasites? Frequently allergies can be caused by foods so it might be worth checking the ingredients in Summer's diet.


No idea about the red spots. If Susie is overgrooming that area then there is likely to be some form of discomfort driving the behaviour (might be internal or external).


It's actually Lúnasa that has the problem with intermittent coughing at the moment. Current possible pauses being considered are acid reflux or asthma (no diagnostic procedures carried out for either yet). The former seems like the stronger causal candidate since the intermittent coughing bouts are consistently triggered by ingestion of larger volumes of food/fluids.

With regard to Saoirse, for a few months she experienced some coughing bouts which the vet at the time diagnosed as asthma (via x-ray) and she was given a steroid jab for it. At the time we were living a few miles from a quarry and there was fine dust in the air 24-7. We moved away from the area a few months later and the coughing stopped completely, never to return.

There are many things that can lead to coughing in cat.

Coughing in cats

My best suggestion to you would be to take Susie to the vet for a check-up to see whether they would be able to determine what's behind the clinical signs you're observing.


Mogs
.
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I just made an appt. with her vet for Monday morning. The coughing started before the diabetes diagnosis. I will ask them to listen carefully to her lungs to see if they feel it might be asthma. I actually think it is more of a throat thing as she does tend to swallow more than normal. I have not put her on any different food than what she has been eating for a long time so I just don't know if it is an allergy to a food. As I said, her occasional coughing started before the diabetic diagnosis and the balding spot, on her back, started before the diagnosis. The under the tail bald area is new. Thanks for the video on coughing in cats. Seems it can be from many things. We will start with a full senior panel and urinalysis and a general exam. I was planning on starting her on the Lantus on Monday but maybe I will put it off one more day. The stress from the vets may trigger higher than normal glucose which will throw me off on her BG testing for the day. I will want a good, mellow day to start her Lantus. Not a day with trauma from a vet visit. What do you think, Mogs?
 
Critter Mom said:
Following on from Dyana's suggestion above, other things to note are whether the cough sounds wet or dry, whether or not it's productive, and whether there is any particular stimulus that seems to trigger it.


Mogs
.
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Her cough sounds pretty much dry, not productive, and it is followed by a lot of swallowing. This mostly seems to occur at night for some reason.
 
Is she treated regularly for fleas? The specific skin areas for irritation you mentioned are common ones for fleas and flea allergy irritations. Some cats are very allergic to flea bites and will get welts and very itchy.

I would ask for a chest xray for the cough. It sounds similar to what my cat Yato does, and Yato does have asthma.
 
No, she is not being treated for fleas. I don't trust the flea products on the market but I do think you are probably right. Especially, since I live in Florida. My vet will probably tell me the same thing. Thanks, T.
 
Summer and Susie said:
No, she is not being treated for fleas. I don't trust the flea products on the market but I do think you are probably right. Especially, since I live in Florida. My vet will probably tell me the same thing. Thanks, T.
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I like Catego as an OTC and Revolution (or Revolution Plus) from the vet. Revolution is nice because it also prevents common intestinal parasites and heartworm.
 
THH said:
I like Catego as an OTC and Revolution (or Revolution Plus) from the vet. Revolution is nice because it also prevents common intestinal parasites and heartworm.
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What is OTC? Are these both topicals and safe for cats with diabetes? I assume they are or you would not be recommending them. Thanks for the information. I've just read some really bad stuff about topical flea treatments for cats and dogs.
 
OTC is over-the-counter. I purchase Catego on amazon and have used it for my feral cats outside, as well as several cats when I was with the rescue. It seems to be a little gentler on the skin than Revolution (or Revolution Plus). Some cats with sensitive skin or other skin issues can react to Revolution, so I like having Catego as an alternative.

Both are topical, and I've used Revolution on dozens of diabetic cats with no noticeable ill effects. Sometimes there's a bald patch from the application, but that's generally the worst of it.
 
THH said:
OTC is over-the-counter. I purchase Catego on amazon and have used it for my feral cats outside, as well as several cats when I was with the rescue. It seems to be a little gentler on the skin than Revolution (or Revolution Plus). Some cats with sensitive skin or other skin issues can react to Revolution, so I like having Catego as an alternative.

Both are topical, and I've used Revolution on dozens of diabetic cats with no noticeable ill effects. Sometimes there's a bald patch from the application, but that's generally the worst of it.
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Thanks, T. I'm a little hesitant to go with something I have never heard of before (Categocat) but my vet sells the Revolution Plus. Might go with that.
 
Tip: Sometimes the spot-on treatments can cause GI upsets if ingested. Deploying a Cone of Shame or similar device for a few hours after administering the treatment can help prevent ingestion of the medication.


Mogs
.
 
Critter Mom said:
Tip: Sometimes the spot-on treatments can cause GI upsets if ingested. Deploying a Cone of Shame or similar device for a few hours after administering the treatment can help prevent ingestion of the medication.


Mogs
.
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Thanks for getting on board. Do you use a topical, something else or nothing for fleas? Maybe you don't have that problem but we do in Florida. I know you are not in the US.
 
Critter Mom said:
Tip: Sometimes the spot-on treatments can cause GI upsets if ingested. Deploying a Cone of Shame or similar device for a few hours after administering the treatment can help prevent ingestion of the medication.

Mogs
.
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That is a good suggestion.
We live in New Jersey. I have only used the Frontline Plus because it kills ticks too, and that is important here. My Ginger is sensitive / allergic to flea bites, and also when I open the meds. she runs and hides from the smell. I did not use it last year. My vets have warned me against buying flea meds from the grocery store. I listen to them. I have heard to many horror stories.
 
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Coughing can also be a sign of heart disease in cats. You might want your vet to at least take an xray next time you are in.
Then, if there are indications the heart is enlarged, or your vet hears a heart murmur, it may be time for more testing, such as an echocardiogram.

Heart disease in cats is a silent killer. So please, do not ignore that cough, and get it checked out.
 
Larry and Kitties said:
I never heard of Caegocat before today. I also never heard of the first active ingredient, Dinotefuran but Google says it is common "insecticide". I have used Revolution and besides fleas, it prevent heartworms, roundworms, hookworms and treats ear mites
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Thanks!
Deb & Wink said:
Coughing can also be a sign of heart disease in cats. You might want your vet to at least take an xray next time you are in.
Then, if there are indications the heart is enlarged, or your vet hears a heart murmur, it may be time for more testing, such as an echocardiogram.

Heart disease in cats is a silent killer. So please, do not ignore that cough, and get it checked out.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Deb. Susie swallows a lot. Unusual. I will mention this to my vet too. I'm sure he will listen to her heart. He has never said she has a murmur. If she has heart disease would it be picked up in a full senior panel blood work?
 
Larry and Kitties said:
I never heard of Caegocat before today. I also never heard of the first active ingredient, Dinotefuran but Google says it is common "insecticide". I have used Revolution and besides fleas, it prevent heartworms, roundworms, hookworms and treats ear mites
Click to expand...
Thanks!
Deb & Wink said:
Coughing can also be a sign of heart disease in cats. You might want your vet to at least take an xray next time you are in.
Then, if there are indications the heart is enlarged, or your vet hears a heart murmur, it may be time for more testing, such as an echocardiogram.

Heart disease in cats is a silent killer. So please, do not ignore that cough, and get it checked out.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Deb. Susie swallows a lot. Unusual. I will mention this to my vet too. I'm sure he will listen to her heart. He has never said she has a murmur.
 
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