videos of Doodle's breathing issues

Status
Not open for further replies.
Michelle and Doodle

Michelle and Doodle

Active Member
I wanted to share these videos of Doodle breathing. (please forgive the wonkiness - I was mainly trying to capture the sound)
He was diagnosed with lower respiratory disease last Thurs. and I started him on Flovent on Wednesday night.
These sounds are not what I would have thought asthma sounds like - but his cardiologist referred to it as asthma, so...
These videos were taken yesterday and he sounds a bit worse today. He's obviously not feeling well - crouching... withdrawn... and a BG of HI :(
(but he IS still eating)
My husbands parents will be here for the weekend and I hope it's not too stressful for him.
I plan to try to take him to the vet this evening (I'm sure they'll fit him in) just to have them take another look.




http://s217.photobucket.com/albums/cc13 ... I_1894.mp4



http://s217.photobucket.com/albums/cc13 ... I_1892.mp4
 
Poor Doodle....What a sweet kitty...I'm sorry you are having to go through this.....Lots of hugs for you and Doodle. I'm glad to hear that you are taking Doodle back in to get checked.....he is sounding like he's having a difficult time breathing.


Curry was dx w/asthma about 2 years ago.....However, her only symptom was the coughing. The flovent was very helpful. Just curious...Did the Vet also prescribe Albuterol to be given prn.....It has an immediate effect in opening up the airways.....The flovent can take 3-6 weeks to reduce the inflammation. Some folks will give the albuterol prior to the flovent....maybe wait a couple of mintues and then give the flovent....it seems to open up the bronchioles to allow the flovent to penetrate a little easier.

Please keep us posted about your sweet Doodle. Sending lots of healing vines.
 
If his gums are blue, you need to get him to a vet NOW - it means he isn't getting enough oxygen.

That wheezing sound is airway restriction.

Three things make up asthma
1) bronchoconstriction - the muscles around the airways have tightened up, reducing the diameter of the airway
2) inflammation - the lining of the airways has swollen also reducing the diameter of the airways. this may be due to allergy, infection, or irritation.
3) thick sticky mucus (at least in humans!) - this can block the airways and impede oxygen exchange

See about getting an oxygen tank and setting up a "oxygen booth" - a sealed crate in which the oxygen can be delivered with minimal escape of the oxygen. Some duct tape, a plastic crate, and some clear vinyl may be used to rig this; basically, seal up the vents and most of the door grate. Then have the tube from the O2 tank go through the vinyl. Place cat in booth, turn on O2 at vet-recommended dose.

This "booth" also may be used with a nebulizer which uses cool mist to deliver medication, such as albuterol. Albuterol reduces the bronchoconstriction and helps him breath. It may increase his heart rate and blood pressue somewhat, but in an urgent situation or emergency, I'd go for breathing 1st, then worry about BP and HR once the cat can breathe.
 
I'm watching him closely... Don't worry.
His gums are not blue - and yes I DO have an albuterol inhaler Tena.
His respiratory rate has flucuted between 34 and 39 this morning - 34 just now.


BJM - that is great information about the oxygen booth. thank you. I will definitely ask my vet about that possibility.

I wonder if a large clear storage bin ( like the Sterling brand ones) would work for that sort of thing? I could cut a hole for the tube and the rest would be sealed -with the benefit of it being clear so that I could see him . Or would that be too sealed?
 
Michelle - I have to agree with BJ. Keep a close eye on the lining of his mouth, make sure it looks bright pink and not blue or purple. I'm very concerned about respiratory distress with Doodle and stress will make this worse. http://www.stlouisvma.org/downloads/Maz ... isease.doc - see if you can get this to open. It is a Microsoft Word doc. If not, google That Gasping Cat, Elisa M. Mazzaferro, DVM, Director of Emergency Services
 
Michelle and Doodle said:
... BJM - that is great information about the oxygen booth. thank you. I will definitely ask my vet about that possibility.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Check local medical supply stores ... and scuba stores ... to see what is required to get an oxygen tank.

Michelle and Doodle said:
... I wonder if a large clear storage bin ( like the Sterling brand ones) would work for that sort of thing? I could cut a hole for the tube and the rest would be sealed -with the benefit of it being clear so that I could see him . Or would that be too sealed? ...
Click to expand...

I think there needs to be some opening for nominal air exchange; if it were completely airtight you could have a problem if the oxygen ran out. This also may depend on size - you'll want it to be big enough to stand up completely, turn around easily, and stretch out completely. And, depending on whether it is for a short treatment, or for longer housing, you may need room for an appropriately sized litterbox (1.5*length of cat).

Here's another idea I spotted on the web - putting a hood over an Elizabethan collar and attaching a nasal canula to the hood to deliver the O2 http://www.shopmedvet.com/product/oxygen-supply-tubing-7-ft-4-pack/anesthesia-products You'd still need to confine the cat, so it couldn't walk away from the O2 tank.

A real ICU crate http://www.revivalanimal.com/store/p/3536-ICU-Cage.aspx Pricey, but if this may be an ongoing concern, likely to be cheaper than rushing to an emergency vet.
 
I still think a big sterlite would work. can put small holes in it for air exchange, can just put it over top of cat and not in it with lid on. think it through.
edit for PS
I believe steph and cuddles had a small make shift for some baby kitties one time
 
I haven't watched the video... I used Fritz the Brave's site to learn about feline asthma. It took a year for Maverick's vet to diagnose him. He didn't weeze but had a mucousy cough. The neck extension when he coughed.
http://www.fritzthebrave.com/

There are two very active yahoo groups too - inhaled meds and feline asthma.

I don't know if flovent would work alone without albuterol initially? Maverick was on a steroid to stabilize him (first two weeks) but I am new to diabetes and understand steroids are not really an option with diabetic kitties.

Sending hugs and wishing you get on top of what is causing Doodle's breathing issues.
 
Inhaled steroids have much less impact on the overall system; its part of why they were developed. They are deposited directly into the airway, with low absorption systemically.

In an asthmatic crisis, you may need injected or oral steroids to get the inflammation down enough that the cat can breathe. In an emergency, that has to come before concern about the diabetes, though monitoring the glucose will be important in a known diabetic cat. Once the cat's breathing is stable, you can take the time to move to inhaled treatments.
 
The cardiologist was concerned about oral steroids more in regards to Doodle's heart than his diabetes - though she did mention that anything that made his diabetes more difficult to regulate would ultimately harm his kidneys, which she is convinced is the biggest worry at this point.
"It's a delicate balance" is what she kept saying.

I still don't really know why she didn't want to treat his asthma with inhaled steroids though - that doesn't really make sense to me.

He breathing a little better tonight btw.
 
(((((((((((((((Michelle))))))))))))))) It's good to hear the Doodle is breathing a little easier. I just want to let you know you two are in our thoughts. Sending white light and healing vines
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top