Conference misery::feline_v1

Get the chest xray would be my recommendation.

ANY respiratory problems in cats can be very dangerous if left untreated. 

I'm unsure as to why anesthesia is necessary, but I guess it might depend upon
the animal.  We've had our cats xrayed before with no anesthesia required,
but they are usually scared enough at the vets that they don't move around
much.

- Chris

I would get the x-ray.  Respiratory problems in cats can get very bad, very
quickly.  Our vet explained that cats adapt to such problems by slowing down,
and being less active than they might; by the time symptoms are noticeable (to
people) the problem can be VERY bad.

But just so I don't scare you to death, my sister's cat wheezes, and snores, in
his sleep.  His only problem is he is FAT.

Anesthetic is needed for chest x-rays because cat object to being strapped down
spread eagle on the x-ray film.  They are not willing to stay still in such a
position if awake.

Steve

WHen Penny was in for her teeth cleaning a month ago, I asked them
to check her lungs to make sure she was ok for the anesthesia.
The vet listened with a stethoscope and found nothing unusual.
Would this have turned up any problem, or should I go back and
demand an xray?  Remember that anesthesia itself is not without risk.

Maybe it is just hair balls.

We think maybe it is an allergy.  Anybody know anything about allergies
in cats?  How do you test for them?

A chest X-ray (no sedation required) revealed fluid in the lungs in a pattern
consistent with an allergy diagnosis, and NOT consistent with a diagnosis of
pneumonia (whew). Blood test showed elevated level of white cell <somethings>
also consistent with an allergy.

Penny is now on antibiotics and an allergy medication. Goes back for another
x-ray in 2 weeks.  Finding out what exactly she is allergic to is just about
impossible.  We hope that replacing the old living room rug will reduce the
problem.  (Rug left by previous owners, who had outdoor cats.  Pretty dirty,
too.)

My guess is that the wheezing was probably caused by Penny occasionally
breathing harder to make up for the lost efficiency due to the fluid.

Although this reply may come a little late, if you ever suspect respiratory 
problems don't hesitate on the x-ray. Reread topic number 40, "WARNING".

-fmb in Nashville (Nashville Cats)

We lost a house cat from distemper some years back.  Wheezing after strenuous
exercise (like running around chasing a string) was the first symptom.  By
the time the cat really appeared to be sick, it was too late to do anything
about it.

--PSW

The second X-ray showed reduced fluid in the lungs, so the medication
is working.  Penny is now just on the allergy medication, one pill
every 3 days.  (Prednisone?)  The rug is replaced.  The wheezing
seems to be reduced.

We are a little nervous about this medication, as it has not-nice
side effects in humans.  The vet said that the effects in cats are
different, and there is nothing to worry about.  Nevertheless, we
are curious about other allergy treatments.

Our vitamin book suggests that certain B vitamins (I forget which)
are helpful against allergies, and we wonder if some more "natural"
treatment is possible for cats as well.

    Prednisone is not nice stuff - I have taken it for allergy reactions
    for an extended period in high dosages.  In humans (or at least
    me) it made me retain water, caused things like low potassium.
    Bananas and dried apricots are high in potassium... Don't know how
    you would feed those to a cat.  Potassium is mostly found in the
    nervous system... Hence the usual side effect of the inbalance is
    personality changes.  (I experienced a few - fortunately my roomate
    was quick to point them out).  Cats on the other hand can't be
    told what's going to happen.  My parents had an allergic cat that
    was on cortozone.  He was an unaltered male.  He got rather nasty
    to the other cat (also an unaltered male) that lived with my parents.
    Other than that there was not much change in the cat.
    
    If the treatment is short term (couple of weeks) don't worry about
    it.  It shouldn't bother the cat's immune system in that short of
    time. (Another effect in humans is long term use gets rid of all
    the nice antibodies that keep you well!)  Hopefully whatever the
    cat is allergic to can be gotten rid of and the medication stopped.
    
    (Note: for you chemists - prednisone has one more double bond in
    it than cortisone - that's about the only difference.)
    

I looked at our PDR (Physician's Desk Reference) this morning and
did not like what I saw.  This stuff is awful  (steroids usually are).
The PDR went on and on listing all the nasty side effects and warning how
it should only be given for a few days.  The vet gave us enough for a
month. It should only be given when other treatments fail.

In addition to the personality changes and depressed immune response, it
also can cause serious eye damage.  Cats are not humans, and their
reaction may be different, but until we know better we have decided
against feeding Penny any more of this.  I will be seeing the vet thursday
when we take the other cat in for neutering, and I will ask for more
details.

I also looked in our vitamin book under asthma, and it suggests Pyridoxene
(vitamin B6), available in Brewers Yeast.  For general allergies, it
suggests Pantothenic Acid (vitamin B5).  I checked the ingredients of our
Cat+Dog Brewers Yeast tablets, and it only contains B1 and B2.  Anybody
know of any problems in giving a cat B6?  Again we will not proceed until
we know it is safe.

I don't understand...you don't think the vet gave you a good remedy, so 
you ask unqualified strangers over the net for a better one?  You stop 
the medication until you next get over to the vet's for some other 
thing, after writing the base message is on how important it is to watch 
out for the cat's respiratory system?  Wouldn't it be a better choice to 
either leave the cat on medication or make a phone call to the vet?  

					>>>==>PStJTT

    My thanks to all of you who kept stressing how serious respiratory 
    problems can be for cats.  We arrived home from vacation day before
    yesterday and found both cats looking just fine.  By the next morning,
    one (Pearson) was acting very listless, kept trying to vomit, had
    a horrible cry and was definately wheezing.  So, off to the vet
    ASAP.  His X-rays showed the beginning of fluid accumulation in
    both lungs.  He was given a shot of antibiotics and was back to
    his usual cheerful self by this morning.  His meow is still pretty
    raspy, but he's eating again and even tearing around the house.
    
    I kept thinking about this notesfile as we were going to the vet.
    It's hard to really understand how quickly your cat can be affected
    until you see it happen.  So, thanks to all of you who have previously
    emphasized the importance of getting your cat to the vet quickly
    and following up with X-rays as needed.  
    
    A very relieved noter,
    
    Lynne
    

    My cat had the exact problem listed in .0, except the wheezing was
    *much* more noticeable -- at times she could hardly breathe.  It
    was diagnosed as allergy-induced asthma (it can be tested for by
    drawing a blood sample and looking for the presence of eelio???mytes).
    
    She was put on a steroid like prednisone for several months. A friend
    who was a doctor warned me of the side effects, and (having just
    attended an update on human allergies), was able to recommend the
    latest allergy therapy for humans.  I have had her on this medication
    for over a year, with no side effects and with complete control.
    
    The generic name of one of the drugs is becanose ?????.  There are
    several different brand names.  It is an *inhaled* version of the
    steroid, and has the advantage that it does not get into the blood
    stream to cause all those nasty side effects.  It is a little tricky
    to give an inhaled drug to a cat -- I use a asthma inhaler for humans
    (the kind you put in your mouth) and put it over the cat's nose.
    It seals very nicely.  She gets three puffs twice a day.
    
    In combination with the inhaled steroid, I give her a bronchial
    relaxer twice a day.  This is a pill version of the nasty-smelling
    stuff that people take when they have an asthma attack.  I would
    guess that this is needed only because her asthma gets so bad.
    
    If you happen to get the Nashua Telegraph, there was an article
    in last Sunday's paper (Sept 7) about the miraculous new advances
    in allergy therapy that described inhaled steroids.

    I use the steroid inhalers for my cat alergy (conversely :-) ) and
    they are wonderful things.  I gradually reduced my dosage over a
    period of time and now I generally don't use it at all.  If my
    allergies seem to be picking up I'll start taking the steroids for
    awhile and then back off again.  My feeling is the less medication
    the better.  The inhalers are only good for the membranes you spray
    them on.  Anyway, it sounds to me like you are using an awful large
    dose for your cat.  You might want to try cutting back for awhile.
    My allergist said that if you take too much it will get into your
    blood stream.  Don't know what it does to you there, but might as
    well keep it out of where it isn't needed.  Our cat takes steroids
    for eosynophylic (sp?) enteritis, which is kind of the reverse of
    AIDS, i.e., an overactive immune system turning on your own organs.
    The steroids (prednisone) keep the condition under control.  It
    also controls the wheezing from his chronic bronchitis.  We reduce
    the dosage when she seems to be doing well, and crank it back up
    when she gets worse (throws up alot).  This is all at the vets
    direction, of course. 

    The generic name of the steroid is beclomethasone dipropionate;
    a couple brand names are Beclovent and Becanose.  The generic name
    of the broncho-dilator is albuterol sulfate; a brand name is Proventil.
    
    re: .14.  The 3 puffs dose seems to be what works best (I can get
    her down to 3 puffs ONCE a day when allergy season is over).  It seems like
    a lot, but I think the percentage of the dose she actually inhales
    is quite a bit smaller.