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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

4976.0. "FELINE ALLERGIC PNEUMONIA" by SANFAN::BALZERMA () Wed Oct 02 1991 16:08

    Bailey spent this past weekend in the Emergency Hospital and at the
    vet.  Once again he experienced a close call with death but with his
    usual tenacity pulled through it all.
    
    Last week his eyes were a little goopier than usual and I figured that
    it may have been the litter as I had switched to Fresh Step and it was
    super absorbent.  My train of thought was that it was so absorbent that
    the high concentration of urine may have been bothering his eyes.  I
    changed the litter and didn't think too much about it.  Wednesday I
    noticed he was acting a little "off" and by Thursday he was seeking out 
    dark places staying totally away from me.  His appetite had decreased
    slightly and he was not drinking water.  Friday morning I called in
    to make an appointment for Scott to see him.  When I arrived home on
    Friday afternoon I turned to look at him and he was flattening himself 
    out and having trouble breathing (as he did when he went into anaphylactic 
    shock from his vaccines).  By the time arrived at the vet he was definately
    in distress.  They immediately took x-rays, put him on oxygen and began 
    cortisone injections. The x-rays indicated that there was fluid in the 
    lungs and his bronchi were swollen.  The diagnosis in lay terms was asmtha 
    brought on by an allergic reaction. We went round and round as to what
    could have caused it.  Nothing had changed in the environment except the 
    litter.  The office was closing so I had to transfer him the Emergency 
    hospital. The drive took only about 5 minutes and he was in trouble again.
    Back onto the oxygen and more injections.  I called at 10:30 p.m. and
    he had made no progress.  Around midnight we almost lost him. His temp 
    dropped to 96 degrees so they put him on heating pads. His breathing was 
    still labored. They drew blood and the tests came back showing nothing out 
    of the normal ranges except a high red bood cell count which indicates a 
    healthy cat.  Saturday morning he transfered back to Scott's to be observed
    for the day. Meanwhile I went home washed down the bathroom with Clorox and
    water, put in a new litter box (going back to Tidy Cat 3), vaccumed 
    everything possible and called the Fresh Step people.  There had been
    no previous reports of any problems and told me to call them back if
    they could be of any assistance.  I then had to wait.  He finally
    stabilized and I picked him up Saturday at 4:00.  He is currently on
    prednisone and amoxi and has improved tremendously. Expand-o cat is
    back to eating his sister's food.  It used to irritate the hell out of
    me.  Now I could care less. He's alive.
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
4976.1TENAYA::KOLLINGKaren/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.Wed Oct 02 1991 16:186
    Thanks goodness he's doing okay.  I've become extremely wary of
    litters, given the problems reported with eyes, lungs, etc. with the
    new kinds.  I recently switched my cats to the new type made by Clorox
    (the name escapes me at the moment), but I've been watching them like a
    hawk for any reaction.  So far, so good.
    
4976.2TENAYA::KOLLINGKaren/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.Wed Oct 02 1991 16:207
    Actually I suspect the high absorbency ingredient(s) of these litters
    are the actual problem, as opposed to the urine concentration.  I can
    just picture what the high absorbency stuff does when it comes in
    contact with mucus membranes and eye tissue.  If I recollect correctly,
    it's the super absorbent "feminine products" that were implicated in
    human toxic shock syndrome.
    
4976.3Wow...SOLVIT::IVESWed Oct 02 1991 16:3716
    I am glad to hear Bailey is doing better.
    
    I just switched from Fresh Step to the new Clorox brand
    and found 3 piles of you know what on the cellar floor 
    instead of in the litter box. Threw out the new bag of
    litter and scrubbed the boxes and put Fresh Step back
    in. I have used FS since I have had my cats and no problems
    with them. I try not to breathe too deeply when I do the 
    litter boxes or when I scoop. It's the only litter I can
    use that all 3 agree on.
    
    Hope Bailey continues to improve. Boy, what works for one
    is almost death to another. These fur faces love to keep
    us guessing.
    
    Barbara
4976.4Bailey's recovery Great News!MRKTNG::ROSSIGive me another word for Thesaurus..Wed Oct 02 1991 16:4618
Marlene,

So happy to hear Bailey's doing much better.  I have been having a bout 
with litter at the moment too.  Beau seemed to be highly allergic to the 
scoopable litter.  Eyes were an absolute mess and whizzing and drippy 
nose.  Thought he had come down with a bad cold.  After reading the 
notes on the problems with the clumping cat litters I realized that was 
my problem.  I'm glad I caught it in time before he had a full fledge 
allergy attack like Bailey.  

I tell you it seems you always have to be on the look-out for signs and 
symptoms.  

Anyway, glad to hear he's going to be alright:-)

Valerie


4976.5who knows?SANFAN::BALZERMAWed Oct 02 1991 17:037
    
    re: .4   Val, I took Bailey off the Everclean because of the eye
    problems he was having. I then switched him over to the Fresh Step. 
    Little did I know I would end up with respiratory problems!  Now it's 
    back to "scooping mud" with Tidy Cat 3.  I don't DARE try anything 
    else!!!
    
4976.6Good NewsWR1FOR::RUSSELLPE_STWed Oct 02 1991 17:039
    Marlene,
    
    I'm also so glad to hear Bailey is recovering so well.
    
    I didn't realize that certain litters could cause such problems.  Good
    thing you're such an observant mommy.
    
    Steffi
     
4976.7JUPITR::KAGNOTo cats, all things belong to catsWed Oct 02 1991 17:4314
    Marlene,
    
    What about kitty kleen litter, in the orange bag?  They give this out
    at cat shows.  It has baking soda in it and very little dust.  I use
    the Stop & Shop brand which is the equivalent and it doesn't bother
    Herbie's eyes.
    
    I agree, TC III is mud, but who cares if it will keep the Bales
    healthy!
    
    Give that boy a big hug for me!!
    
    --Roe
    
4976.8pine shavings....BTWBOOVX2::MANDILELynne a.k.a. HRHWed Oct 02 1991 18:064
    Hmmm.....that must be why I like the "litter extender" so
    much....no problems like this!
    
    
4976.9WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityWed Oct 02 1991 19:016
    I think that the Bales is just a sensitive guy and that is why he had
    this problem.  Thank God he is alright.  And the prognosis is good for
    the future too.  Marlene gets the "observant owner" award for this
    week. :^)
    
    Jo
4976.10CRUISE::NDCPutiput Scottish Folds DTN:297-2313Fri Oct 04 1991 10:207
    I am also very happy to hear that Bailey is ok.  My mother-in-law is
    using Everclean with Tina and have had problems with her urinating
    in the cat's and dog's beds.  I am going to strongly suggest she
    go back to regular clay litters.
    
    BTW - Did you tell MAMACIN??
    
4976.11us tooSONATA::MCCURDYFri Oct 04 1991 14:102
    We are also glad that Bales is feeling better..
    Kate, Happy, Preschie, and Kissy..
4976.12SANFAN::BALZERMAFri Oct 04 1991 14:169
    
    re: 10  NDC, yup I did but only after it was over with.  I usually call
    with things like this immediately but it was Kristie's christening and 
    I didn't want to get her upset.  I called Saturday night to fill her in
    on the details.  As a matter of fact she called me at home this morning
    to see how he was doing.  What a pleasant wakeup call and a great way
    to start the day! :')
    
    
4976.13AIMHI::OFFENFri Oct 04 1991 14:199
    I have five kittys and only one is fussy.  She will only use Fresh
    Step.  Anything else and I have little presents on the floor.  I have
    never had a problem with it.  I did try a few other brands, one with
    baking soda, and she wouldn't accept any of them.  
    
    Glad Bailey is OK...
    
    Sandi, mom to the Storm Troopers