Ill cat - any ideas....
Discussion
Our cat Daisy is about 12-13 years old. A few months ago she developed a cough (which looks like a snuffling fit thing, but is apparently coughing) so off she went to the vet. XRays showed fluid on her lungs and all manner of tests were done; heart tests for heart failure (negative), tests for asthma (negative), various blood tests (all negative), lung fluid tests for bacteria and viruses (all negative), tests for allergies (negative), and the vet had no idea what was wrong.
They tried a course of generic antibiotics and it seemed to clear up.
However just a few weeks later the cough is coming back, and sometimes when she breathes she sounds a bit gurgly (like you do if you have a chesty cough).
I'll book her back into the vets, but I don't see why they will have any new ideas - so I thought I'd give it a long shot and try on here !
Because she's old the insurance doesn't pay the whole bill - the last batch of tests were >£2k with us paying about £6-700
They tried a course of generic antibiotics and it seemed to clear up.
However just a few weeks later the cough is coming back, and sometimes when she breathes she sounds a bit gurgly (like you do if you have a chesty cough).
I'll book her back into the vets, but I don't see why they will have any new ideas - so I thought I'd give it a long shot and try on here !
Because she's old the insurance doesn't pay the whole bill - the last batch of tests were >£2k with us paying about £6-700
How did they test for asthma?
Tbh it may just be a matter of long course of antibiotics if this help last time and possibly steroids but that would have to be a vet call.
I would still take her in, they may not have an answer but they can at least control/ monitor/ improve her condition even if they can't cure it.
Fingers crossed for her that she improves again qucikly.
Tbh it may just be a matter of long course of antibiotics if this help last time and possibly steroids but that would have to be a vet call.
I would still take her in, they may not have an answer but they can at least control/ monitor/ improve her condition even if they can't cure it.
Fingers crossed for her that she improves again qucikly.
Hiya, yes they did test for FIV and FLV - negative.
No ulcers and she is eating and drinking ok, and generally seems herself - although a bit more clingy than normal and the odd sneeze/gurgle/coughing fit.
Bex - the following tests were done:
XRay (showed fluid inside lungs, around lungs, and around heart)
Course of Convenia antibiotics
Bronchoscopy/Rhinoscopy
Cardiac Ultrasound
Cytology - Standard
Microbiology - Aerobic culture & sensitivity, FeLV + FIV, Chalmydia PCR, Feline Herpes Virus PCR, Feline Calcivirus Isolation
The specialist vet who did most of hte tests said she was so gunked up he was amazed she was as healthy as she was and not a lot iller/sicker - the notes say
BAR, Colour and refill good, Thoracic auscultation HR 160, RR2
Retroflexed pharyngoscopy = inflammation + purulent discharge
Airway inflammation and mucopurulent looking discharge in major airways
BAL using bronchoscope - 10ml introduced and 3ml of material harvested, then coughed up more
DDx feline asthma vs infections - latter perhaps more likely given nasopharyngeal involvement
Initially we all though asthma but they ruled that out fairly early on - although looking at the tests there I can't remember how they did it.
I'll get her booked in, I can only think another course of antibiotics :s
No ulcers and she is eating and drinking ok, and generally seems herself - although a bit more clingy than normal and the odd sneeze/gurgle/coughing fit.
Bex - the following tests were done:
XRay (showed fluid inside lungs, around lungs, and around heart)
Course of Convenia antibiotics
Bronchoscopy/Rhinoscopy
Cardiac Ultrasound
Cytology - Standard
Microbiology - Aerobic culture & sensitivity, FeLV + FIV, Chalmydia PCR, Feline Herpes Virus PCR, Feline Calcivirus Isolation
The specialist vet who did most of hte tests said she was so gunked up he was amazed she was as healthy as she was and not a lot iller/sicker - the notes say
BAR, Colour and refill good, Thoracic auscultation HR 160, RR2
Retroflexed pharyngoscopy = inflammation + purulent discharge
Airway inflammation and mucopurulent looking discharge in major airways
BAL using bronchoscope - 10ml introduced and 3ml of material harvested, then coughed up more
DDx feline asthma vs infections - latter perhaps more likely given nasopharyngeal involvement
Initially we all though asthma but they ruled that out fairly early on - although looking at the tests there I can't remember how they did it.
I'll get her booked in, I can only think another course of antibiotics :s
Wow has obviously been well treated so they must have been confident it's not asthma to rule it out. Probably not acute enough symptoms.
I had a cat who had a similar episode except it wasn't chest so much as throat. Lots of mucus, coughing, sneezing. Throat examined for foreign body just lots and lots of phlegm! Nothing really grew from samples sent off.
Eventually we put her on a 6 week course of a broad spectrum antibiotic 1 tablet twice a day (potentiated amox etc) this eventually seemed to do the trick. Still no real idea why or what caused it!
I had a cat who had a similar episode except it wasn't chest so much as throat. Lots of mucus, coughing, sneezing. Throat examined for foreign body just lots and lots of phlegm! Nothing really grew from samples sent off.
Eventually we put her on a 6 week course of a broad spectrum antibiotic 1 tablet twice a day (potentiated amox etc) this eventually seemed to do the trick. Still no real idea why or what caused it!
Sounds similar...
She had some powder for her food to try and clear the mucus, which just made her eyes run.
Then they tried a course of Convenia (injection every 2 weeks I think) for about 6 weeks.
It did seem to get better but it's creeping back in.
She had similar symptoms last year in January (which is about when they started reappearing this year) - just all seems abit weird.
And yes she was well treated, and we hadn't realised the insurance wanted us to pay 25% (they changed our policy terms last August without me realising) so the bill was a shocker !
Shes booked in again for tomorrow evening - perhaps a different antibiotic might help :s
She had some powder for her food to try and clear the mucus, which just made her eyes run.
Then they tried a course of Convenia (injection every 2 weeks I think) for about 6 weeks.
It did seem to get better but it's creeping back in.
She had similar symptoms last year in January (which is about when they started reappearing this year) - just all seems abit weird.
And yes she was well treated, and we hadn't realised the insurance wanted us to pay 25% (they changed our policy terms last August without me realising) so the bill was a shocker !
Shes booked in again for tomorrow evening - perhaps a different antibiotic might help :s
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