Itchmo Forums for Cats & Dogs

We're back.  Everything went well, except for Smokey deciding she'd rather hide under the p/u truck seat on the way home and stay in the truck rather than come back in the house.  Her heart is functionally normally at the present time, thank goodness.  Needs repeat echocardiogram in one year or sooner as indicated by change in her clinical status.  We still don't know if she has asthma or not, but she is being treated for primary airway disease for the timebeing.  They made it clear to us that this does not rule out cardiac disease in the future  (we all know how cats mask symptoms, et cetera), just that there is no evidence of it at present.  

I stayed with her the whole time and got to watch the color flow Doppler of her heart and watch the chambers and valves functioning.  It was fascinating to me.  She didn't get stressed out, just didn't like being held with her right side down, but didn't seem to mind being held with left side down.  When they brought out the clippers to shave her fur, DH opted to retreat to the waiting room.  He was afraid that Smokey would react the way Twit did, but she didn't.

Of course, I obtained a copy of her results, and here is part of the report.  The rest of it is all the thoracic structure information and thoracic measurements

Differential diagnosis:  Normal mechanical cardiac function.

There is no evident pleural or pericardial effusion.  There are no evident masses or dirofilaria (heartworms).  The cardiac chamber measurements are all within normal limits.  The valvular and myocardial structures appear unremarkable.  No significant vlavular insufficiency is detected on Doppler analysis.  Mechanically the heart is functioning within normal parameters, consistent with a functionally innocent murmur.  

So, discontinued the Lasix and Theo-Dur (theophylline ER), and she got a steroid shot today and a short course of prednisolone, and recheck in a week.  She had been coughing this morning, several episodes, but none at the vet's, and she finally ate a little when we got home.  Just had a coughing episode right now after eating.  Her appetite has been off for the last week and she already lost weight since Monday (some could have been the edema).

Good news right?  I hope I read that correctly.  Hope she will eat more and gain some weight.

Yes, good news, Ranger!  We were terrified that the echocardiogram would show heart disease, but it didn't.  We still don't have a diagnosis, but she is being treated for asthma symptoms for now. 

I'm so glad that Smokey's heart echo results were good. I do hope the other problems resolve quickly.

Great news about her heart! I wonder if there's something in her environment that is causing the coughing. Something she's allergic to. If that's the case, the pred should take care of it. I know my neighbor's cat has asthma and she's on a steroid inhaler which is milder than the pred pills, but she takes the pills if she's having and especially bad day. Normally, she pants and doesn't cough but everyone might react differently.

JustMe,
So happy to hear that Smokey does not have a heart problem.  Hope the steroids help to relieve her cough and that she is feeling tip-top very soon.  Will continue to keep her in my prayers.

Oh my I'm so relieved that Smokey doesn't have any heart problems!  Pray the meds help her other problems.

A great big WHEW!!! coming from me!  Been holding my breath, hoping and praying she didn't have heart trouble.  Now I hope they can get to the bottom of her breathing problems.

That is such a relief about her heart ! Hopefully the steroids will take care of the cough.

Good news seems to be catchy. Dutch doing better but still at the vets now Smokey's heart not being in a real bad way, getting the coughing under control. New babies just born. Good news week and spring is here!

Great news! I hope Smokey gets better on the steroids and you can find out what's causing the cough.

It's good news!  Yay   Still keeping her in my thoughts.

Smokey's doing much better since yesterday.  Only 2 coughing episodes, and she started eating better again.  Must be the steroid shot.  She just started her prednisolone pills this morning.  Thanks for all your prayers and good vibes.  

ETA:  Guess I jinxed us again.  She's coughing again now.   

That is good news!  At least there is no evidence of heart trouble at this time.  That prednisolone is amazing stuff.  Although I was not excited about Tig being on it long term, it does a remarkable job keeping her tumor small and under control.  I hope you will see good results now that Smokey is on the pred.

I know my vet had said at one point that postnasal drip in cats can cause coughing. If she has developed an allergy, this might be something to look into.