Cat either has pnumonia or emphsyema

the_devil_made_me_do_it

My cat has been purring stramgly of late. On breathing in, she has to open her mouth slighty. She also has a crackly sound on her chest.

Took her to Vets 4 Pets today, and upon examination, the vet said she either has pnumonia or emphsyema, either isn't good.

I have to take her back in a week for possible x-rays.

Has anyone else had experience of cats with breathing difficulties?

simontheiceman

Yeah, got stacks of experience, but only cos I see them regularly. I would actually head for radiography early with symptoms like that - a week should be OK to allow an initial rule out with antibiotics, but pneumonia may take a 6-8 week course of ABs to give a clinical cure. Asthma is a BIG possible as well. I would recommend that you push for a tracheal wash/ BAL(Bronchoalveolar lavage) at the same time as any radiography - yes that will increase costs this time but it will save time in the long run. Tracheal wash/BAL cytology gives a good indication of actual cause and can be THE most useful diagnostic tool - it certainly is in my epxerience. I find it more definitive than radiography. Endoscopy can be useful but for a cat you need a scope which is small enough for the cat airways (I have one but not everyone does).

My approach is to do a full work up including all the above on the first visit and I would expect no change from £400. I tend to find that a bit-by-bit approach actually costs more.

"either isnt good" - why? Pneumonia will clear with a long enough course of ABs, Emphysema - mmmmm (I'll say that I have never actually diagnosed this in a cat but it is a known sequel to pneumonia in the dog). Asthma is manageable. There are also a whole heap of other possibles...

VfM4meplse

I hope it's not emphysema for your kitty's sake as this is irreversible and progressive .

UKTigerlily

The only Cat i've had with breathing difficulties was the Brother to the female I have now, he had FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) & died at the Vets aged 2. I doubt very much it's that though! Hope Kitty is feeling better soon x

the_devil_made_me_do_it

My cat is approx 15 yrs old, so not sure if she would be able to handle a endoscopy.

She is also diabetic (in remission for over a year), so obviously I'm hoping that these stresses don't raise her BG levels.

The vet said it could be emphysema, but maybe he meant asthma

UKTigerlily

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

My cat is approx 15 yrs old, so not sure if she would be able to handle a endoscopy.

She is also diabetic (in remission for over a year), so obviously I'm hoping that these stresses don't raise her BG levels.

The vet said it could be emphysema, but maybe he meant asthma

I dunno much about emphysema but I know old people get it so maybe it's that? Keep us updated & I hope she does ok & take her back if you get worried at all in the meantime x

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Eppie's breathing has been a concern again unfortunatly. I took her back to vets 4 pets last Wednesday and she was given another shot of anti-biotic and a steriod injection. She has to go back for a check up & maybe another shot of anti-biotic.

However, since I took her, she seems to be wheezing more and she is sneezing. The sneezing isn't the same as a cold or flu, it's almost as if she has an allergy.

I'm really concerned about her and am struggling to know what to do. I intend to take her back to the vet well before the check, but was looking to leave it a week to give the injections time to work.