Asthma & Diabetes

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by DebG, Apr 12, 2016.

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  1. DebG

    DebG Well-Known Member

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    Mar 30, 2016
    Are there any members in this forum experiencing their kitty with asthma & diabetes?
    Fritz has had asthma for 4- 5 years. He's been stable on the inhaler flovent with a couple times a year needing predisolone. Until the day he was diagnosed with fd, he's having a terrible time breathing and having asthma attacks making for some pretty scary days and nights. I recently had him on predisolone causing his gbs to be high. I'm afraid I have to put him back on a course of predisolone again.
    Would love some feedback from anyone else that's been in our shoes.
     
  2. Chris & China (GA)

    Chris & China (GA) Well-Known Member

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    May 10, 2013
    I don't know a lot about it, but I do know that if there's another disease that requires the use of a steroid to improve the quality of life, we just tell people to give it and increase the insulin to compensate

    If you can't get his asthma under control with the flovent (there are a couple other inhaled drugs you can try too), then to keep him comfortable, he may need to go back on the predisolone and you'll just have to increase the insulin
     
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  3. DebG

    DebG Well-Known Member

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    Mar 30, 2016
    Thank you!
     
  4. Mogmom and Goofus

    Mogmom and Goofus Well-Known Member

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    Dec 9, 2014
    I'd say to give the pred and give the insulin. My kitty, Mouse, had asthma, she needed the pred to live. She was on pred so much that I'm amazed she never became diabetic, but I'd have given it even if she had been.
     
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  5. DebG

    DebG Well-Known Member

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    Mar 30, 2016
    Thank you! Had a pretty good day! Fritz had a couple mild attacks today I didn't have to use the rescue!!!! :)
     
  6. phlika29

    phlika29 Well-Known Member

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    Sep 14, 2014
    Hi. My cat is asthmatic and now a diet controlled diabetic. If your cat is having any visible signs of asthma you need to get this under control as best you can as the disease is progressive.

    I had to restart my cat on steroids in order to get his breathing back under control and that is with the maximum dose of inhaled flixotide. How many puffs are you giving per day and what is the dose?

    Did you make any other changes? Diet?

    Best wishes

    Sarah
     
  7. DebG

    DebG Well-Known Member

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    Mar 30, 2016
    Sarah
    on a daily basis I give him 1 puff am 1 puff pm of flixotide 250 micrograms. I also have Albertoul for rescue. With Fritz seems like twice a year he has horrible flare ups and I have to do a 2 week oral steroids prednisolone 15MG/5ML.
    When he wasn't diabetic I didn't like giving the oral but that was the only way to get his asthma under control. It was awful the day (Feb 11th 2016) I found out he was diabetic his asthma flared up, I tried giving him 3ml for several days then every other day tapering him off, but it didn't control the attacks so back on oral at 2ml am 2ml pm and he is doing so much better. I will do this for 7 days then 1ml am 1ml pm for 7 days then 1ml pm every other day for 7 days then off.
    This has been really tough trying to manage his GB's and the oral just complicated this. It's ok we will get past this bump in the road to treatment. Were in it for the long haul.
    I appreciate your help!
    I feed Fritz home made diet following Lisa Piersons recipe. I use whole foods air chilled organic hormone antibiotic free chicken thighs with bone/ with out bone. I also substitute 1 meal a day with Fancy Feast Classic Chicken Feast for a tad bit of carbs.
    I am going to be feeding Fritz rabbit from wholefoods4pets as soon as I run out of the current raw food.
    I'd really like for you to share your experience with your cat.
     
  8. phlika29

    phlika29 Well-Known Member

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    Sep 14, 2014
    Hi

    Poor you and fritz. You have had a tough time. Asthma attacks are the worst. So frightening. Remi does also get worse at different times of the year. Pollen in the spring and when the heating goes on in the autum.

    I am sure you already do all the usual such as hoovering daily (mine has a HEPA filter on it), avoid spraying any perfume, deodorant, etc near them. I have out special allergy protectors on the duvet, mattress and pillow on the bed. I don't have an air purifier but I understand they can help (avoid the ozone ones and get a HEPA filter one instead).

    Although my cat Remi started on 1 puff of 250 mg flixotide twice a day he has progressed to having to have 2 puffs twice a day. I wonder if you might be better off upping his inhaled meds and then seeing if this controls him better. Now Remi is on the higher dose of flixotide he doesn't wheeze or have any visible signs that he has asthma. Obviously you need to get fritz over this hump but after this you might want to consider it. Are you a member of the yahoo feline asthma group? They are a great bunch and will be able to give you much more advice.

    The reason I asked about any other changes is that Remi has IBD and I find if it isn't under control he gets gassy and this can really affect his asthma. I have seen him have a massive asthma attack after he has burped. Does fritz have tummy problems?
     
  9. DebG

    DebG Well-Known Member

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    Mar 30, 2016
    So far no other health issues.
    Yes I've changed everything we use in our home,no scented anything.
    I also run a humidifer 24 7 and a rabbit air cleaner with hepa filters.
    That's a good idea on the inhaler.Do you never notice Remi acting like his throat is sore or his meow sounds like a sore throat. I've also noticed he was sticking his tongue out more often.
    It's better now. But it was something that has changed for a couple months off and on.
    Just a few days ago I tried to join the yahoo asthma group, I'm having a little trouble navagateing the site. I'll try again.
    :)
     
  10. Squeaky and KT (GA)

    Squeaky and KT (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Jul 19, 2011
    @Melissa & Tarragon - tagging Melissa as Mr. T is both asthmatic and diabetic and has been for several years. Melissa is a wealth of info when it comes to treating both conditions. Luckily my 2 'asthma' kitties aren't diabetic....one likely will be as he's on steriods monthly and has been for 3 years.
     
  11. DebG

    DebG Well-Known Member

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    Mar 30, 2016
    Thank you would love to get help with managing both! :)
     
  12. Melissa & Tarragon

    Melissa & Tarragon Well-Known Member

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    Feb 17, 2011
    Hello! Tarragon has been athmatic for 10 years and diabetic for 5. He gets 2 puffs am 2 puffs pm of flixotide 250 micrograms and is one 10 mg prednisolone daily. The inhaler was doing ok for a couple of years after diagnosis but then it stopped working. He has been on prednisolone daily for about 3 years. I have always felt that his breathing was the most important thing so I have adjusted his insulin to make up for it. Every now and then, he will have to have an extra pred due to allergies.

    Please let me know if you have ANY questions at all. It is a definite tightrope when you are trying to balance the two. Tarragon also has IBD but the pred also helps with that so we haven't had any issues from it.
     
  13. DebG

    DebG Well-Known Member

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    Mar 30, 2016
    Hi Melissa
    I am sorry that Tarragon has all three. I looked at the SS oh how I wish Fritz was there. I know it was with much work and patience on both of you....
    It is nice to know that I will be able to manage him.
    I gave Fritz Flixotide 110 puff am & pm for the last 5 years. With flare ups spring & fall I would give him prednisolone short term. Just recently I increased flixotide to the 250 am pm 1 puff. I also use the Albertoul has a rescue. I did try and use just the two inhalers but Fritz was getting worse so I have him on 2ml am& pm prednisolone for 7 days and then 1ml nightly for 7 days then every other night for 7 more days hoping I can then take him off prednisolone. We'll see.
    I have him on Prozinc. He was diagnosed Feb 11, 2016 with diabetes. The first vet put him on Lantus a month later his vet put him on Prozinc. I hope it is a good choice to keep him on Prozinc. $ is not a concern so if I should have him on Lantus Ihave no problem switching him. I think I should probably wait and see after the steroids are done if his GB's come down.
    Any experience you can share I would love to hear.:)
    Thank you!
     
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  14. DebG

    DebG Well-Known Member

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    Mar 30, 2016
    Melissa,
    Can you take a look at Fritz SS? If so are you able to give advise on dosing? With your experience I was hoping you could hopefully help with Fritz high numbers.
     
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