? Anyone use Theophylline with their cat?

Last week Bear started breathing heavy. I took him to the ER vet (they know him well) and they agreed he had labored breathing. We did chest x-rays and it was revealed that he has kitty asthma. Because of his heart murmur and HCM they were reluctant to do steroids so are trying this first.

Does anyone have any experience giving their cats this med? It seems to be helping his asthma but today it really upset his stomach. I gave him some Metronidazole and will give him some Fortiflora tonight to help relieve his symptoms.

Thanks!

 

I hope someone replies back to you Meredith

 

I second @Diane Tyler's Mom

 

I know you said you are giving 2.5 ml twice a day

I just googled
CONCERNS AND CAUTIONS

This medication is typically given twice a day in dogs but only once a day in cats. When this medication is used in the treatment of asthma in cats, we believe it is best to give this medication at bedtime and given with food

For cats, theophylline is dosed at 2 mg per pound (4 mg/kg) one to three times food

Also
Gastrointestinal upset and

Theophylline should be used with caution in animals with severe heart disease, abnormal heart rhythms, kidney or liver impairment or high blood pressure.

 

Bump

 

I don’t have a lot of experience with Theophylline in cats but my Max has had feline asthma for the past 10 years. He was on Theophylline for a very short time and it did cause diarrhea. He only took it once per day. I don’t recall the dose he was on though. Max also has a heart murmur and ventricular hypertrophy but he is on a steroid inhaler called Flovent. The specialist at NC State Vet Hospital put him on the inhaler years ago. He took the theophylline in addition to that when he had to be hospitalized for his asthma. He was sent home on it for a short time. I do remember him having diarrhea while he was on it though. There is a Facebook group called feline asthma support that I joined years ago and they were very helpful. They may have more information they can offer you. I wish you and Bear all the best.

 

Hi Meredith! My boy Sammy has rather serious asthma and a pretty good case of DM. I was treating his asthma with depo medrol (as per the vet) for years. Well, after his leg amputation, On came the DM and pancreatitis!. He's on glargine now but his asthma is quite bad lately and I've been reduced to using the inhalers, both albuterol and (eek! another steroid! Flovent. According to research Inhaled steroids are much better than injectable or oral prednisolone as they dont' tend to be systemic in the cat. However, it's an ongoing struggle. I am scared to use the inhalers too much (esp Flovent) as I'm still trying to regulater his DM. But, they worked WONDERS for him, until he developed DM in 2022. Now they're not allowed I guess. Sam's sister also has asthma but not as badly, and has had much fewer doses of depo. I am able to help her with mainly the albuterol, and occasionally an oral prednisolone but as infrequently as possible. For stomach upset I know famotidine (pepcid) and tagumet (cimetazine) are considered safe in animals (I'm a vet tech). I've actually given my cat prilosec small doses too. Fortiflora does help overall but metronidazole will stop him up solid (stool wise) so be very careful. By the way, your Bear sure is a cutie!

 

Hi! This is so helpful, thank you so so much!