My cat Whiskers is a quadriplegic And he has seizures. Yesterday, at about 1:15pm, I thought he was having a seizure, so after about 2 minutes I gave him a valium suppository, as I have been instructed to do. I thought he was jaw chomping, one of the signs of seizure, but now in retrospect, I think it was open mouth breathing. Anyway, he continued to have problems so I took him to the nearest vet. There he was given some more valium and given oxygen. Then we transported him to a nearby emergency hospital as we thought he should be monitored overnight. He was very out of it when I last saw him, and I am so worried that he may have suffered brain damage. It is now 8:30 the next day, he's still at the hospital, I am at home, and I just heard from the Dr. who is starting the day shift. He says that he thinks Whiskers has improved and will try taking him out of the oxygen tank to see how he does. Of course I am so glad to hear this as I almost thought he would have to be put to sleep. That was one of the options given me last night! I am so glad that I decided to see how he was in the morning! The Dr. wants me to come visit him about 1:30 today. I guess I am the only one who really knows if he's back to himself!
His chest xrays show that he has some deformities (I think due to his paralysis) - which I think they call Pectus Excavatum, which would make it difficult for him - If he runs into problems breathing.
If any one has any experience or information which might relate to his conditions, please let me know!
I am especially concerned about: How to tell if he has suffered brain damage? How can I clearly tell the difference between seizures and other things, like respiratory difficulty? If he does come home, what is the best way to lay him down? Or should I prop him up? etc.
And lastly, are there any resources to help with the Vet. costs? I honestly don't know if I have the money to check him out of the hospital!
Karen
Whiskers' respiratory problems?
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MissWhiskers
- Posts: 276
- Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2007 11:34 pm
- Location: Reston, VA
Re: Whiskers' respiratory problems?
Karen:
I think that's also called funnel chest which I believe involves a depressed sternum or breastbone. That's really all I know about that and I am not sure how it affects breathing but I would assume Whiskers would have had problems by now if in fact that was the problem. One of the other things I would be concerned about and I would recommend checking is Whisker's heart. I lost one of my cats to heart failure last month. She also had seizures and was on phenobarb. Although she always had noisy breathing I had taken her in to the vets in January because she was gagging and not eating. The rads showed an enlarged heart. I had her echoed and she was diagnosed with mild hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, was placed on meds and I was told by the cardiologist to have her rechecked in 9 months. Mia had what appeared to me to be abnormal breathing and she was not eating. I took her in 3 times within days---the first time I was told that she did not look like a cat in heart failure. The vet then did do rads because of her diagnosis with HCM and they found her right atrium was huge. She was in heart failure and after 2 days of hospitalization I brought her home and she passed very quickly. I say this not to alarm you but I think heart disease is often missed and misdiagnosed and really is the silent killer. My cat Simon's heart was normal on the radiographs a few years ago when he was breathing very rapidly (he is paralyzed, has severe congenital deformities and also deformities of his chest) but an ultrasound revealed HCM and an enlarged heart. I had a 16 year old diabetic who when I took him into his regular vet three years ago and was told his problem was also kidney disease and I was suppose to give him fluids. Wrong, wrong, wrong---I took him to my current vet and he was in heart failure.
I remember when you got Whiskers and I am so sorry about him. Please talk to them about his heart too. Diana
I think that's also called funnel chest which I believe involves a depressed sternum or breastbone. That's really all I know about that and I am not sure how it affects breathing but I would assume Whiskers would have had problems by now if in fact that was the problem. One of the other things I would be concerned about and I would recommend checking is Whisker's heart. I lost one of my cats to heart failure last month. She also had seizures and was on phenobarb. Although she always had noisy breathing I had taken her in to the vets in January because she was gagging and not eating. The rads showed an enlarged heart. I had her echoed and she was diagnosed with mild hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, was placed on meds and I was told by the cardiologist to have her rechecked in 9 months. Mia had what appeared to me to be abnormal breathing and she was not eating. I took her in 3 times within days---the first time I was told that she did not look like a cat in heart failure. The vet then did do rads because of her diagnosis with HCM and they found her right atrium was huge. She was in heart failure and after 2 days of hospitalization I brought her home and she passed very quickly. I say this not to alarm you but I think heart disease is often missed and misdiagnosed and really is the silent killer. My cat Simon's heart was normal on the radiographs a few years ago when he was breathing very rapidly (he is paralyzed, has severe congenital deformities and also deformities of his chest) but an ultrasound revealed HCM and an enlarged heart. I had a 16 year old diabetic who when I took him into his regular vet three years ago and was told his problem was also kidney disease and I was suppose to give him fluids. Wrong, wrong, wrong---I took him to my current vet and he was in heart failure.
I remember when you got Whiskers and I am so sorry about him. Please talk to them about his heart too. Diana
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MissWhiskers
- Posts: 276
- Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2007 11:34 pm
- Location: Reston, VA
Re: Whiskers' respiratory problems?
Hi Diana,
Thanks for the info, and I'm glad you remember Whiskers! I am sorry to hear of your recent loss. Last night I thought I was going to lose him and was trying to prepare myself...
I brought Whiskers home Tues afternoon - I was tentative about that, but the Dr. seemed pretty confident that Whiskers was back to his normal self. Luckily that Dr. had seen Whiskers about 2 mo. ago for a basic exam and a rabies shot - and Whiskers was pretty much at his best at that time - so that Dr. had a good frame of reference! See, I guess a lot of people see a cat that can't walk combined with the effects of the valium and they think he should be put to sleep! I am so glad that I waitted!
Again, he was given valium because that is how they usually treat a seizure that is lasting long, but maybe it was not a seizure at all? so maybe the valium just made it more difficult? Anyway, obviously this was the first big respiratory problem and I think you are right - So should I see a specialist? Exactly what tests should I ask for? They did do chest x-rays yesterday - would that show his heart? I am very nervous that it might happen again. So you really think it sounds like his heart?
Thanks for your support,
Karen
Thanks for the info, and I'm glad you remember Whiskers! I am sorry to hear of your recent loss. Last night I thought I was going to lose him and was trying to prepare myself...
I brought Whiskers home Tues afternoon - I was tentative about that, but the Dr. seemed pretty confident that Whiskers was back to his normal self. Luckily that Dr. had seen Whiskers about 2 mo. ago for a basic exam and a rabies shot - and Whiskers was pretty much at his best at that time - so that Dr. had a good frame of reference! See, I guess a lot of people see a cat that can't walk combined with the effects of the valium and they think he should be put to sleep! I am so glad that I waitted!
Again, he was given valium because that is how they usually treat a seizure that is lasting long, but maybe it was not a seizure at all? so maybe the valium just made it more difficult? Anyway, obviously this was the first big respiratory problem and I think you are right - So should I see a specialist? Exactly what tests should I ask for? They did do chest x-rays yesterday - would that show his heart? I am very nervous that it might happen again. So you really think it sounds like his heart?
Thanks for your support,
Karen
Re: Whiskers' respiratory problems?
Karen:
So glad Whiskers is doing better. I am not a vet and don't want to cause you anymore expense but I also know Whiskers is very important to you. I know with Simon, his heart appeared normal on the radiographs; the vet, however, recommended an ultrasound or echo of his heart---I went ahead with this but was thinking oh it is going to come out normal. Well he was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the ultrasound showed an enlarged heart. He has been on benazapril and has had I think at least 2 ultrasound. They also tried a test which he has had twice which is relatively new---measuring the NTproBNP, which I understand is a hormone in the blood. The concentration is used to predict the likelihood of heart failure because that is the concern in these guys. He's had two of these which indicate that heart failure is unlikely. On the echo this month, the cardiologist thought his enlarged right ventricle was more related to bronchial asthma so started him on another med for this.
An echo of Whisker's heart by a cardiologist would probably give you some peace of mind. I know heart disease really scares me because like I said it is a silent killer and once they go into heart failure it is very likely heart failure will occur again if they pull through. Unfortunately I have not had a cat who lasted more than a day after having heart failure and being sent home. Diana
So glad Whiskers is doing better. I am not a vet and don't want to cause you anymore expense but I also know Whiskers is very important to you. I know with Simon, his heart appeared normal on the radiographs; the vet, however, recommended an ultrasound or echo of his heart---I went ahead with this but was thinking oh it is going to come out normal. Well he was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the ultrasound showed an enlarged heart. He has been on benazapril and has had I think at least 2 ultrasound. They also tried a test which he has had twice which is relatively new---measuring the NTproBNP, which I understand is a hormone in the blood. The concentration is used to predict the likelihood of heart failure because that is the concern in these guys. He's had two of these which indicate that heart failure is unlikely. On the echo this month, the cardiologist thought his enlarged right ventricle was more related to bronchial asthma so started him on another med for this.
An echo of Whisker's heart by a cardiologist would probably give you some peace of mind. I know heart disease really scares me because like I said it is a silent killer and once they go into heart failure it is very likely heart failure will occur again if they pull through. Unfortunately I have not had a cat who lasted more than a day after having heart failure and being sent home. Diana