My old cat Phoebe (15) hasn't been well lately. She's been coughing a lot and has lost weight, but after a trip to the PDSA they put her on steroids and anti-biotics, thinking it's an infection. Her blood tests showed that her kidneys and liver are fine. The last few days though she's been walking funny like her back legs are weak and for the last few hours she's been breathing really quick, even when asleep. I've just fed her and she's eaten it all, and she's being very friendly and purring, still worried though as she's breathing so quickly. Could this be side effects from the steroids and anti-biotics? I've Googled it but not really found anything useful.
My cat is breathing rapidly...
The rapid breathing and the difficulty with her back legs, could suggest a clot. If she is still breathing like that in the morning it wouldn't hurt to ring the Vet again.
At least she is still eating and hopefully drinking, if she has an infection it could account for it.
It's the problem with the back legs that is concerning.
At least she is still eating and hopefully drinking, if she has an infection it could account for it.
It's the problem with the back legs that is concerning.
Originally Posted by Heartache:
“The rapid breathing and the difficulty with her back legs, could suggest a clot. If she is still breathing like that in the morning it wouldn't hurt to ring the Vet again.
At least she is still eating and hopefully drinking, if she has an infection it could account for it.
It's the problem with the back legs that is concerning.”
“The rapid breathing and the difficulty with her back legs, could suggest a clot. If she is still breathing like that in the morning it wouldn't hurt to ring the Vet again.
At least she is still eating and hopefully drinking, if she has an infection it could account for it.
It's the problem with the back legs that is concerning.”
Phoebe's brother had degenerative bone disease when he got old. We're wondering if it could be that. If she's no better in the morning we'll ring the vets. Thanks for your reply.
Originally Posted by cobwebsoup:
“Phoebe's brother had degenerative bone disease when he got old. We're wondering if it could be that. If she's no better in the morning we'll ring the vets. Thanks for your reply.”
“Phoebe's brother had degenerative bone disease when he got old. We're wondering if it could be that. If she's no better in the morning we'll ring the vets. Thanks for your reply.”
Fingers crossed that the medication works it's magic.
Cobwebsoup, did your vet have any concerns about Phoebe's heart? One of my cats lost weight and was a bit cough-y but initially we put it down to him needing to be wormed as it was mid-summer and he roamed some distance and was a successful hunter.
In fact he was diagnosed with feline cardiomyopathy after he suddenly became paralysed in his hind legs. This is caused by a clot travelling from the heart along the main artery to the legs - when the clot blocks the artery, the cat is paralysed until the clot can be dealt with via blood thinning medication at which time movement gradually returns.
It's unlikely that this form of cardiomyopathy is a problem for your cat (it's slightly more likely if Phoebe is a Maine Coon) but you might want to be sure that the vet has no concerns about heart function - does the vet know that Phoebe has lost some use of her hind legs? If not, I'd definitely phone to discuss in the morning.
Good luck, hope all goes well for you and Phoebe. One other thing worth mentioning is giving Phoebe a litter tray in the house (I'm sure you have) as she is vulnerable to other cats or dogs while she's unwell and can't move well or quickly.
In fact he was diagnosed with feline cardiomyopathy after he suddenly became paralysed in his hind legs. This is caused by a clot travelling from the heart along the main artery to the legs - when the clot blocks the artery, the cat is paralysed until the clot can be dealt with via blood thinning medication at which time movement gradually returns.
It's unlikely that this form of cardiomyopathy is a problem for your cat (it's slightly more likely if Phoebe is a Maine Coon) but you might want to be sure that the vet has no concerns about heart function - does the vet know that Phoebe has lost some use of her hind legs? If not, I'd definitely phone to discuss in the morning.
Good luck, hope all goes well for you and Phoebe. One other thing worth mentioning is giving Phoebe a litter tray in the house (I'm sure you have) as she is vulnerable to other cats or dogs while she's unwell and can't move well or quickly.
Originally Posted by Normandie:
“Cobwebsoup, did your vet have any concerns about Phoebe's heart? One of my cats lost weight and was a bit cough-y but initially we put it down to him needing to be wormed as it was mid-summer and he roamed some distance and was a successful hunter.
In fact he was diagnosed with feline cardiomyopathy after he suddenly became paralysed in his hind legs. This is caused by a clot travelling from the heart along the main artery to the legs - when the clot blocks the artery, the cat is paralysed until the clot can be dealt with via blood thinning medication at which time movement gradually returns.
It's unlikely that this form of cardiomyopathy is a problem for your cat (it's slightly more likely if Phoebe is a Maine Coon) but you might want to be sure that the vet has no concerns about heart function - does the vet know that Phoebe has lost some use of her hind legs? If not, I'd definitely phone to discuss in the morning.
Good luck, hope all goes well for you and Phoebe. One other thing worth mentioning is giving Phoebe a litter tray in the house (I'm sure you have) as she is vulnerable to other cats or dogs while she's unwell and can't move well or quickly.”
“Cobwebsoup, did your vet have any concerns about Phoebe's heart? One of my cats lost weight and was a bit cough-y but initially we put it down to him needing to be wormed as it was mid-summer and he roamed some distance and was a successful hunter.
In fact he was diagnosed with feline cardiomyopathy after he suddenly became paralysed in his hind legs. This is caused by a clot travelling from the heart along the main artery to the legs - when the clot blocks the artery, the cat is paralysed until the clot can be dealt with via blood thinning medication at which time movement gradually returns.
It's unlikely that this form of cardiomyopathy is a problem for your cat (it's slightly more likely if Phoebe is a Maine Coon) but you might want to be sure that the vet has no concerns about heart function - does the vet know that Phoebe has lost some use of her hind legs? If not, I'd definitely phone to discuss in the morning.
Good luck, hope all goes well for you and Phoebe. One other thing worth mentioning is giving Phoebe a litter tray in the house (I'm sure you have) as she is vulnerable to other cats or dogs while she's unwell and can't move well or quickly.”
No the Vet didn't say anything about her heart but I will make sure they have no concerns about her heart as we're contacting the PDSA tomorrow. We didn't take her in today as she's been walking around, had plenty to eat and drink, doesn't seem in any pain or distressed, just she's still breathing very quickly and it sounds like her nose is blocked up. It could be an allergic reaction to the Penicillin she's on at the moment apparently. All the litter trays are in the house, we don't let them out (apart from in our enclosed garden) as quite a few have been hit by cars round here in the past. Thank you for your post, fingers crossed she's okay.
Well she's been to the PDSA a few days ago and they didn't seem concerned. They put her on another few months of steroids. However days later and her breathing is no better, it's between 40 and 45 breaths per minute and should only be 20 - 30. Does anyone know if the Penicillin and steroids could be causing this? I can't really find much suggesting they do.
Steroids can definitely do this in dogs. We had one that was on steroids for a while and suddenly started to do this and looked really spaced out, it was quite scary. The vet said a sort of toxicity can build up and produce this reaction so he had to come off them. Again in dogs steroids can cause raised temp and so panting.
Pain can also cause panting in dogs.
Hope your cat is ok x
Pain can also cause panting in dogs.
Hope your cat is ok x
Originally Posted by riversmum:
“Steroids can definitely do this in dogs. We had one that was on steroids for a while and suddenly started to do this and looked really spaced out, it was quite scary. The vet said a sort of toxicity can build up and produce this reaction so he had to come off them. Again in dogs steroids can cause raised temp and so panting.
Pain can also cause panting in dogs.
Hope your cat is ok x”
“Steroids can definitely do this in dogs. We had one that was on steroids for a while and suddenly started to do this and looked really spaced out, it was quite scary. The vet said a sort of toxicity can build up and produce this reaction so he had to come off them. Again in dogs steroids can cause raised temp and so panting.
Pain can also cause panting in dogs.
Hope your cat is ok x”
Thank you
How long did your dog do this for? Phoebe's been doing it for five or six days now. As I say the vets didn't seem concerned but it's very worrying that she's breathing so quickly and does look very spaced out.
Our dog continued until we stopped the steroids which the vet told us to do however we had to do it gradually as it's dangerous to suddenly stop steroids unless the vet tells you to do so. Once they were out of his system he went back to normal.
I'm sorry she's no better x
I'm sorry she's no better x
Is there another vet you can take her to for a second opinion? You are obviously concerned about your cat and don't seem to be getting proper answers.
Originally Posted by JeffG1:
“Is there another vet you can take her to for a second opinion? You are obviously concerned about your cat and don't seem to be getting proper answers.”
“Is there another vet you can take her to for a second opinion? You are obviously concerned about your cat and don't seem to be getting proper answers.”
I tried to edit my original message, but it seems it was just out of time, although the Edit button was still there. Anyway...
I have just looked up PDSA and they seem to get nothing but praise for the good work they do, so maybe it's a bit unfair of me to suggest that you might not be getting the full story.
Hey thanks everyone for your comments. Yesterday she stopped eating and drinking and we all said our goodbyes, making her comfortable and warm as she seemed to be slipping away. I stayed up with her all night and got a shock when she suddenly woke up this morning, climbed out of bed and went to use the litter tray and have some water. Then we spoon fed her some soft cat meat and she had quite a bit. I'm really hoping that she's starting to get better now and the vets can give us hope tomorrow morning when we ask them for a second opinion. Her breathing is currently between 34 and 36 breathes a minute, which is less than it was but still a little high.
Here's hoping it was an infection that she is recovering from. Please tell us how you get on at the vet's tomorrow. Fingers crossed for you and Phoebe.
Originally Posted by JeffG1:
“Here's hoping it was an infection that she is recovering from. Please tell us how you get on at the vet's tomorrow. Fingers crossed for you and Phoebe.”
“Here's hoping it was an infection that she is recovering from. Please tell us how you get on at the vet's tomorrow. Fingers crossed for you and Phoebe.”
Thank you it means a lot when people care. Sadly it's looking extremely likely that Phoebe has a tumour in her chest. She's not suffering at the moment and was even purring while the vet was examining her, but I've been left with a few very difficult decisions to make.
Originally Posted by cobwebsoup:
“Thank you it means a lot when people care. Sadly it's looking extremely likely that Phoebe has a tumour in her chest. She's not suffering at the moment and was even purring while the vet was examining her, but I've been left with a few very difficult decisions to make.”
“Thank you it means a lot when people care. Sadly it's looking extremely likely that Phoebe has a tumour in her chest. She's not suffering at the moment and was even purring while the vet was examining her, but I've been left with a few very difficult decisions to make.”
Lung tumour? That could be blocking part of the lung so that the cat would have to breath either more deeply or more rapidly to compensate - but the vet should be able to tell. And you would probably hear a wheezing.
Originally Posted by cobwebsoup:
“Thank you it means a lot when people care. Sadly it's looking extremely likely that Phoebe has a tumour in her chest. She's not suffering at the moment and was even purring while the vet was examining her, but I've been left with a few very difficult decisions to make.”
“Thank you it means a lot when people care. Sadly it's looking extremely likely that Phoebe has a tumour in her chest. She's not suffering at the moment and was even purring while the vet was examining her, but I've been left with a few very difficult decisions to make.”
So sorry to hear that
