any helpful asthmatics out there?

[wolf63]

Are any of you kind people asthmatic? My little boy cat (avatar picture) is asthmatic and I have to admit to being an very over-anxious mother and would appreciate some guidance.

He gets steroid jabs ever six/eight weeks and they usually dampen down his coughing, towards the time for the next jab he sometimes starts coughing. If the jabs are given too often the risk of side-effects increases greatly.

All I want to ask is - when you are unwell with asthma do you feel ill

He has been quieter than usual the last couple of days, sleeping more than normal. He is eating and drinking and going to the litter tray but he isn't his usual self. I have noticed that his sister is being nice to him and that is very unusual.

I can't take him to the vet for a shot for about 2 weeks and I know that he isn't at death's door.

Thanks

[Purple_Popple]

I suffer with asthma (not very bad thank goodness), and its usually worse in the morning first thing on waking. The weather also affects it, cold, humid, damp...can make it bad. If ive had a bad day all the coughing and extra work breathing can make me feel very tired & drained. I hope this helps. I also cough up lots of sputum too.

[wolf63]

I have to admit that Frankie's asthma is not that bad. His first and only serious attack was in the summer of 2009 - and that was due to me spraying Febreeze spray everywhere.

Usually he just coughs - as you say at night and in the morning. The problem with cats is that they sleep about 85% of the day normally. He managed to drag himself out of his deathbed to snaffle half a tin of tuna last night so he isn't exactly dying. It was their (him and his sister Merlin) birthday yesterday and I bought him a new toy which he ignored.

Being a 'mummy' is stressful. :-)

[tonyav]

Dear stressful mummy, what toy did you get him ?.

[Eve]

It can be quite exhausting and draining and the tightchestedness and wheeziness is really unpleasant and can get quite worrying.

It tends to make me irritable as well, especially if it's caused by something avoidable haha, usually people straying strong sprays like bodyspray liberally in work when all the windows are closed.

[Bambiagain]

I read a long time ago that Febreeze is bad for pets. I don't know whether it was a genuine warning or just another scare story, but I've never used it as I have animals.

[wolf63]

tony - just got him something to kill and Merlin got something the same.

Bambi - all the vets in the practice agree that it is truly horrible stuff. Prior to using it he probably did have coughing fits that I put down to failed attempt as up-chucking a hairball. Usually when he is not coughing he is haring around with Merlin. He just looks a bit pathetic.

jenna - my mum was asthmatic (died from emphysema at 58 yrs old) and she was always irritable, not sure if it was the asthma though. :-)

I will see how he is on Monday - after a day of being pathetic yesterday he was acting like a kitten last night but later he had a coughing fit. It never last more than about 5 minutes.

He is upstairs and Merlin is downstairs 'helping me' type this.

[Bambiagain]

Poor him. I hope he gets better soon.

[wolf63]

He was really breathless earlier and I managed to grab him and give him both of his inhalers - Ventolin and Flixotide. He is a tiny bit more alert.

The steroid jabs can be given every four weeks and this would be great - but by giving them every 6 weeks or so we are cutting down on the possibility of side effects.

As you can tell I can't deal with stuff like this.

Weird, but true, story - I got a letter the other day telling me that my psychiatrist unit (with all the nurses/psychologists etc) is moving into a part of our local maternity hospital. Ideal place if you are having a phantom pregnancy. :-)