Sudden health issues (fluid in lungs, enlarged heart)

[BluOnyx]

He's been more himself today. He even played for a few minutes with one and snuggled and cleaned the other (the one that bonded with him). I am starting him on his 4th medication tomorrow. Hopefully no issues arise from it.

 

[BluOnyx]

He has a check-up appointment next week. He is handling his meds extremely well from what I could tell. He is still happy, sleeping, playing, no breathing issues, eating, no diarrhea, etc.

I'll update the thread after his check-up.

 

[BluOnyx]

There is no fluid build-up at all. His lungs seem fine. He has some sort of fluttering happening so they are putting him on another pill. Things don't seem to be any worse though and his kidneys seem fine but we won't know 100% until tomorrow. If they are okay, one pill dosage will be increased and he goes back in another 2 weeks.

I am just thankful we have the money to help him with everything, it is adding up fast. We are using down-payment money for a house but it isn't like the housing market is worth buying something right now anyways.

I want to try everything possible to keep his heart stable. I know in some cases it can be reversed in humans. I am keeping my faith it can happen for him too since he is young, happy, and otherwise healthy. His laid back nature is working in his favor too.

 

[BluOnyx]

There is no fluid build-up at all. His lungs seem fine. He has some sort of fluttering happening so they are putting him on another pill. Things don't seem to be any worse though and his kidneys seem fine but we won't know 100% until tomorrow. If they are okay, one pill dosage will be increased and he goes back in another 2 weeks.

I am just thankful we have the money to help him with everything, it is adding up fast. We are using down-payment money for a house but it isn't like the housing market is worth buying something right now anyways.

I want to try everything possible to keep his heart stable. I know in some cases it can be reversed in humans. I am keeping my faith it can happen for him too since he is young, happy, and otherwise healthy. His laid back nature is working in his favor too.

They got his results early. His results are perfect, in great health. So he will be getting one medication increased tomorrow. This is to see if it reduces some minor fluid they found left in/around his lungs.

 

[FeebysOwner]

This sounds good! Hope it stays that way!

 

[BluOnyx]

I thought I should update this. He will be going in for another checkup soon. As of his last one, the fluid is gone but he still had a heart arrhythmia issue. I am hoping it shows some improvement for his next visit or we will have to try upping his medication. His breathing averages at 30 breaths per minute (lower end being 25) which is good. The only time it gets past 30 is if he is being too playful/active which I am trying to avoid having him do. If he plays, I encourage him to stay in one place but that isn't always possible.

I am really hoping there are some improvements with his heart. Even if it is a small improvement. I know everything says it isn't reversible/curable but it has happened for some cats. I read about TMT being a factor in this and it isn't anything I ever heard of before but in cases where heart failure is caused by TMT and not HCM, it is reversible (after 3 to 4 months). Either way, I am still hoping for a miracle.

 

[fionasmom]

Thank you for letting us know; please keep us posted. Hopefully the next checkup will have some good news for you.

 

[iPappy]

I thought I should update this. He will be going in for another checkup soon. As of his last one, the fluid is gone but he still had a heart arrhythmia issue. I am hoping it shows some improvement for his next visit or we will have to try upping his medication. His breathing averages at 30 breaths per minute (lower end being 25) which is good. The only time it gets past 30 is if he is being too playful/active which I am trying to avoid having him do. If he plays, I encourage him to stay in one place but that isn't always possible.

I am really hoping there are some improvements with his heart. Even if it is a small improvement. I know everything says it isn't reversible/curable but it has happened for some cats. I read about TMT being a factor in this and it isn't anything I ever heard of before but in cases where heart failure is caused by TMT and not HCM, it is reversible (after 3 to 4 months). Either way, I am still hoping for a miracle.

I'm hoping for improvements, too. Don't be discouraged if his breathing is 30+ BPM when he is actively playing, it's best to take that when they're completely at rest and relaxed. When he plays, does he stop often and rest even for a minute or two? Most cats will self regulate, but if he's very active trying to keep him quieter than normal is a good idea.

 

[BluOnyx]

I'm hoping for improvements, too. Don't be discouraged if his breathing is 30+ BPM when he is actively playing, it's best to take that when they're completely at rest and relaxed. When he plays, does he stop often and rest even for a minute or two? Most cats will self regulate, but if he's very active trying to keep him quieter than normal is a good idea.

He usually only plays for 5 minutes at most. I typically stop him or get him to lay down and play with a toy without moving much. He likes to sometimes wrestle the other cats and that really gets his heart and breathing going so I break that up when it happens.

 

[BluOnyx]

His check-up went good. Nothing is worse. There was no mention of improvement but everything is stable. I won't get his file until they e-mail it. Have to wait on his results for his kidneys as well. He won't have to go back for 2 to 3 months since they feel he is doing good.

I have to find a way to get him to keep taking his taurine though. Going to switch to sardines for the o-mega 3s since he doesn't want fish oil anymore. I would love to find something that is liquid that he really loves so I can just mix the taruine in that and have him drink it once a day. One of his pills is going to be compounded to make it easier to give him.

Has anyone tried those Friskie lil gravies? They have a beef and a turkey that don't contain chicken.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Has anyone tried those Friskie lil gravies? They have a beef and a turkey that don't contain chicken.

I haven't tried them alone, but when Feeby needs a 'push' to eat her food, she seems to like them mixed into it. She also like the Lil' Shakes ones as well.

 

[silent meowlook]

Hi. Check around to see if there is an integrative/holistic veterinary hospital in your area. Yawing them in conjunction with your cardiologist may be helpful. They are usually great with diet recommendations and other therapy that conventional vets and specialists might not know about. By no means stop seeing the vets you have, just maybe see if you can get help with other things. Obviously everything new must be ok’d with the cardiologist.

Cats don’t have an expiration date. They don’t know they are sick and don’t worry about tomorrow or anything other than the here and now. I think we could all benefit if we thought more like cats. Try to enjoy your life with him now. Cats are famous for not following medical rules.

 

[BluOnyx]

I wanted to stick this study here, as it may be useful or helpful for someone else.

http://jarvm.com/articles/Vol2Iss3/TOBIASJARVMVol2No304.pdf

My cat was given steroids and a strong injection (anti-biotic) and within 2 days was showing signs of heart failure but I did not realize it at the time. His breathing had been off and on the 3rd day, we contacted his usual vet who said not to worry about it. I couldn't not worry as his breathing was too labored for me which is why he was taken to the ER at midnight 5 days after the steroid use and injection. He was healthy prior to both. I believe this was medically induced heart failure and if that is the case, this is giving me hope it will reverse itself with time using the proper medications (which he is on). The vaccine that was given to him can be in his system for up to 76 days. This is day 77 so if it is from that, there should be improvements from here.

I am going to keep supplementing him and making sure he takes his meds. I'll continue to update the thread as well. We are still waiting for the lab results to make sure the medication isn't causing any issues for him. They don't believe they are based on his examination today.

 

[BluOnyx]

I thought I would update this thread.

I been worrying the last few days about my boy. He wasn't acting himself. Being put off by food. Breathing deep and not sleeping well. Decided to take him to the ER. He was entering heart failure again. It was just starting. He is getting changed to a different medication (assuming it is okay for his kidneys) to something a bit stronger for the fluid build-up in his lungs. Also getting put back on another medication for the flutters. I have been a mess the last few days worrying. Luckily I noticed the small changes and got him in. I am hoping this new medication is okay with his kidneys and helps him.

The last few days I just been worrying about losing him. I was told he may only have a few months because his first failure was bad but because he responded well to the medication, I guess that changed things. A bit over a year since his HCM diagnosis at this point.

He will be turning 8 this year. I am hoping for many more.

Has anyone else here experienced their cat going back into heart failure a year after they had been diagnosed with HCM?

I just wish there was something that he could take to repair his heart instead of managing the symptoms. He is such a wonderful, sweet boy. It just don't seem right that he was dealt this.

 

[BluOnyx]

He ate this morning but has not wanted food since. The vet gave an appetite stimulate, hopefully it kicks in soon.

 

[iPappy]

BluOnyx how is he today?

 

[BluOnyx]

BluOnyx how is he today?

Still about the same. Weak and tired but not sleeping well. He is eating. Will not take any treats so I had to give him his meds. Thankfully he got them down. I am hoping for a miracle for him.

 

[BluOnyx]

He hasn't wanted to eat since this morning and has been in the same spot for 4 hours. Has labored breathing which was the case yesterday when he went to the vet but they were not overly concerned about. I can't stop worrying about it. I keep trying to stay busy so I don't get upset. I don't want to be upset and have him stress out over it.

 

[iPappy]

Still about the same. Weak and tired but not sleeping well. He is eating. Will not take any treats so I had to give him his meds. Thankfully he got them down. I am hoping for a miracle for him.

Did the vet mention to take his breaths per minute? That might help you see how his breathing is doing over time. I'm so glad he's eating though, and hopefully he'll start feeling better with the meds and will take treats too.

 

[BluOnyx]

Did the vet mention to take his breaths per minute? That might help you see how his breathing is doing over time. I'm so glad he's eating though, and hopefully he'll start feeling better with the meds and will take treats too.

Yeah I have been doing that for awhile. His breaths per minute are between 25 and 32 but his breathing still seems deep and labored. He ate one of those fancy feast appetizers, most of it anyways. Not ideal but better than nothing (there are no added vitamins).

I got his pills down again, he lets me pop them in his mouth with a pill masker (in a ball) whereas before he was getting them sandwiched with the pill masker in between temptation treats. He was taking them very well up until Sunday. That is when I noticed him not feeling well and snubbing food more and more.