Simba’s Asthma Help
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Simba was diagnosed with chronic asthma recently.
For awhile I was treating his symptoms as hairballs until I realized it was something more after I had changed his diet to Blue Buffalo’s hairball treatment and was giving him hairball treats daily and he wasn’t improving. I became extremely concerned with how frequently his attacks became (about every 5-10 minutes and lasting for a minute). I recorded multiple videos of his attacks for reference to show the vet.
I decided it was time to take him to the hospital to get a professional to look at him. I took him to VSEC in Langhorne which was a wonderful facility that took him in right away and began testing on him. (If you know Simba you know he has extremely bad anxiety.) The nurses and doctors there tried to work with him as best as they could but they had to sedate him in order to do anything. They started him with Albuterol for asthma and different antibiotics (I don't know exactly what all for but I remember one was for lung worms and I have a paper with all medicine administered to him). They also performed a chest x-ray on him. After some more testing, they told me that they wanted to keep him overnight in the ICU in an oxygen cage while they monitored him. I was allowed to go back in the ICU and say goodnight to him where I found my poor baby in the corner of a sealed oxygen cage wrapped in a towel. He was so scared and anxious, it made me cry. I left there and spent the rest of my night upset hoping that I would get better news tomorrow.
While I was at work the next day I got a call from the new vet on duty there explaining they wanted to keep him another night and run more tests. They couldn't rule out exactly what his condition was but unfortunately his vet bill was running up since I didn't have pet insurance for him. The total came to $1,610 which my mom was able to help with her care credit card (thank god for my mom). To keep him another night and run the other tests it would have cost over $3,000. I asked for an alternative and they told me they could discharge him with 3 antibiotics to try at home. So I went and picked him up and he came home with his medicine. I gave him his medicine as directed (even though he fought me each time and started to not trust me). I finished his medicine and although his coughing attacks had stopped for a little, they soon returned. So I did some research of my own, read a few books, and spoke with other people who had cats with asthma.. I found and was recommended to try Lung Gold, an all natural remedy for dogs & cats to help support better lung health. I bought it and now include it with his food daily but will be switching to "Throat Gold" which is used more for coughing and asthma. Many good reviews that it works like magic for cats with asthma.
Although his symptoms have been slightly better, he was still struggling daily with coughing attacks. So I followed up with another vet and took him to Buckingham Animal Hospital. After examining Simba and reviewing his other hospital notes they ruled it out to Chronic Asthma. They prescribed him Flovent (Fluticasone Propionate) which is an inhaled steroid using an AEROKAT (a chamber used to administer inhaled medication). Along with a pill form of Prednisolone as a backup for emergency situations. The vet recommended I also purchase a good quality air purifier to help with his asthma. I was sent home with the chamber, Prednisolone, and a prescription for the Fluticasone. Once I dropped the prescription off and went to pick it up I was made aware how expensive it is. It's $200 for only 1 inhaler of that steroid. I couldn't afford it so the vet called in Albuterol to give as needed (during the onset of an attack). However, the Flovent is used as a preventative for his asthma (administered twice a day) and the albuterol is used as needed but since he is coughing so frequently I would like to get the Flovent for him to try and prevent the frequent attacks.
Simba still struggles daily with his asthma attacks. He keeps me up every night with his coughing since he sleeps right next to me. It kills me to watch him because I feel so helpless. He stops himself from purring, his ears go down, and his breathing increases. I have found a website that a coworker recommended she uses that I can order Flovent from that is significantly lower in price. But I still need help with finances to cover it along with purchasing a good quality air purifier that the vet recommended. I'm doing all I can to help him live a long life, but I'm so afraid one of these attacks could be fatal. While at work I worry until I'm able to get home and check on him first thing. I'm asking friends and family if they are able to help in anyway, I would really appreciate it. Simba means the world to me, he was there for me through all my heartbreak and when I lost my brother Jeff. I just want to give him the best and longest life that he deserves.
**P.S. If you have a pet you love and truly care for I HIGHLY recommend getting pet insurance now before anything serious happens. Unfortunately I can't get pet insurance to cover any asthma related expenses now that he has already been diagnosed with it.
For awhile I was treating his symptoms as hairballs until I realized it was something more after I had changed his diet to Blue Buffalo’s hairball treatment and was giving him hairball treats daily and he wasn’t improving. I became extremely concerned with how frequently his attacks became (about every 5-10 minutes and lasting for a minute). I recorded multiple videos of his attacks for reference to show the vet.
I decided it was time to take him to the hospital to get a professional to look at him. I took him to VSEC in Langhorne which was a wonderful facility that took him in right away and began testing on him. (If you know Simba you know he has extremely bad anxiety.) The nurses and doctors there tried to work with him as best as they could but they had to sedate him in order to do anything. They started him with Albuterol for asthma and different antibiotics (I don't know exactly what all for but I remember one was for lung worms and I have a paper with all medicine administered to him). They also performed a chest x-ray on him. After some more testing, they told me that they wanted to keep him overnight in the ICU in an oxygen cage while they monitored him. I was allowed to go back in the ICU and say goodnight to him where I found my poor baby in the corner of a sealed oxygen cage wrapped in a towel. He was so scared and anxious, it made me cry. I left there and spent the rest of my night upset hoping that I would get better news tomorrow.
While I was at work the next day I got a call from the new vet on duty there explaining they wanted to keep him another night and run more tests. They couldn't rule out exactly what his condition was but unfortunately his vet bill was running up since I didn't have pet insurance for him. The total came to $1,610 which my mom was able to help with her care credit card (thank god for my mom). To keep him another night and run the other tests it would have cost over $3,000. I asked for an alternative and they told me they could discharge him with 3 antibiotics to try at home. So I went and picked him up and he came home with his medicine. I gave him his medicine as directed (even though he fought me each time and started to not trust me). I finished his medicine and although his coughing attacks had stopped for a little, they soon returned. So I did some research of my own, read a few books, and spoke with other people who had cats with asthma.. I found and was recommended to try Lung Gold, an all natural remedy for dogs & cats to help support better lung health. I bought it and now include it with his food daily but will be switching to "Throat Gold" which is used more for coughing and asthma. Many good reviews that it works like magic for cats with asthma.
Although his symptoms have been slightly better, he was still struggling daily with coughing attacks. So I followed up with another vet and took him to Buckingham Animal Hospital. After examining Simba and reviewing his other hospital notes they ruled it out to Chronic Asthma. They prescribed him Flovent (Fluticasone Propionate) which is an inhaled steroid using an AEROKAT (a chamber used to administer inhaled medication). Along with a pill form of Prednisolone as a backup for emergency situations. The vet recommended I also purchase a good quality air purifier to help with his asthma. I was sent home with the chamber, Prednisolone, and a prescription for the Fluticasone. Once I dropped the prescription off and went to pick it up I was made aware how expensive it is. It's $200 for only 1 inhaler of that steroid. I couldn't afford it so the vet called in Albuterol to give as needed (during the onset of an attack). However, the Flovent is used as a preventative for his asthma (administered twice a day) and the albuterol is used as needed but since he is coughing so frequently I would like to get the Flovent for him to try and prevent the frequent attacks.
Simba still struggles daily with his asthma attacks. He keeps me up every night with his coughing since he sleeps right next to me. It kills me to watch him because I feel so helpless. He stops himself from purring, his ears go down, and his breathing increases. I have found a website that a coworker recommended she uses that I can order Flovent from that is significantly lower in price. But I still need help with finances to cover it along with purchasing a good quality air purifier that the vet recommended. I'm doing all I can to help him live a long life, but I'm so afraid one of these attacks could be fatal. While at work I worry until I'm able to get home and check on him first thing. I'm asking friends and family if they are able to help in anyway, I would really appreciate it. Simba means the world to me, he was there for me through all my heartbreak and when I lost my brother Jeff. I just want to give him the best and longest life that he deserves.
**P.S. If you have a pet you love and truly care for I HIGHLY recommend getting pet insurance now before anything serious happens. Unfortunately I can't get pet insurance to cover any asthma related expenses now that he has already been diagnosed with it.
Organizer
Tara Macfarlan
Organizer
Buckingham Township, PA
