We just can't get it right!

Atopica for cats has been a godsend for Monroe's allergies. He has a thick coat now.
But...one week ago, he started coughing, and he has been gulping and swallowing for several weeks and he sounds hoarse. First I thought that, since he's Mindy's brother, it just runs in the family.
His weight is also on a downward spiral, in small increments.
The vet saw him today, and she suspects that the regurgitation is caused by the Atopica. It is one of the top side effects, along with weight loss.
So she recommended reducing the dose. I have done this before because of his anorexia, and a few days later, he started tearing up his skin again.
And, if this won't help the reflux, she suggested to try the omeprazole, which made Mindy really sick.
I am torn about what to do. None of those options sounds appealing.
One good thing we found out today was about his heart. We took x-rays to make sure there wasn't a mass in his throat, so she happened to see his heart as well, and it has barely increased in size.

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Fingers tightly crossed (and paws at the RB crossed, too) that you can reduce the dose, if need be, without Monroe tearing at his skin again. (((HUGS))) and a gentle kiss to your sweet boy.

We are sending all our love and best wishes that this will be worked out satisfactorily for Monroe. Gentle pets and kisses to him.

{{{{{HUGS}}}}} and ~~~~PURRRS~~~~ and :love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love: from Pat and Sparkler

Since that dose is working so well for Monroe, might giving him a half Pepcid a few minutes before his dose help the reflux?

Poor baby and you! Prayers for a successful solution.:love:

Thank you all!:love: I told Monroe about all the support and he's sending his loudest (it's really loud:D) purr, and head bumpies.
I will check on a Pepcid dose. It would be great if this would work.

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Originally Posted by cats4ever

Thank you all!:love: I told Monroe about all the support and he's sending his loudest (it's really loud:D) purr, and head bumpies.
I will check on a Pepcid dose. It would be great if this would work.

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When Cole first started on his chemo, famotidine was one of the meds I was supposed to deliver ahead of time to ease the impact on the stomach.

(The other was Benardyl - diphrenydramine? - as mast cells put out histamines and the d. was an antihistamine. He hasn't had to take that for ages and his buffy coat test two months ago still showed NO mast cells in the blood. :) )

Unfortunately, Monroe is continuing to decline. His cough has become more frequent, and it sounds horrible. The vet now thinks that it could be caused by fluid and not by acid reflux, and she told me to increase his furosemide (fluid pill). The other possibility is bronchitis. If that's the case, it would be difficult to treat since Monroe can't have steroids.:(
He is using up my nine lives, because I'm so worried about him, and, of course, we are up against the weekend.
Please send some healing thoughts for my sad kitty!

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Originally Posted by cats4ever

Unfortunately, Monroe is continuing to decline. His cough has become more frequent, and it sounds horrible. The vet now thinks that it could be caused by fluid and not by acid reflux, and she told me to increase his furosemide (fluid pill). The other possibility is bronchitis. If that's the case, it would be difficult to treat since Monroe can't have steroids.:(
He is using up my nine lives, because I'm so worried about him, and, of course, we are up against the weekend.
Please send some healing thoughts for my sad kitty!

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Sending healing thoughts for dear Monroe right now. :love: :love: And prayers too.

Healing thoughts and prayers and good wishes and warm energies are coming to dear sweet Monroe from us.

{{{{{HUGS}}}}} and ~~~~PURRRS~~~~ and :love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love: from Pat and Sparkler

Oh Monroe, please get well soon! HUGS and prayers to you and your worried mom! :love::love::love:

How is Monroe doing? Is the flurosemide helping him?

Please give him cuddles for me. :love:

Thank you, Candace!:love:
The furosemide did not help. We repeated chest xrays yesterday, and there was no fluid present.
The vet saw some mild interstitial pattern (pattern that partially obscures the margins of the pulmonary blood vessels).
So now we are down to rule out either bronchitis (either bacterial or chronic), asthma or some other lung disease (I entered the notes in Monroe's medical record, but I still can't remember what the other thing was).
Monroe got an antibiotic injection in case it is bacterial bronchitis. He is still coughing today.:(
If it's not bacterial, he needs steroids (which could speed up his heartfailure). He would also have to discontinue Atopica, and he has already developed a couple of sores.
With asthma, he would have to use a nebulizer, which, I think, he would not tolerate.
Sorry about the lengthy post, but it's all so complicated, and I think that his vet is a bit frustrated, too.
But I want to stay positive, and get the best possible treatment for him!

We are sending our love and support to Monroe and you, Heidi. You and he and the vet are doing so much to figure out what is going on and how best to deal with it. I know you'll come up with the best possible treatment for him.

{{{{{HUGS}}}}} and ~~~~PURRRS~~~~ and :love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love: to Monroe and you from Pat and Sparkler

Oh, boy. Will keep praying, will keep talking to St. Gertrude. Hugs and caring thoughts.

OMG! Poor Monroe!

Could one of the meds be administered by a patch? Would that keep it from interfering with other meds?

Praying for a solution for sweet Monroe.:love:

Thank all of you so much for all your support! It means a lot to me and Monroe.
Unfortunately, a patch is not an option, the medicine would still be in his system.
I made the decision to go with the veterinarian's plan. The antibiotic did not help, so the cough is not bacterial.
I took him off Atopica, and I will start prednisone tomorrow, once daily for 3 days.
I will have to watch Monroe closely for signs of fluid developing, like labored breathing and coughing (different cough).
Wish him and me luck!

Wishing the best of luck to Monroe and you, Heidi!

{{{{{HUGS}}}}} and ~~~~PURRRS~~~~ and :love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love: from Pat and Sparkler

Oh, I completely missed the latest update. I hope the pred helped and Monroe is feeling better. :love:

I'm cautiously optimistic. Monroe's cough has resolved for now, and he seems to be tolerating the prednisone.
He got a couple more doses, spread out over 4 days.
Thank you for all your support.

Glad to hear Monroe is holding his own. You are a wonderful cat mom!:love:

Sounds promising, Heidi! Here's hoping for good things..

Continuing good wishes and warm healing energies from Pat and Sparkler.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love: