should my vet have known about this??!!

[geekgirl]

In March I lost my beautiful Himalayan persian, Boris, to congestive heart failure. He had been diagnosed with a very severe case of it about a year before and was taking heart medication daily.

Well, in January (before Boris died) our cats came down with (ugh) ringworm. We treated everyone with the regular medication and cleaned the house thoroughly. With our vet, we decided on a different anti-fungal medication for Boris, as the other one had side effects we didn't want to risk with him. So, the vet prescribed him Itraconazole. While he was on it, a month later (with everyone's ringworm clearing up) he had major congestive heart failure. We had to put him down and were very heartbroken to say the least. Boris was only 4.

This week one of our cats developed ring worm some like sores. We made an appointment to bring her in and dread treating everyone again! (cross your fingers). I happened to google the medication"Itraconazole" becuase I had some left over from the last outbreak. Here are 2 of the links I found!!!
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drug ... 92049.html

http://www.injuryboard.com/view.cfm/Topic=761

Itraconazole causes heart failure??? And they all say not to prescribe it for people with heart conditions??? Doesn't this also apply to cats???!!!
I am devistated that I might have caused Boris' death- by wanting to give him something with less side effects.

My vet is wonderful- well there are a couple doctors there. It is a HUGE teaching vet hospital with a very outstanding reputation so I can't imagine they would goof up like this. They are so overly thorough about everything. Should I not trust them? SHould they have known???

[mjollnir]

Medications can cause different effects in animals than in humans. Itraconazole alone does not cause heart failure in cats. Here is a good link on the use of itraconazole in veterinary medicine.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Conten ... &A=520&S=0

[Traci]

First, I offer my sorrow on your loss, I'm so sorry.

Second, you said Boris had been on cardiac medications, many of them are contraindicated with the use of itraconazole....your vet probably knew that and dosed as judiciously as he could. However, if you are uncertain about the level of care or competence, you are entitled to a discussion about this with the vet who prescribed/treated Boris. If you feel there was a remote chance the itraconazole worsened the CHF, you should by all accounts voice yourself to the vet.

As with many diseases however, complications can develop suddenly with or without a potential medication addition. CHF sometimes can be a very progressive condition coupled with stress, medication failure, or other factors that need to be taken into consideration.

I'm so truly sorry on your loss, my heart goes out to you...

[geekgirl]

thank you so much for your replies!!!

I am so relieved! I should have realized that drug interactions would be different in humans and cats. Great link!

Oh- and it doesn't look like the ringworm is back either.

thanks, Wendy

[davet]

again and strictly a personall opinion from one who does not know the case or the heart condition...i suspect if your vet even had a slight anticipation that the medication would cause a cardiac problem he/she would not have used it. he/she was probably aware of the slight potential but i don't really know. I very rarely used internal meds for ring worm but always treated them topically unless really extensive...plain old chlorox worked fine on most of the cases and on my secretery who had a propensity to cuddle all the ring worm cats and of course get infected by them--she never did learn but she always used the old chlorox treatment..but i suspect your vet may have know of the interaction of he drug and the heart but felt that the risk was very minimal.....no vet want to take any chances except when the chances of harm are very small ....but i am here and he/she is there and knows the case much better.....sorry your lost your pet....