coughing up blood

[jane]

Has anyone heard of a cat with this condition?

my 5 year old male cat, Squeek, has had 4 episodes of coughing up large amounts of blood since 7th august, becoming very distressed, fighting for breath and this week has done it twice, once at home and once overnight at the vets, and was put on oxygen. He survived a general anasthetic on wednesday where they took an x ray.

No-one seems to be able to say what is causing it. He is on antibiotics, a diuretic to drain fluid from the lunds, something to keep the airways open and steroids. Occasionally he is put back on oxygen and one night had morphine.

Tests for cancer and FIV have been negative. I am waiting for another x ray report today but the vet said he thought he saw further lung damage. They don't think its any heart trouble because in between episodes, Squeek is well and eating and not at all lethargic.

He has been kept at the vets all week, and is distressed by this and by his breathing difficulty and by the handling and treatment. We are continuing with it because the vet is exploring all possibilities but is also saying he's never seen it in a cat.

I am hoping that someone out there can give us some information so at least we know whether it is worth putting Squeek and our family through this upsetting time in the hope of a recovery or cure, or not.

Thanks
Jane, London, England

[davet]

have they done an endoscope exam, ie down the trachea or esophagus????

[Yzma]

If your current vet has never experienced something like this maybe you can try and locate one that has... Sounds really serious. is he an indoor or outdoor cat?

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_feline_asthma.html
these pages might be of some use to you...
http://www.catclinic.co.uk/health/cough.htm

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[jane, London]

Squeek came from a colony of ferral cats although we picked him up at 10 days old and hand reared him - the rest of the cats though are still in our garden so he does come into contact with them (about a dozen of them)

the vet has looked down the airways as far as possible but couldn't see anything

the x ray results are back and showing further lung damage and now an enlarged heart due to the resistance of the lungs and the radiologist is saying most likely a bronchial carcinoma. The vet said he has only seen 4 cases of lung cancer in cats in his entire career

we have spoken to other vets today who are saying its hard to see lung cancer in cats, especially younger cats, but most likely

the vet has said that even if other results from blood tests come back showing anything that may have been treatable, the lung damage is now too severe and that we should go there today to say our goodbyes to Squeek

we're not sure that this is the right thing to do?

thanks for your replies

[Yzma]

if you don't think it's time to say goodbye to squeek, maybe you should get a second opinion... you and squeek are in our thoughts...

[jason]

Traci is unavailable...but im relaying a message.

see pro feline oncologist RIGHT NOW...get records faxed and reviewed for consult ASAP...explain blood, no evidence of other tumor but may need quick ultrasound where x-rays unable to detect possible tumor

wouldn't give up without exploring these options IMMEDIATELY

maybe hemmorhage somewhere.....maybe treat heart as if congestive heart failure, but careful with diuretics and IV fluids!!

[davet]

re reading your post about the cancer possibility, i think if there is a expert reading of the x-rays showing positive for cancer and nothing showed up in looking down the trach then i suspect this is a terminal problem and should be treated as such...can't come up with any obvious or good solutions....guess the rest is up to you

[jane,london]

we decided to bring squeek home last night as seemed happy to see us

he is drinking now and again but not eating and is sitting quietly in his basket and looking drowsy

the vet has given us a different antibiotic - the one that treats toxiplasmosis, just in case - and the bronchial dilator and the diuretic - but its not going to be easy to get the pills down him and we're hoping it doesn't trigger another attack of coughing up blood

we also got two packs of glucose to mix with water

we're still hoping for a miracle but thinks he's better off at home for a while whatever the outcome

[jane, london]

traci - the problem would be getting the ultra sound done - he's weak and we're worried about stressing him and bringing on another attack

can a feline oncologist make any judgements from the x rays, blood tests and other samples that have been taken?

thanks

[jason]

can a feline oncologist make any judgements from the x rays, blood tests and other samples that have been taken?

its possible they can, you need to find one and talk with them about that....be clear about the urgency and availability of current documents (able to be faxed/delivered).