Vet found a heart murmur in Smokey

Cleo · Post by **Cleo** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 7:58 pm

Hand in there Smokey ... and Lisa too! We're pulling and praying for you!

Cleo, Keeks & Molly

Post by **Traci** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 10:17 pm

Aww geesh Lisa, I'm sorry to hear that...Smokey is in the best hands, I know...yours and a good vet team behind you.

Hang in there, be positive and update when you know what is causing the coughing (might want to ask your vet about a secondary bacerial infection)

jason · Post by **jason** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 10:20 pm

LisaLisa wrote: I wanted to update you on Smokey. His ultrasound done today shows he has significant heart disease.

oh Lisa, im so sorry to hear about this...poor Smokey.

LisaLisa wrote:Pilling him has proved to be a challenge and I've found a number of pills in various places in my house.

i had similar issues with rocky, i eventually got the hang of it. im guessing you have as well now, yes?

LisaLisa wrote:This is not the news I was hoping for, but I do know that he is getting very good care. He is 7 years old, and hopefuly he will respond to treatment and he will still have a good 3-5 years left in his life. I know he's very happy here and is not going anywhere yet. but he's not too happy about being shaved for the bloodwork last week and now the ulrasound..

as you know, your doing great for him. close contact with the vet and keeping us updated. (hang in there Smokey

)

LisaLisa · Post by **LisaLisa** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 6:58 pm

Thanks Cleo, Jason and Traci ..I'll keep you all posted with updates.

My vet decided today to allow the vet cardiologist to do the transtracheal aspiration. In the meantime, aminophylline and cardizem will be his treatment along with me reducing the enviromental hazards. The biggest concern is that he needs to be more complicant with medication...We're working on it...

Bests to all

LisaLisa · Post by **LisaLisa** » Fri Oct 10, 2003 7:01 pm

I just received some wonderful news from the vet cardiologist...the results of Smokey's cytology and culture came back negative!!!! His vet does not think there is any type of pulmonary disease... $\:D/$ .

His treatment will remain as is for now with a follow-up with his cardiologist in 3 weeks for a listen to his heart and lungs. At that time, he'll determine if short term treatment with a corticosteriod is needed and/or his aminophylline can be discontinued. If he is doing well enough, he may be switched to atenenol (which can be compounded) and then he can stay at home when I go out of town. Apparently the atenenol can aggravate asthma in cats, so we'll have to see.

Looks like the environmental changes made in the house has helped...I am so incredibly relieved... it's been a long month...

Thanks for those healing prayers...their working for now...

As for Smokey, he's doing pretty good for now and seems like he old self.

Post by **Traci** » Fri Oct 10, 2003 7:32 pm

Lisa, I'm thrilled with this news!!

$\:D/$

Way to go, Smokey...and mom!

Tina B and crew · Post by **Tina B and crew** » Fri Oct 10, 2003 9:34 pm

Good news is always great to here Lisa!!

LisaLisa · Post by **LisaLisa** » Sat Oct 11, 2003 10:05 am

Thanks Traci and Tina...

I'm going to try to post pictures soon of my Smokey (who gets all the press) and Caz (who tries to help take care of his big brother).

Traci, I hope all is well with the C-Team...your furbabies are in my thoughts.

Bests,

Auntie Debbie · Post by **Auntie Debbie** » Sat Oct 11, 2003 6:26 pm

Lisa, that's great news about Smokey! I hope the past month will soon be behind you and just a memory. Give Smokey a big smooch for me, ok?

LisaLisa · Post by **LisaLisa** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 8:07 pm

More Good news!!!

Smokey had his follow-up visit with the vet cardiologist today and he is doing very well. His murmur at the time of the ultrasound was Grade IV and as of today it is a Grade II. His heart rate has slowed to 160 beats/minute. He has lost weight down from 14.2 (at the time of ultrasound) to 12.9 now. Goal is to get him down to 12 lbs. His lungs are clearer so his aminophylline will be decreased to once a day for a few weeks and then he will be re-evaluated to see if it could be discontinued.
His vet was very pleased with his progress.

I can't begin to say how happy with this news...he is playful, energetic, and just a complete joy. I know that his brother Caz and I are very lucky that he is stable and doing good for now...we're not ready for him to go anywhere. I decided that I would gauge how well he is doing by his ability to hop up on the end table and then jump onto the kitchen counter (his true sign of feeling well)..as you can imagine, I prefer he doesn't do this but I know it means he's my healthy boy so I welcome it....and yes...he is spoiled rotten.

It is true to take things one day at a time and a diagnosis with a guarded prognosis doesn't automatically mean an immediate end all the time.

Thanks again for all your prayers...it helped.

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Vet found a heart murmur in Smokey

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