Cooper is slowly bouncing back from last Thursday's ER visit and overnight stay due to CHF (congestive heart failure or congestion in the lungs.) Cooper's breathing was up 15-20 breaths in 15 seconds on Sunday so we gave him 5mg extra of lasix at 2 p.m. It seemed up again by 8 p.m. so we gave 5mg once more. I emailed the doctor on Monday and told her that I was concerned that he needed lasix more often during the day and not just three times. He was receiving 10mg of lasix at 7:30 a.m., at 2:30 p.m., and at 11 p.m. It was clear that the 2-11 p.m. stretch might be too long and that he just wasn't yet over becoming congested.
The cardiologist had us revert back to using the 12.25mg pills for three times a day and to see how that works. Well, so far, she was right (well she is always right!) It seems the simple addition of 2.25mg three times a day has so far worked to lower his breathing rate. It is now down to 10 breaths in 15 seconds.
For clarity and reference-normal at rest breathing rate is 6 in 15 or 24 in one minute. Normal when awake and maybe active can be 24-30. A healthy cat's breathing will fluctuate during the day. Sleeping, walking, jumping, sniffing, eating, watching birds out of the window-all will trigger various levels of breathing, from 6-10 breaths in 15 seconds. The difference is that a normal cat, at rest, will breath about 6 breaths in 15 seconds and when they breathe heavier, the breathing will soon settle to a lower, slower, steadier rate.
But a cat that is sick, especially one with congestive heart failure, and even later as heart disease progresses, will breathe a sustained high rate that will not settle. When the rate does not settle, that is when the cat must see the vet or vet ER immediately. The cat could have congestion-the lungs or chest cavity filled with fluid. The cat may be unable to produce and breathe in oxygen, to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. The cat will need to be placed in an oxygen cage and given lasix. There could be other health issues that cause heavy breathing rate-a heart attack, a clot in the heart, or other disease complications, all of which require emergency care.
For those whose cats may already be taking lasix, if a higher, sustained rate of breathing is noticed, an extra dose of lasix of 5mg every 4-6 hours may be enough to combat the onset of the congestion. One must wait 2-4 hours for a response but might see a slowing of breathing rate within an hour. If one is injecting lasix or has the supplies to do so for emergencies as we do for our HCM cat, an injection of .15ml every 6-8 hrs might be enough. Response time is about an hour and breathing may begin to decrease within 30 minutes. However, if the need for extra lasix continues in one day, or multiple days, or the breathing does not decrease, a visit to the vet cardiolgist or ER is necessary. And before giving extra lasix, if possible, one should consult with the vet cardiologist.
The cardiologist had us revert back to using the 12.25mg pills for three times a day and to see how that works. Well, so far, she was right (well she is always right!) It seems the simple addition of 2.25mg three times a day has so far worked to lower his breathing rate. It is now down to 10 breaths in 15 seconds.
For clarity and reference-normal at rest breathing rate is 6 in 15 or 24 in one minute. Normal when awake and maybe active can be 24-30. A healthy cat's breathing will fluctuate during the day. Sleeping, walking, jumping, sniffing, eating, watching birds out of the window-all will trigger various levels of breathing, from 6-10 breaths in 15 seconds. The difference is that a normal cat, at rest, will breath about 6 breaths in 15 seconds and when they breathe heavier, the breathing will soon settle to a lower, slower, steadier rate.
But a cat that is sick, especially one with congestive heart failure, and even later as heart disease progresses, will breathe a sustained high rate that will not settle. When the rate does not settle, that is when the cat must see the vet or vet ER immediately. The cat could have congestion-the lungs or chest cavity filled with fluid. The cat may be unable to produce and breathe in oxygen, to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. The cat will need to be placed in an oxygen cage and given lasix. There could be other health issues that cause heavy breathing rate-a heart attack, a clot in the heart, or other disease complications, all of which require emergency care.
For those whose cats may already be taking lasix, if a higher, sustained rate of breathing is noticed, an extra dose of lasix of 5mg every 4-6 hours may be enough to combat the onset of the congestion. One must wait 2-4 hours for a response but might see a slowing of breathing rate within an hour. If one is injecting lasix or has the supplies to do so for emergencies as we do for our HCM cat, an injection of .15ml every 6-8 hrs might be enough. Response time is about an hour and breathing may begin to decrease within 30 minutes. However, if the need for extra lasix continues in one day, or multiple days, or the breathing does not decrease, a visit to the vet cardiolgist or ER is necessary. And before giving extra lasix, if possible, one should consult with the vet cardiologist.
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| Cooper about four years ago in healthier times |
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