Cooper developed an eye infection this week. First, it seemed he was closing his right eye, almost winking. Then it seemed to be less round as the left. Then he began to wake up from a nap with it closed. We kept looking at it. No discharge, no blood inside the eye, not bloodshot. But he did have one large scratch on the outside of the left eye which we assumed was from another cat. There was one tiny mark under the right eye but not near the eye. Then Friday, there was discharge in the morning from the right eye. Off to the vet. Conjunctivitis. No internal injury to the eye. Antibiotic drops. Eye's responding well.
BUT congestion was heard. And the visit caused stress and increased his breathing rate. At the vet's and later at home it ramped up to 20/15 seconds. It was 17-20 all Saturday. We kept pushing 18 mg of lasix every 6 hrs. We finally did an injection of .15ml lasix at 6 p.m. His breathing rate by 10 p.m. was 13 while sleeping but then ramped up to 17 by 1 a.m. But this morning, while wide awake, his rate is down to 10. We will continue 18 mg today and if still steady, lower a later dose to 15 then maybe 12.5mg. And tomorrow begin with 18mg and then again 15, 12 and see how he does.
Theoretically, he shouldn't be on so much lasix due to his size, that the disease is new to him and shouldn't be causing so many issues with congestion, and that such high doses can cause injury to the kidneys. You want to start low, hope the lasix works well at low doses, and titrate up as needed for an issue, solve the issue, titrate down, and later titrate up as the disease progresses-hopefully years away. But he's not like Myrna-who responds well to small increases, had a normal breathing rate for years until last year when 8/15 became her norm. His norm shouldn't be 12 or 15 in 15 seconds at rest. He's comfortable now and the most we can do is monitor. The breathing was not as deep, noisy, or as troubling as it has been the last two times he landed in the ER. But fast and congested isn't good and must be fought.
BUT congestion was heard. And the visit caused stress and increased his breathing rate. At the vet's and later at home it ramped up to 20/15 seconds. It was 17-20 all Saturday. We kept pushing 18 mg of lasix every 6 hrs. We finally did an injection of .15ml lasix at 6 p.m. His breathing rate by 10 p.m. was 13 while sleeping but then ramped up to 17 by 1 a.m. But this morning, while wide awake, his rate is down to 10. We will continue 18 mg today and if still steady, lower a later dose to 15 then maybe 12.5mg. And tomorrow begin with 18mg and then again 15, 12 and see how he does.
Theoretically, he shouldn't be on so much lasix due to his size, that the disease is new to him and shouldn't be causing so many issues with congestion, and that such high doses can cause injury to the kidneys. You want to start low, hope the lasix works well at low doses, and titrate up as needed for an issue, solve the issue, titrate down, and later titrate up as the disease progresses-hopefully years away. But he's not like Myrna-who responds well to small increases, had a normal breathing rate for years until last year when 8/15 became her norm. His norm shouldn't be 12 or 15 in 15 seconds at rest. He's comfortable now and the most we can do is monitor. The breathing was not as deep, noisy, or as troubling as it has been the last two times he landed in the ER. But fast and congested isn't good and must be fought.
 |
| Cooper being petted |
No comments:
Post a Comment