Sunday, September 20, 2009

Sick Little Emma


Sometimes I ask myself why I seem to often end up with the animals that have issues. :( Don't get me wrong, I don't love them any less but I always seem to wonder if I'm doing something wrong. Last night I had to bring Emma to the emergency vet at 9:30 p.m. She had been coughing/hacking as if she was trying to cough up a hairball so I gave her Petromalt and waited the day out, ran some errands, etc. Later that evening she seemed to be breathing heavier, more of a labored breathing and I thought that's it, we're going in. So off we went to the emergency vet. I explained to the vet what had been going on. He explained that if we had to pull something out of her that she ingested they would have to put her under. To be safe, however, he wanted to check her lungs and make sure her lungs were healthy enough to be anesthetized. Well, a few minutes later he came back into the room and showed me the x-rays. He told me if he looked at this x-ray and someone asked him how old this cat was he said he would have guessed 11 or 12. Emma is only a year old! He then told me he showed the x-ray to another colleague and they both concluded that she has all the signs, even clinical signs of asthma. :( Apparently hacking like she was doing earlier is also a sign of asthma but may mimic a hairball sort of hack. So.....they kept her overnight with a shot of cortisone and a few shots of an inhaler. YES, an inhaler!

After a restless night and a very worried Quincy, I woke up at 6:30 a.m. and called to see how she was doing. They said her breathing got better but was still a little faster than normal but that I could take her home with cortisone pills. I'll follow-up Monday with her regular doctor. If it is asthma I will be meeting with the naturopath at her regular doctor's office to see how we can avoid an attack. The emergency vet suggested if I vacuumed to keep her outside. *sigh* I'm also going to start using "greener" products and organic products to clean with so my cats aren't affected by all those harmful chemicals!

So....that was my evening. Emma is home now and I've never seen her so affectionate in all my life. Lol! Quincy was very happy to see her home. :) I treated her to albacore tuna in water this morning. She was SO hungry. Home sweet home for Emma. :)

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I cannot imagine a cat with asthma, now me on the other hand when I'm around cats ~achoo~ and wheezey meezy...sigh...and I love kitties so! Pictures and videos are as close as I can get! :(

Noodlegirl said...

Oh lord now a cat with asthma! I am so glad she is ok though..

Anya said...

OMG Michelle
I have read your words three times
:(
I don't now wath to say :(
How is it possible and that she is 11 years he sad :(((((((
Asthma O nooo...
Poor Emma our sweetie,
I wil purrrrr & pray for her,
I wish I could help you :)
Give her a BIG BIG hug
from us
And please give us updates ....
Kareltje =^.^=
Anya :)

Tracey said...

Oh Michelle,, I'm so sorry about Emma. I can only imagine that asthma is as bad in cats as it is in humans. I'm glad she has you to look after her and take very good care and spoil her. You are a very good mom!

Anonymous said...

I hope you get to the root of this. Poor little kitty. Poor you. Still, Emma has someone who cares enough to take her to emergency.

I hope she's better now.

Cat with a Garden said...

Oh, we HATE to hear that! Poor little Emma. A friend of ours has just been diagnosed with feline asthma and we remember that Franklin's mom posted about his medication and good online sources on this. Here's the link: http://mishkathryn.blogspot.com/2009/09/wednesday-mancats-with-dobby.html
Our mom says she sends hugs your way, she can only imagine how horrible this is. Paws crossed for you!
Siena, Chilli and mom Britta

Rainy Day Farm said...

Poor baby! I hope she gets better.

Kara said...

Sorry to hear about your cat. I totally understand how you feel. My dog, Lola, is the most unhealthy (or unlucky) little thing ever and we have often mad-dashed to the vet for an emergency visit!

Tulip Bliss said...

Glad to hear that she is okay. I hope she enjoyed the tuna. My kitties get sick if they eat tuna so I stick with chow and cat treats. Did it cost for the emergency?

Elaine said...

Oh how scary for all of you! Glad to hear she's home and feeling better.

Yes, do clean with green products. I always do. You just can't take chances with chemicals and animals. Our kitties are just far too precious.

Lisa said...

If ain't 1 thing it's 2! LOL!

Jasmim said...

Poor Emma ! We'll purr and pray for her

Randi Troxell said...

oh poor baby doll.. i hope she get's better and this gets under control...

MJ said...

I'm so glad Emma is okay!! If something happened to my Fletcher ... I would be sooooo upset!!! Isn't it strange that animals' sicknesses can sometimes get treated the same as humans, i.e. the inhaler! Glad they could figure out what was wrong.

Sue said...

Please tell us Emma is having a good day!! What a little sweetie!
Blessings~LillySue

jen said...

Oh how sad!!
AND, how do you give a cat an inhaler?
I know what you mean about animals with health issues...My shorthair William has addisons disease$$$$, and my lab-mix has arthritis and a thryroid condidion!
Please give Emma a pat for me!!

xo,
jen

Heather said...

how scary. i developed asthma at the age of 4. i wouldn't wish that on anyone-human or pet. poor baby. but organic cleaning is awesome! hooray!

Anonymous said...

Sending my love to dear Emma and hoping that green products and your love will keep her well! xo

Seawashed said...

This room is so magical..I love what you did. Kitty heaven!

Poppy Cottage said...

There is a very good reason why you are blessed with sick animals. You have a gift of love and compassion to share and they trust you. You are very good to them and for them.