My cat has asthma and has to use an inhaler - advice please?

[RGPargy]

Hiya

I've recently bought a spacer for my cat to use with her inhaler. I picked up the prescription from the chemist the other day and i have been given two pumps - one black and one blue (ventolin). On the printed instructions it says to give the ventolin first and then five minutes later, to give the other pump (preventer). I'm just wondering how important it is for her to have the second pump as once i've given her the first pump there's no way she'd come near me for another dose! She hates it as it is (although is getting better with time at having the spacer on her face).

What is the difference between the two inhalers please?

She is currently still on her steroids until we've got a real routine going with the pump and then i've been given instructions on how to reduce the steroids. I think she hates me giving her the tablets more than she hates the pump so that will be a relief!

Any info would be great, thanx

Your cat has asthma?!?
How ironic, Cats set off my asthma!
The preventer in haler is almost more important than the ventolin reliever. I should think you've been told to give the blue one first and then wait five minutes to allow it to work. Then the lungs will be receptive to the preventer.
The preventer will be a very low dose steroid to help strengthen the lungs long-term.

perhaps she'll get over her allergy to humans without medical intervention

Umm, well I've never had to do this with a cat but this sounds very much like my prescription.

I have a ventolin inhaler (blue) and a becotide inhaler (brown). The brown one is a steroid inhaler so it is to stop inflammation long term, whereas the ventolin inhaler is for immediate relief of wheeziness, tight chest etc.

This, I think, would explain why you can phase out the steroid tablets, once you've got a routine going with the inhalers.

Poor you. Giving medicine to cats is a nightmare.

Thanks for this thread BTW - it's reminded me to take my serotide inhaler tonight!

Oh, and don't listen if they tell you to get rid of the DC!

Ahhh right ok, thanx. They are human inhalers so they will be the same thing. Knowing what i know now, i will deffo start using the second inhaler too before i start reducing the steroids. I suppose i'll just have to stroke her for 5 minutes and then give her the brown inhaler lol. She normally tries her best to leg it, although tonight i gave her two blue puffs and it was almost as if she appreciated the second dose as she didn't struggle with it at all!

Moomin - DC = Dear Cat or Dear Children?!! I wont be getting rid of either!! The children are too young and the cat is too old!!

The children! Because if it was the children with asthma you can be sure someone would suggest evicting the cat!

hahaha!! So true!!

What sort of inhalation chamber do you have? Is is a cat specific one (aerokat) If so make sure you have the latest model they make of it. The latest cat ones are specifically designed that you can spray the pump into the chamber before you apply the mask over the face - simply because most cats freak out about the sounds. If you do not have this particular model then please ask your vet to get one for you instead of a modified kids one as it will make a big difference to your ability to administer the medication sucessfully.
(If the chamber is not specifically designed to do it this way, then do not try it with other chambers as you will lose too much of the medication before you can put it on the cat's face)
Your vet should be able to get these chambers from their wholesaler - and they should also be able to get the inhalers in stock for you too rather than going to the pharmacy each time if you ask, though that of course is personal preference for you too.

Thanx for that, beautifulgirls. I do have an Aerokat device (the latest model). I am able to spray it into the chamber first and then she can breathe in the contents. It's also got a little flap inside the chamber that opens and shuts with each breath so that i know she is breathing it in. It wasn't cheap tho!! (£60!!!! )

I asked about them getting the inhalers for me and they told me they just write the prescription out and i have to do it. Probably just their policy. It's no biggie for me.

Oh and how important is it to wait 5 minutes between applications of the blue and the brown? It's really difficult as it is to hold her still, spray the pump (away from her!) and then administer it. If i have to then wait 5 minutes, i can just see it beinga bit of a nightmare to hold her securely for 5 minutes AND change pumps!!

5 minutes is not in my personal opinion going to make much difference. It would be worse not to give both than to not wait 5 minutes.
Have they given you any instructions about administering these meds at all. If not contact the manufacturers of the aerokat and ask them if they have a video/dvd they can send you to watch. I have definately seen good videos of it myself and there is a knack to how to hold the cat, best viewed rather than described. I assume the videos were from the manufacturer but I am not certain of that. If not youtube may have some useful ones, but be cautious of what you are watching as not all may be useful if you know what I mean.
Both you and the cat will get used to this in more time and it will become a routine I promise - even if it seems all claws and fur right now!

Good luck

Hi BG, thanx for the advice. Am i right in thinking that you're a vet? I'm sure we've spoken before about my other cat with the urinary blockage problem (what a pair!).

Each time i give her the pump i have to say it is getting easier. I think she hates me giving her the tablet more than the pump! Thank goodness i will be weaning her off those tablets soon.

I have seen a couple of youtube videos where the cat just sat there but we are not at this stage just yet . She will sit pretty still and is very calm when i give her the blue pump for about 10-15 seconds but i dont think she likes the taste of the brown pump as she is always very keen to leg it after a few seconds of that one!

Bless her, she's being so good really and has never fought me, even if she HAS tried to run away!

Yes - I thought we had

Keep it up - you'll do better I'm sure.