Community Chat

[streetangel]

Sammycat, how much do you know about Diltiazem use in cats? Gracie is on the liquid and as I've said before, she hates it. She reacts so vehemently when I give it to her, it breaks my heart, BUT - here's my question. Is it possible that liquid may be burning her throat?? She started sneezing about 3 days into the medication and acting like her throat was killing her. Swallowing like there's a chicken egg in her throat. Not eating much and sometimes spitting up what she's eaten, or just spitting up like a baby - not much, but still. Anyway, I called Dr. Bowers' office on Thursday to see if I could bring her in this morning (Saturday) for an antibiotic shot because I really thought she must be harboring some kind of upper respiratory infection. They gave me a 9 AM appointment to beat the snow (which I BARELY did), but Dr. Bowers and the other other vet both were not in today; however, the techs can give injections if Dr. Bowers pre-authorizes dispensing the meds. When they took Gracie's temp, they told me it was normal, she has lost .8 lbs. in about a week, AND her heartbeat was still a bit on the rapid side. They went ahead and gave her the shot, just in case she is brewing an infection, but I am to drop her off on Monday morning again on my way to work for Dr. Bowers to check her out.

The reason I'm asking about the meds burning her throat is first, due to her immediate reaction, she tries to cough it out; and her apparent disinterest in eating anything for awhile afterwards and even then, not much. She is drinking water, but the sneezing makes me think she is trying to soothe her throat or that the throat is so irritated from the meds that it's resulting in mucous running down her throat. It's so frustrating, and such a mystery. I know you're not a vet, but you have a lot of good, solid knowledge from dealing with these things for quite awhile. Just thought you might know whether the meds could be irritating her little throat or not. I read on the Internet that the medication can also be done in a compounded gel to rub in the ear, and I will ask him about whether I can get it in that media IF he thinks the medication is going to be effective for her problem. Thanks, Sammycat!