Please help! I don't know what to do next! (Dr. Jean??)

[jbeanie10]

My 13 y/o cat has had laryngitis for almost 2 weeks. The vet put her on Pepcid for possible acid reflux and then Carafate. I have not really noticed a difference in her voice since then. I also think she may be having a little trouble swallowing but it is hard to tell.
The vet also said that her thryoid has a nodule (she is on meds for hypertyroidism) and that may be impinging her laryngeal nerve. He talked about doing an endoscopy next and/or having her thryoid irradiated. I don't want her to have possibly 2 invasive procedures and still have her with her problem. Does anyone have any insight? Has this happened to anyone elses cat and if so, what caused it and did it resolve? Thanks in advance for your help!

[coaster]

yes, I understand that you're distressed for your cat. can you tell, though if your cat is in distress? lack of appetite? abnormal behavior?

two weeks is not really a very long time for a condition to resolve. are you still treating for the reflux (I don't know what Carafate is for)? if the cat is not in distress, I'd just give it more time. a thyroid problem is not something you have to do something about right now. perhaps with time and continued treatment it will clear up. just watch to see if it's getting any worse day by day. in that case you would want to check back with the vet real soon.

Tim

[jbeanie10]

Thanks Tim. Carafate and Pepcid are both for the reflux. I think I would feel better if I knew that laryngitis was not uncommon and that what kind of resolution or cause it usually has. I can't find much info on the web or in any of my books. Fooey's appetite seems to be pretty good but I am offering her canned food because it is soft. I don't usually give her canned food because she has a sensitive stomach. I am hoping I don't aggravate her stomach and cause a whole new bunch of problems! I also am concerned because my vet was talking about invasive stuff and I feel like he is shooting in the dark.

[coaster]

ya, doctors shoot in the dark a lot, too.

do you have enough vets in your area to call around and ask what might cause laryngitis and what they might do to diagnose & treat it?

Tim

[DesnBaby]

http://www.catforum.com/viewtopic.php?t ... laryngitis

[drjean]

Laryngitis is not common (neither is reflux!); if it persists, please do consider endoscopy to make sure there are no masses or abscesses or anything like that.

Cheers,
Dr. Jean

[jbeanie10]

Thank you for your help. I took Fooey to another vet who is going to look at her throat and larynx under sedation next Monday.

[coaster]

I've read some threads here about sedating cats. I think you what to find out what they're going to use. I suggest you search the forum for msgs about "ketamine".

Tim

[kim]

why would she hesitate to do the endoscopy because of one animals idiosyncratic reaction to an anesthetic? people are allergic to penicillins - does that mean we stop using them? ketamine is a wonderful drug, and has is rightful place in veterinary medicine when used correctly.

[jbeanie10]

I'm not really worrried about the anesthetic. Fooey has been under sedation before for teeth cleaning and spaying etc and has never had a problem. I am much more concerned about what they are going to find in her throat. The vet did imply there is a good chance she may have an oral cancer. She did a swab that showed many cells from the lining of the throat (epithelial cellls) , not pus or white blood cells that would indicate infection. That said tho, it could be something benign or an infection lower than the level she could swab. I am so worried, I can't stand it. I used to be a (people) nurse and I am imagining horrible scenarios in my mind that no one other than a health care person would even know enough to imagine!