Well That was Scary

[kriadydragon]

So as I was heading out to go somewhere I needed to be, I spot one of my feral cats I feed lying on th proch struggling to breathe. Her tongue is blue, her mouth is open, but there's barely any breath sounds. She's just gasping and looking ready to die. My mom and I bring her into the garage, panicked, trying to figure out what to do. We give her some allergy medicine since that's helped her breathing in the past, but we're certain there's not much we can do. I have to leave, and the whole time I'm certain I'm going to come home to the news that Poof is gone.

Instead I come home and she's on her feet, meowing, hungry and perfectly fine. My relief is indescribable as I was all ready to bawl my eyes out.

So what I'm wondering is if she was having a severe allergic reaction to something. Would allergy medicine work that fast? Especially if it's been dissolved with water? My mom's theory is that something was caught in Poof's throat, and perhaps shooting the dissolved medicine into her mouth helped push the obstruction down. I'd also kind of man-handled her a bit, giving her pats on the back and sides hoping that would help.

So which sounds more likely? Allergies or throat obstruction pressing against her airway?

Just to play it safe, we're going to be giving her allergy medicine daily until we're able to get her checked out by a vet. She's always had breathing issues - just never on this level - and allergy medicine has always helped.

Comments

[ninja007.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking that it wasn't an obstruction, as you got the liquid down her. The liquid allergy meds probably entered her system quickly, as you'd liquefied it. I still think you should have her checked out by a vet, though.

[sholio]

Oh no! I'm glad she was okay.

Based on my research for *cough* fanfic, allergy meds can take effect in just a few minutes in humans, so I'm sure they could work that fast in a cat too. But I could also see it being some kind of obstruction. (Yeah, I know, I'm a lot of help.) Giving her meds until you can get her to the vet definitely sounds like a good idea!

[timespirt.livejournal.com]

Good save hon. Probably both an obstruction and her allergy as well?

[phoenixi77.livejournal.com]

I think the allergy medicine, loosened the constricted airways, making it easier to breathe or maybe making whatever was obstructing pass easily. I know that the bronchodilators that humans take for asthma attack work quickly, maybe this worked in the same way.

[imbecamiel.livejournal.com]

Just getting back from a few days away - Oh yikes, scary stuff! I'm so glad she was okay in the end. My guess would be that it was the allergy medicine that cleared things up that quickly. I know some of those things can be effective quite fast - definitely a good things where severe reactions are concerned!