Senior cat hacking, wheezing, stomach expanding. What can I do?

I understand your concerns for Scuff! Fortunately, from the signs that you describe, a foreign body obstruction from plastic is unlikely, as significant vomiting and anorexia would be expected. Wheezy breathing and changes in purring can be caused by asthma, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, among others. While I understand Scuff's fear of the vet, in this case, that is the only way that he's going to be diagnosed and treated appropriately. Consider looking into mobile vets in your area to see if they can make house calls and also have a portable x-ray machine. It sounds as though Scuff will likely need to have chest x-rays to get to the bottom of his problem. I hope that all goes well!

He could have multiple things going on here. Itching is a sign of allergies, so I would first check for fleas (they leave behind tint black pepper looking specks on the skin). The purple bumps may be an inflammatory reaction or actual masses, so have these tested through your vet. The wheezing is the most concerning symptom that he has, as this can be early signs of asthma, bronchitis, a mass (an enlarged thyroid) pressing on his airway, or an upper respiratory infection. I would encourage you to schedule an earlier appt for Tobby to address the wheezing as soon as possible. Cats with airway issues are consider unstable and should seek medical attention right away because the lungs are their stress organ, so that means that if they are not feeling well then the lungs can get worse very quickly. I hope that your pet Tobby feels better soon. Best of luck at the vet.

I'm sorry to hear that Midnight is doing so poorly. As Dr. Darvishian mentioned, breathing changes are a medical emergency and should be addressed by an emergency vet right away. It's possible that Midnight's breathing changes, coughing, weight loss, weakness, appetite and drinking changes, and lethargy could be due to congestive heart failure, asthma, cancer, or many other issues. She's likely experiencing restlessness and a loss of appetite because she can't breathe well enough to comfortably lay down or swallow. I strongly recommend taking Midnight to an emergency vet right away. This is not a situation that can be managed at home. I hope that everything goes well.

This sounds like he has an enlarged liver. The liver is near the front of the abdomen and if it enlarges it can cause the symptoms you are describing. It can put pressure on the lungs so they aren’t able to expand normally which can cause difficulty breathing, usually when excited. I would continue with the treatments your veterinarian recommends. An X-ray would show if the liver is enlarged, although there may not be much to do about it with his other medical problems. We do give supplements for the liver but rarely do surgery or other treatments. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Abner.

You have to take Phat to a vet asap. It's very serious that he has a wheezing/hacking cough and has lost a lot of weight. He sounds very sick, and not getting him veterinary care is cruel to him. Please take him into a vet now.

She could definitely start having asthma at her age. I would recommend having a vet listen to her heart and lungs, and take a chest x-ray. They can send the x-rays to a be read by a radiologist if you'd like a second opinion. The treatment for asthma is usually steroids and inhaled broncodilators. You would need a prescription for those things. So unfortunately, there isn't much you can do totally alone, but it does sound like she needs some help.

This can be a sign of a respiratory infection, but in a senior cat, it can also be a sign of heart disease. If possible, I'd take Heidi into a vet now. Otherwise, rest her, keep her indoors if she's allowed outside, keep her comfortable, and get her into a vet tomorrow. I hope this helps.