Nicki had been doing so well...

Nicki's been symptom-free for a month now, 33.5 days in fact, then this AM around 4 o'clock he had an asthma attack. Not as prolonged or as severe as he would have had in the past, but I can't think what set him off. I had noticed, a couple of days ago, that he seemed like he was going to sneeze or cough, particularly yesterday, but since it didn't morph into an attack I let it go.

So I had to give him the Ventolin, which he fussed about (not sure if it has a different smell/taste than the Flovent), and then do his regular Flovent at 6AM.

I don't know what would have triggered it, am wondering if it's the older inhaler (down to less than 20 doses and I never go below 10) that I've been using in the mornings (I always use the newer inhaler for the evening doses because asthma attacks tend to happen at night). So I used the newer inhaler for his morning dose instead, in case it's related to a reduced potency/effectiveness as the old one gets used up, and I'll refill his prescription this weekend (Friday is payday), as I prefer to use two in tandem.

I guess the next step, if that doesn't resolve it, is to try 500 mcg in the evening, up from the current dose of 250 mcg.. Standard dose range is from 250 mcg to 1000 mcg per day. Nicki currently is on a total of 500 mcg per day, but if I have to increase it, he'll be up to 750 mcg per day. Close to the max.

Or maybe it's the prolonged dry weather? But why have an attack now, when it's been so cold and dry for so long? I hope it's just the "old" inhaler, because I'm tired of micro-managing and fussing and worrying and in the end, there's only so much I can do.

Anyway, it's another snowy morning, though at least the temp is "mild" by comparison to the norm lately. Spring is still a long, long way off, though.

I have to pop out at lunch time and zip up to the nearby UPS store to pick up a new scratcher for the boys. I had ordered it a few days ago from Amazon.ca because the stores here all carry the same old, same old. Cats are not included with the scratcher, of course.  :-P

 

I hope they like it!  :-)

Peace.