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904-724-6644 |
Education
The Cough in the Night
That dreaded sound. Cough, hack, gag. The sounds of your cat coughing up a hairball, right?
This may not always be the case. You cat coughing may be a sign of a more serious disease, feline asthma.
Cats can get asthma, just like people, and it is more common than you might think. Unfortunately, most cats had their asthma, until there are in a crisis and cannot breathe.
The feline asthma site at www.felineasthma.org has information for you about feline asthma, as well as support groups.
From www.felineasthma.org
Diagnosis of feline asthma can be difficult. There are many other diseases that can also look similar to asthma. Other diseases that can present like asthma include: lungworms, heartworms, upper & lower respiratory infections, lung cancer, cardiomyopathy, and lymphocytic plasmacytic stomatitis. Testing to see if your cat may have asthma can include: lab work, chest x-rays, and Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL). In BAL, you cat would have to be sedated and then a sample of fluid is taken from the bronchioles and sent to the lab to determine whether there is an increased number of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell). This test is also useful for ruling out lung cancer.
Treatment of feline asthma is similar to that of ‘people’ asthma. An acute attack will require hospitalization of your cat.
At home treatment will consist of several different medications.
Bronchodilators are used for quick action during an asthma attack. Common medications are Albuterol, Terbutaline.
Oral medications Corticosteroid's work to reduce inflammation and are the most familiar long-term treatment of feline asthma. Steroids are available in many forms including oral, injectable and inhaled. Antihistamines - The only antihistamine that is useful in feline asthma treatment is Cyproheptadine.
Inhaled Steroids -736 Fluticasone proprionate: US Flovent®, UK Flixotide® Beclomethasone: Qvar®, Becotide®
Inhaled Steroids can be administered through a spacer or through the new AeroKat.
If your cat is coughing or has been diagnosed with asthma, we will work with you and your cat to help you understand the disease and the treatments. Call us with any concerns today 904-724-6644
That dreaded sound. Cough, hack, gag. The sounds of your cat coughing up a hairball, right?
This may not always be the case. You cat coughing may be a sign of a more serious disease, feline asthma.
Cats can get asthma, just like people, and it is more common than you might think. Unfortunately, most cats had their asthma, until there are in a crisis and cannot breathe.The feline asthma site at www.felineasthma.org has information for you about feline asthma, as well as support groups.
From www.felineasthma.org
These Facts about Feline Asthma were taken from the Cat Fancy Article Fighting for Breath byHeitger-Casbon, Christy: . Cat Fancy Magazine, March 2001.
Feline asthma (also known as feline bronchial disease, allergic bronchitis, bronchitis, allergic airway disease and allergic asthma) is similar to human asthma. An allergic reaction causes spasms in the bronchi, prompting airway inflammation and swelling. This restricts airflow, causing respiratory distress, which can become life threatening in a matter of minutes.
In addition, glands in the lungs expand and discharge excessive amounts of mucus into the airways, clogging the little breathing space that remains. The end result: "The cat is probably left feeling like it's breathing through a straw," says Amy D. Shojai, of Serman, TX, and author of The Purina Encyclopedia of Cat Care: An Authoritative A-to-Z Guide.
Unfortunately, the discomfort and dangers associated with feline asthma are not limited to those during an acute attack, says Elaine Wexler-Mitchell,DVM, an Orange, CA veterinarian and author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to a Healthy Cat. Feline asthma can also cause permanent damage to your cat's lungs.
Feline asthma (also known as feline bronchial disease, allergic bronchitis, bronchitis, allergic airway disease and allergic asthma) is similar to human asthma. An allergic reaction causes spasms in the bronchi, prompting airway inflammation and swelling. This restricts airflow, causing respiratory distress, which can become life threatening in a matter of minutes.
In addition, glands in the lungs expand and discharge excessive amounts of mucus into the airways, clogging the little breathing space that remains. The end result: "The cat is probably left feeling like it's breathing through a straw," says Amy D. Shojai, of Serman, TX, and author of The Purina Encyclopedia of Cat Care: An Authoritative A-to-Z Guide.
Unfortunately, the discomfort and dangers associated with feline asthma are not limited to those during an acute attack, says Elaine Wexler-Mitchell,DVM, an Orange, CA veterinarian and author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to a Healthy Cat. Feline asthma can also cause permanent damage to your cat's lungs.
Diagnosis of feline asthma can be difficult. There are many other diseases that can also look similar to asthma. Other diseases that can present like asthma include: lungworms, heartworms, upper & lower respiratory infections, lung cancer, cardiomyopathy, and lymphocytic plasmacytic stomatitis. Testing to see if your cat may have asthma can include: lab work, chest x-rays, and Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL). In BAL, you cat would have to be sedated and then a sample of fluid is taken from the bronchioles and sent to the lab to determine whether there is an increased number of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell). This test is also useful for ruling out lung cancer.
Treatment of feline asthma is similar to that of ‘people’ asthma. An acute attack will require hospitalization of your cat.
At home treatment will consist of several different medications.
Bronchodilators are used for quick action during an asthma attack. Common medications are Albuterol, Terbutaline.
Oral medications Corticosteroid's work to reduce inflammation and are the most familiar long-term treatment of feline asthma. Steroids are available in many forms including oral, injectable and inhaled. Antihistamines - The only antihistamine that is useful in feline asthma treatment is Cyproheptadine.
Inhaled Steroids -736 Fluticasone proprionate: US Flovent®, UK Flixotide® Beclomethasone: Qvar®, Becotide®
Inhaled Steroids can be administered through a spacer or through the new AeroKat.
If your cat is coughing or has been diagnosed with asthma, we will work with you and your cat to help you understand the disease and the treatments. Call us with any concerns today 904-724-6644