5 Facts about Feline Asthma

Feline asthma is characterized as a hypersensitivity condition; it is caused by immune cell activation triggered by certain allergens. The result is airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction

Clinical signs range from wheezing and/or coughing to acute respiratory distress. Seek emergency care if your cat is having any difficulty breathing!

Some diagnostics that may be recommended by veterinarians to investigate possible feline asthma causes include chest radiographs, heartworm and fecal test, and blood cell count; more advanced diagnostics may include airway sampling via tracheal wash procedure

Treatment is often life-long and may include steroids to reduce inflammation and bronchodilators. The prognosis depends on the frequency and intensity of asthma episodes

It recommended to use dust-free litter and reduce exposure to possible allergens as well as to smoke and also consider the use of air filters

References:

1) Veterinary Partner. Veterinarypartner.com

2) Tilley, L. P., & Smith, F. W. (2005). The 5-minute veterinary consult: Canine and feline. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

3) Yin, S. A. (2010). The small animal veterinary nerdbook. Davis, CA: CattleDog Pub.