Asthma in cats – Symptoms and treatment

Cats are susceptible to multiple diseases, although it is also true that cats are resistant and have an independent character, however, in many cases they need special attention.

Some pathologies that can affect cats are also commonly observed in humans and it is important to know them to know when something is not going well in the body of our pet.

In this article we tell you about the symptoms and treatment of asthma in cats.

Asthma in cats

It is estimated that 1% of cats suffer from severe respiratory problems, among them asthma, which is characterized by an oppression of the bronchi, which are respiratory passages responsible for bringing air from the trachea to the lungs.

The oppression of the bronchi causes respiratory distress, which can have different degrees of severity until it compromises the animal’s breathing.

Asthma in cats is also known as allergic bronchitis, since it is the feline’s immune system that reacts exaggeratedly to an allergen.

We could say that asthma is an example of allergy in cats that affects the respiratory system, since the reaction to the allergen is manifested by inflammation of the tissue lining the bronchi and narrowing of the airways, causing respiratory distress or dyspnea.

This allergic reaction that affects the respiratory system of the cat It may have different causes, like the following:

• Environmental pollution of the environment
• Exposure to tobacco smoke
• Feline sand
• Mold and mites
• Smoke from the chimney
• Cleaning products, aerosols and air fresheners

Asthma symptoms in cats

A cat affected with asthma or allergic bronchitis will have the following symptoms:

• Respiratory difficulty
• Fast breathing
• Noisy breathing
• Persistent cough
• Whistles when exhaling the air

If we observe any of these symptoms in our cat it is essential to go as soon as possible to the veterinarian, since If asthma is not treated, the symptoms tend to get worse.

Diagnosis and treatment of asthma in cats

To diagnose feline asthma the veterinarian will mainly rely on clinical signs or symptomsHowever, a blood and stool test should also be performed to rule out that these symptoms are due to any other disease.

Finally a chest x-ray will be done, although in the asthmatic cat it may be normal, usually the most visible bronchi are observed due to the pathological alteration of them.

The treatment of asthma in cats will vary depending on each case in particular and the severity, however, the following drugs are usually used, either alone or in combination:

• Corticoids: Cortisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory that is used to rapidly reduce the inflammation produced in the bronchi and facilitate the entry and exit of air to the lungs. It is a drug that can cause multiple side effects.
• Bronchodilators: Bronchodilators are drugs that act on the bronchi and allow the dilation of them facilitating breathing.

This type of treatment can be done at home and it is important that the owner agrees to administer it properly, periodic visits to the veterinarian will be necessary to evaluate the response of our cat to the different drugs.

Hygienic-dietetic measures for the treatment of asthma in cats

In addition to following the pharmacological treatment prescribed by the veterinarian, we recommend that you follow the advice that we show you below, in this way you will be able to Improve Life Quality of your cat:

• Use a good quality feline sand that does not easily release dust.
• If your cat in addition to asthma, has more than 8 years you should pay attention to the care of an elderly cat to provide a good quality of life.
• Be very careful with the cleaning products you use, you can find out about organic products.
• Help him to be cool in summer so he can breathe easily.
• Do not give your cat dairy, these contain many antigens that interact with the immune system and can aggravate the allergic reaction.
• It uses a natural complementary treatment that helps to reinforce the defenses of your pet, homeopathy for cats is an excellent option.

This article is merely informative, in .com we do not have the faculty to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Asthma in cats – Symptoms and treatment, we recommend that you enter in our section of respiratory diseases.