How to understand that a cat has asthma - Awww Cats! -The Ultimate Online Guide to Cats: Breeds, Care, and Tips

If the animal's condition is stable, the doctor prescribes a course of antihistamines and glucocorticosteroids. If the signs of the disease disappear, the diagnosis is confirmed.

Contents

Asthma in cats: causes, symptoms and treatment methods
Asthma in a cat: risk factors
First aid during an attack. Asthma in a cat
How do I recognize asthma in cats?
Causes of the disease
Allergies
Oncology
Respiratory tract infections
Genetic predisposition
Symptoms
How does the disease develop?
Diagnosis of asthma: methods and nuances
THERE ARE CONTRAINDICATIONS. SPECIALIST CONSULTATION REQUIRED
Future predictions
Will preventive measures help?

Asthma in cats: causes, symptoms and treatment methods

Asthma in cats Refers to one of the most difficult and dangerous diseases, because if it is not treated, the animal will die from an asthmatic attack. It is almost impossible to cure asthma completely, because it is not easy to find and eliminate the irritants that cause choking in the cat. The task of the owner is to alleviate the cat's condition and quality of life by using medications prescribed by the veterinarian and reducing the number of allergens.

Asthma in cats, like in humans, is a chronic inflammatory process in the bronchi. In normal bronchitis, inflammation and narrowing of the bronchi is caused by bacterial infection, but in bronchial asthma the main culprit is an allergic component, and the infection can join the infection afterwards.

Asthma is an allergic disease that It is characterized by attacks of suffocation in the catIt is caused by swelling of the mucous membranes and cramping of the bronchial smooth muscles. Allergy – Individual sensitivity to certain substances, is a triggering factor for asthma.

Asthma in a cat: risk factors

Although the disease is quite well studied, but its etiology is still the subject of bickering for scientists. There is a certain role of heredity and genetic predisposition, for example, In Siamese and Himalayan cats. The gender and age of the animal are irrelevant for asthma in cats.

From time to time a cat may cough and wheeze. Any owner will be frightened by the cat's hoarse voice, and he will immediately rush to the computer suit.

First aid during an attack. Asthma in a cat

The animal during the seizure is frightened as much as the owner, as he cannot breathe properly. You need to get him out of this state with sedatives to relieve his fear and agitation. In sedation medications. often use infusions of herbs or essential oils of certain plants to relax and calm the pet's psyche. Of course, it is better not to grab the cat and take him to the clinic in a panic, but to call an emergency vet so as not to aggravate the pet's stress by transportation and unfamiliar surroundings.

How do I recognize asthma in cats?

Feline asthma is not a rare condition – it occurs in about 1% of cats usually after 2-3 years of age.

Bronchial asthma – is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, in which the narrowing of the bronchi is based on the same mechanism as allergies, and the infection, as in bronchitis, may be secondary. That is, allergy is at the heart of bronchial asthma. It is also an increased sensitivity of the body to various irritants (allergens) – substances that in the normal state of the body are harmless.

The attack begins with sudden difficulty in breathing.
It is accompanied by coughing and wheezing due to sharp contractions of the muscles surrounding the bronchi.
The characteristic posture is that the cat sits on bent legs, neck extended and tilted to the floor.
Sometimes asthma can be confused with an attempt to burp a lump of hair
If the condition worsens, there is lethargy, drowsiness, apathy, loss of appetite
In severe cases, the cat lies on its stomach, its mouth open, breathing is heavy.
Due to the lack of oxygen, the mucous membranes turn blue.

There is no definite answer to this question. Some role played by genetics and genetic predisposition, for example, Siamese and Himalayan cats are more prone to asthma. Asthma attacks usually occur after contact with allergens. For example: tobacco smoke, filler dust, deodorant, hair spray or any other aerosol, household chemicals and much, much more. Often it's often impossible to identify the allergen causing the attacks. In some cases, a change of climate, place of residence, furnishings may help.

First of all, it is not superfluous to give the pet anthelmintic because the cough can be due to the various stages of helminths that may be in the lungs.

Causes of the disease

Usually this disease is diagnosed in cats between the ages of 2 and 8 years. Less often it appears in kittens and older pets, but the key word here is "less often." The causes of its development include:

Allergies

In 70% of cases, asthma begins to develop because of an allergic reaction. It develops from dust mites, certain medications, food, litter box filler, and even cigarette smoke. Long-term exposure to allergens increases the sensitivity of the lungs, which leads to the development of asthma.

Oncology

Malignant tumors can form in the cat's lung tissue, which in turn leads to asthma.

To detect a tumor, a chest X-rayIf a tumor is detected, an operation is performed to remove it. This is followed by the prescription of Chemotherapy. In this case, the cat's condition stabilizes.

Respiratory tract infections

Respiratory tract infections that have not been fully treated lead to a weakening of the immune system and the subsequent development of asthma. For example, pneumonias, rhinotracheitis, or feline flu lead to this consequence.

Genetic predisposition

Himalayan and Siamese cats are the most predisposed to develop asthma, as well as mestizos that have been obtained by their mating with members of other breeds. In offspring, the disease can be passed on from just one parent. Keep this in mind if you have a Siamese or Himalayan cat.

Symptoms

The main symptom that pet parents should pay attention to is a constant dry cough that does not stop for a long time. The cat will do this by tucking its legs and stretching its neck down. Because of this, it is easy to confuse at first the cough with trivial regurgitation of hair.

The attacks provoke lethargy and passivity in the cat's behavior. He sleeps more and plays less. He is also more likely to refuse food. Heavy breathing will be accompanied by wheezing with whistling.

The attacks are accompanied by temporary remissions, so it can be extremely difficult to recognize the disease, especially if you do not regular visits to the veterinarian..

How does the disease develop?

Asthma in cats develops gradually. It usually begins with a mild form in which the frequency of coughing attacks is about 1-2 times a month. Many owners ignore this or simply overlook it when they are away from home (e.g., at work or school). In the first stage of asthma, the cough lasts about 40-60 seconds, so the cat recovers quickly without help.

If no response is taken at this stage and the cat is not seen by a doctor, the disease will continue to progress. This will lead to an increase in the duration of coughing attacks, as well as the appearance of other signs (rapid fatigue, decreased appetite, strange wheezing, etc.). To write off all these symptoms blame it on "just in case". Do not write off all of these symptoms "just in case" – this can lead to serious consequences, up to and including suffocation.

Diagnosis of asthma: methods and nuances

The main rule – do not engage in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma on their own! The fact is that this can distort the results of the upcoming tests, confuse the veterinarian and worsen the already difficult condition of the beloved pet.

A side note! There are no laboratory tests that can detect asthma with 100% probability.

To make an accurate diagnosis, the veterinarian examines the pet, asks the owner a few questions (how often the coughing fits occur, how long they last, if there are any other changes in the pet's behavior)He also prescribes additional examinations:

The results of these examinations allow us to differentiate asthma in a cat with other diseases that have similar symptoms (e.g. chronic bronchitis, malignant neoplasms, pneumonia).

THERE ARE CONTRAINDICATIONS. SPECIALIST CONSULTATION REQUIRED

Future predictions

When the patient's veterinarian is contacted early in the course of the disease, the prognosis for the whiskered patient is positive. With supportive therapy, his condition can be controlled without worsening his quality of life.

The reverse situation is typical for the situation when the disease was diagnosed too late or completely overlooked. Remember, pet owners are responsible for their pets' health. Never ignore alarming symptoms, even if they seem insignificant to you.

Will preventive measures help?

The prevention measures listed will not give a one hundred percent guarantee to eliminate asthma, but they will reduce the likelihood of asthma. They are a must for pets with a confirmed diagnosis, but they're also good for healthy whiskers.

If your cat has been diagnosed with bronchial asthma – do not panic. With timely treatment and compliance with preventive recommendations, you can not only avoid complications, but also maintain the quality of life of your whiskered pet at the same level.

The article is informative in nature. Contact your veterinarian!