Feline Asthma and Inflammation

Your cat periodically displays fits of coughing and wheezing, and appears to have difficulty breathing. Upon examination, your veterinarian diagnoses feline asthma and tells you that, although manageable, this inflammatory condition is incurable and your cat will need medication for life. Learning what triggers your pet's attacks and how to treat them will give you the peace of mind to help your cat when the inflammation recurs.

  1. Features

    • Feline asthma occurs when the small passageways in your cat's lungs called bronchioles become inflamed and fill up with excess mucus. The smooth muscle surrounding the bronchioles begins to spasm and your pet finds it difficult to breathe. In chronic asthma, the bronchiole walls thicken and remain in a permanent state of inflammation, causing attacks that can be triggered by stress or allergens in the air. Dr. Ron Hines of 2nd Chance Animal Sanctuary says that grass and tree pollen, cigarettes, dust, perfumes, smoke and flea spray can set off an attack in the estimated "one percent of all cats that suffer from asthma."

    Symptoms

    • During an asthma attack, your cat will cough and wheeze, sometimes gagging up the foamy mucus in its lungs. Asthmatic cats typically sit in a hunched position, with the neck extended and shoulders up to assist with labored breathing. They often breathe with the mouth open, have increased respiratory and heart rates and exhibit blue gums and lips. "Many owners notice that their cats get eye mucus during bouts of chronic inflammation, and this can be a good indicator than an increase of anti-inflammatory drugs may be needed," according to the website "FelineAsthma.org." The website also states that an asthmatic cat breathing more than 30 times a minute indicates probable bronchiole inflammation, and more than 60 times a minute points to serious distress.

    Diagnosis

    • A diagnosis of feline asthma typically starts with your veterinarian using blood, feces and urine tests to rule out infections that mimic the signs of asthma, including heartworm disease, lungworm infection and pneumonia. Vets normally recommend a series of chest x-rays to evaluate the state of the cat's lungs, looking for thickened, inflamed airway walls and smooth muscle damage. According to the vets at Michigan Veterinary Specialists, collecting a sample of fluid from inside the lungs using a tracheal wash can determine the presence of bacteria or parasites that trigger asthmatic inflammation.

    Treatment

    • Veterinary treatment for asthmatic cats normally begins with a high-dose corticosteroid such as prednisone or depo-medrol given over an extended period of time, says Dr. Alleice Summer in her book "Common Diseases of Companion Animals." Initial dosing can run from one to two weeks with the dosage tapering over a period of several months, but steroid treatment needs to be lifelong to manage inflammation. Your vet may also place your cat on a bronchodilator, usually terbutaline in tablet form, to be administered twice a day.

    Prevention

    • To reduce the chances of allergens setting off your cat's asthma attacks, you may need to make some changes in your home. Dr. Susan Little recommends avoiding cigarette and fireplace smoke in the house in her article "Feline Asthma" for the Winn Feline Foundation. She suggests decreasing the use of household sprays and air fresheners and using hair sprays or deodorants in a separate room from the affected cat. You also need to change to a dust-free cat litter to avoid triggering bronchiole inflammation.