Can Cats have Asthma?
Yes, it is possible for cats to have asthma, referred to as Feline Asthma.
Allergens, which potentially cause your kitty to become asthmatic include cigarette smoke, dust mites, and other bronchial irritants such as chemical cat litter and cleaning chemicals. There can also be other allergies to the environment.
If your cat has an asthma attack, it can be mild, moderate or severe to life threatening.
Signs of asthma include increased respirations at rest, wheezing, coughing or inability to breathe – indicated by open mouth breathing. At any of these stages, veterinary care is essential to diagnose and manage the disease and alleviate the clinical signs. Depending on how bad the attack is, if lips and tongue are blue, oxygen therapy is necessary at first to stabilize along with other medications. If stable enough, an x-ray of the chest will reveal classic patterns in the lungs indicative of feline asthma. Heartworm disease should always be ruled out as the clinical signs of feline heartworm disease mimic feline asthma. Lung worms should also be ruled out as a cause of feline asthma.
Treatment includes decreasing allergens in the environment, a hypoallergenic diet, hepa filters in the home, no smoking inside or near pets, natural litters and cleaning supplies, and steroid treatments in various forms.
