how to treat feline asthma

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Approved. This syndrome may also be referred to as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Additional work remains for translating these potential therapies into clinical practice. Corticosteroids. Load the cartridge with the prescribed drug into the inhaler. Evaluation of subcutaneous versus mucosal (intranasal) allergen-specific rush immunotherapy in experimental feline asthma. Lee-Fowler TM, Cohn LA, DeClue AE, Spinka CM, Ellebracht RD, Reinero CR. After 10 minutes: Initially, an ant bite causes burning or pinching pain, followed by a sting at the site of the bite.This usually lasts for up to 10 minutes. The advantage of aerosol steroid administration over pills and injections is that it goes directly into the lungs, rather than throughout the body, thus creating fewer side effects. The average age of cats diagnosed with asthma is between 4 and 5 years. Bronchodilators are used to open the airways, allowing your cat to move air in and out of the lungs more freely. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Experimental therapies, including desensitization to specific allergens (like allergy shots in people), the use of omega-3 fatty acids, and drugs intended to disrupt the metabolic pathways that lead to inflammation show some promise for treating feline asthma, but further research is necessary to refine them and prove their safety and effectiveness. Already have a myVCA account? In: King LG, ed. Injectable terbutaline was discussed as a rescue therapy in the previous section on emergent management. One type of white blood cell, the eosinophil, is commonly associated with allergic events or parasitic disease and its presence supports a tentative diagnosis of asthma. Finally, the successful use of cyclosporine for the management of feline asthma was reported in a single case report in which glucocorticoids were contraindicated because of concurrent diabetes mellitus and severe heart disease.9 Treatment with cyclosporine in this case resolved clinical signs and airway inflammation.9 Although further study is needed with this therapy, it may be a useful alternative in complex cases in which steroids are contraindicated. One symptom that differentiates feline asthma from hairballs or other physical obstructions is the sound of faint wheezing when your cat breathes, which may be more audible after vigorous play or running. Cats suffering from asthma may show signs of difficulty breathing, wheezing, rapid breathing, coughing or hacking, open-mouthed breathing, or vomiting. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Helping your cat lose weight if they're obese and keeping your home's air clean and scent-free will radically improve your cat's symptoms. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Bronchoscopy is a procedure typically performed by a specialist and allows the veterinarian to visualize the airways of an anesthetized cat with a small fiber-optic scope. This article was co-authored by Lauren Baker, DVM, PhD. If you can, record your cat when theyre having one of these breathing fits. This article was co-authored by Lauren Baker, DVM, PhD. Although there is no cure for feline asthma, there are treatments that can help to control the symptoms and improve the quality of life for affected cats. In: Silverstein D, Hopper K, eds. Any cat can develop asthma, but its most common in younger or middle-aged cats, with the average age around 4 years. The use of beta-agonists and the risk of death and near death from asthma. In later stages, the gums may develop a bluish tinge due to a lack of oxygen. This can indicate that the disease is poorly controlled and that long-term management must be adjusted, or that a secondary or concurrent condition must be addressed. To give a steroid pill, consider hiding it in a pill pocket. While this condition is concerning . The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. Bronchodilators Although there is some debate about the definition, most clinicians and researchers agree that feline asthma is caused by an allergic reaction to inhaled allergens, particles that stimulate a cats immune system. Siamese cats are more likely to develop feline asthma than other breeds of cat. Oral glucocorticoids, such as prednisolone, are widely available and inexpensive, which makes them an ideal first choice for many patients. Chronic airway obstruction may trap air in the tiny air sacs of the lungs called alveoli, leading to over-inflation and lung damage. Several studies conducted expedited immunotherapy (rush immunotherapy) using various protocols and found it reduced eosinophilic airway inflammation.20,21 Although this therapy appears to be effective in the experimental model, data in clinical patients are lacking. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Any triggers that aggravate breathing problems in cats with this diagnosis should be avoided. Skip to content Elevated blood proteins also occur in some affected cats. Cocayne CG, Reinero CR, DeClue AE. Increased swallowing Blue lips and gums If your cat shows any of the symptoms above, even if they are intermittent, you should speak to your vet straight away. This usually manifests as episodes of spasmodic coughing and increased expiratory effort. Franny has also authored two books on cat care. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Although inhalant albuterol is useful in acute episodes, it should not be used as a long-term therapy. With over 10 years in veterinary medicine, she specializes in the concept of one health, which uses insights from veterinary medicine to help human medical research. For this to be effective, they need to be used consistently, as directed by your veterinarian. That way, you can show your vet when you take your cat in for help. The cat is usually placed under sedation or anesthesia and a thin, flexible, sterile catheter is passed into the area being investigated. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, including how to control your cats weight to improve its breathing, read on! Pet them and speak softly to them if youd like. However, because cats tend to hide any ailments they have, it may be hard to spot this problem. This latter finding could allow for significantly reduced cost associated with inhaled fluticasone therapy. Overweight and obese cats are also at greater risk for developing chronic respiratory disease. Press down on the MDI to deliver the prescribed dose into the spacer. A cat may receive an injection of a long-acting corticosteroid (such as Depo-Medrol) that has the ability to relieve symptoms for several weeks to several months. Many of the same allergens responsible for human asthma attacks can also trigger feline asthma attacks, including: Stress can either cause or exacerbate a feline asthma attack. In a study evaluating IDST and serum allergen-specific IgE testing in cats, both IDST and an FcR1-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were specific enough for selection of allergens for immunotherapy.19 A separate ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) evaluated in this study was unreliable;19 therefore, reliability of available ELISAs for detection of serum allergen-specific IgE may vary. This may also be accompanied by increased abdominal effort, known as an abdominal push. Increased mucus production is also a prominent feature of asthma in cats, and this may contribute to airway narrowing and increased respiratory effort. Krista Williams, BSc, DVM; Robin Downing, DVM, DAAPM, DACVSMR, CVPP; Ernest Ward, DVM. This article has been viewed 39,469 times. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. Another study evaluated inhaled budesonide (400 g q12h) in cats, and although the agent did suppress the HPAA in some cats, no clinical manifestations of glucocorticoid side effects were noted.8 Inhaled budesonide improved clinical signs and reduced airflow limitation; however, this study did not assess airway inflammation.8. ", https://icatcare.org/advice/asthma-in-cats/, https://tvmdl.tamu.edu/2019/06/24/cat-diagnosed-with-feline-asthma/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20800209/, https://vetmed.tamu.edu/ce/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2019/07/2019-Feline-Forum-Imaging-Respiratory-Disease-Lab.pdf, https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-asthma-what-you-need-know, https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/respiratory-medicine/asthma-in-cats-management-guidelines/, https://www.dvm360.com/view/treatment-of-feline-allergic-asthma, https://www.aafa.org/control-indoor-allergens/, https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/cat/caring-for-a-cat-with-asthma, https://glencoeanimalhospital.com/2018/08/25/feline-asthma-feline/, https://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/why-does-my-cat-snore, https://www.trudellanimalhealth.com/learn/further-reading/cat-asthma-symptoms-causes-treatments. HPAA = hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This content does not have an English version. Treatment of feline asthma with ciclosporin in a cat with diabetes mellitus and congestive heart failure. Regular exercise can strengthen your heart and lungs, which helps relieve asthma symptoms. You may end up misdiagnosing and incorrectly treating your cat. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Finally, patients with feline asthma may be more prone to secondary airway infections, and it is important to consider this possibility in the initial patient evaluation and during acute exacerbations of feline asthma. Cohn LA, DeClue AE, Cohen RL, Reinero CR. http://www.goodpetparent.com/2017/03/24/feline-asthma/, http://pets.webmd.com/cats/asthma-symptoms-cats#1, Persistent coughing thats not associated with hacking a hairball, A crouched position while wheezing or coughing. They should not be used as a stand-alone therapy because they do not address airway inflammation, which is the driving force behind the asthmatic process and bronchoconstriction. Follow this three-step approach to keep symptoms under control and prevent attacks. If you dont have dust-free cat litter, pick some up at a pet store in case your cat is allergic to your old litter. If your cats lips turn blue, theyre struggling to get enough air. Galler A, Shibly S, Bilek A, Hirt RA. Feline asthma is a chronic, progressive disease with no cure. The two most famous holistic approaches for treating asthma in cats include stress reduction and reducing certain environmental conditions. Published: June 3, 2023, 6:01am. Comparison of intradermal skin testing (IDST) and serum allergen-specific IgE determination in an experimental model of feline asthma. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Clients should be counseled on eliminating or reducing airway irritants, such as cigarette smoke, dust, and dust-creating cat litter, from the household whenever possible. When airway samples are collected as part of the diagnostic workup, appropriate airway cultures should be submitted to evaluate for this possibility. Use dust-free litter. Figure 1: Bronchioles in a normal lung allow air to pass freely. Dont put this off for too long. In addition to managing these events when they occur, clients must know to contact their veterinarian when asthmatic cats experience these events regularly or the frequency of these events increases. Cats with asthma or chronic bronchitis rarely have a fever and their appetite usually remains normal. Pharmacokinetics studies have shown that extended-release theophylline administered to cats q24h achieves therapeutic plasma concentrations.13,14 A follow-up study determined that plasma theophylline concentrations were highest after evening dosing.15 An ex vivo study documented efficacy of theophylline at producing bronchial relaxation, but the agent was less efficacious than other bronchodilators evaluated.16 How this finding extrapolates to clinical patients is uncertain, particularly with long-term administration. Treatment Prognosis Prevention Back to Top An episode of feline asthma may initially be discounted as just another hairball or a bit of food going down the "wrong pipe." Recurrent episodes of coughin g, however, are likely to catch an owner's attention. Notice the characteristic bright branching pattern along the airways and overinflation of the lungs. It is generally not possible to eliminate the allergens your cat is inhaling. Sometimes people assume their cat. Being overweight or obese causes systemic inflammation that can contribute to feline asthma and bronchitis, as well as increasing the workload on the heart and lungs. This is an emergency and you must go to the vet immediately. drinks more water; now I know why! This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/49\/Spot-and-Treat-Feline-Asthma-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Spot-and-Treat-Feline-Asthma-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/49\/Spot-and-Treat-Feline-Asthma-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/aid5661867-v4-728px-Spot-and-Treat-Feline-Asthma-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"