Bronchial Asthma in Cats

Overview of Feline Asthma

Asthma is a lung condition associated with airway obstruction caused by sudden narrowing of the bronchial tubes. In cats, asthma may also be known as “Feline Allergic Asthma”, “Feline Allergic Bronchitis”, “Feline Lower Airway Disease” or Feline Eosinophilic Bronchitis”.

Below is an overview of feline asthma followed by in-depth information about the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis for this condition.

Typical symptoms include difficulty breathing (dyspnea), coughing and/or wheezing. These symptoms are caused by the spasmodic constriction of the bronchial tubes and increased production of secretions from the bronchial tree.

The cause of asthma in cats is not yet completely understood. Some type of hypersensitivity response is generally blamed; however, an inciting cause is often not identified. The symptoms can range from infrequent to recurrent to constant. In some cats the disease appears to be seasonal, while in others there is recurring and eventually relentless progression of respiratory signs. Some cats may be asymptomatic between bouts of acute airway obstruction, whereas severely affected cats may have a persistent daily cough.

In some cats the symptoms begin to resemble chronic bronchitis as might be seen with a human smoker’s cough. Asthma can be very serious and some cats die from respiratory failure unless they are given prompt treatment. Even with treatment, the disease can progress.

Cats of all ages can be affected. The Siamese breed and obese cats may have an increased incidence of disease. Affected cats are often young to middle-aged at time of diagnosis.

Asthma may be triggered by stress or by some change in the environment such as move to new house or opening of an attic or basement, a new brand of kitty litter or a new smoker in the house.

What to Watch For

Some cats may have an acute onset of signs while other cats may have signs that come and go. Other cats will have persistent chronic signs. Symptoms may include:

Diagnosis of Bronchial Asthma in Cats

Diagnostic tests are necessary to recognize feline bronchial asthma, and help exclude other diseases that may cause similar signs.

There is no single test that is diagnostic of feline bronchial asthma. The diagnosis is based on the history of labored breathing that is responsive to oxygen, corticosteroids (hormones), and or bronchodilators (which are agents that expand the air passages of the lungs), typical X-ray findings, and evidence of airway inflammation based on fluid analysis. It is important to rule out other causes of difficult respiration in your cat, such as heart failure, pneumonia, pleural effusion, tumors or chest injury, as the treatments for each condition are very different. It is also possible to have two concurrent diseases. Recommended tests may include:

Treatment of Bronchial Asthma in Cats

Home Care and Prevention

At home, administer all prescribed medications, follow your veterinarian’s directions and restrict caloric intake in overweight or obese cats. You should discuss proper diet with your veterinarian.

Prevention takes the form of minimizing the symptoms of asthma by removing irritants from the environment. Try to eliminate dusts and powders (such as flea powders or carpet cleaners). Consider changing litter types – change to sand, newspaper types, or low “dust” varieties – and clean furnace filters often. Try to eliminate smoking in the house (even on a trial basis) and consider using air cleaners/purifiers. Minimize use of aerosol sprays such as hairsprays and deodorizers.

In-depth Information on Feline Asthma

Asthma is a reactive airway disease, meaning the muscle lining the bronchial tubes can suddenly constrict leading to airway obstruction. Affected cats cannot expel air from their lungs and symptoms come on very suddenly.

Some cats have less obvious signs of reactive airways but prominent signs of bronchitis, meaning the bronchial tubes are inflamed and secretions accumulate and obstruct airways. In either case, breathing is difficult, coughing may occur and the lungs cannot function properly.

Bronchial asthma in cats is uncomfortable, tiring and the condition can be life-threatening.

Other medical problems can cause similar symptoms such as difficult breathing and coughing in cats. It is important to exclude these before establishing a diagnosis of feline bronchial asthma. These conditions include:

Diagnosis In-depth

Diagnostic tests are necessary to recognize feline bronchial asthma and exclude other diseases. Tests may include:

Treatment In-depth

Many cats with asthma are too sick to undergo such testing and need to be treated medically first, based on examination or examination and chest X-rays. Treatments for feline asthma vary. If your cat has only mild clinical signs, no treatment may be recommended. In this case, a regular follow-up is important to follow progression of disease. In the case of acute respiratory distress, hospitalization is needed initially. Drugs may be administered orally, by injection or by metered dose inhaler (MDI) depending on the needs of the patient.

Recommendations for an acute asthma attack may include:

Prognosis for Feline Asthma

The prognosis for cats with feline asthma is dependent on the severity of the disease. Mildly affected cats have a very good prognosis and live a normal life with minimal intervention. Cats with severe disease may have frequent attacks that require periodic hospitalization and injectable or inhalation therapy at home. In severe cases, airway inflammation can damage the lungs causing a poor prognosis.

Optimal treatment for your pet with feline asthma requires a combination of home care and professional veterinary care. The duration of therapy needed is variable, because some cats may have only a single event while others require lifelong therapy or recurrent treatments (not unlike people with asthma). The principles of home care therapy for bronchial asthma in cats include the following: