Cat has asthma: recognizing and treating cat asthma
Coughing, rattling breathing noises, mouth breathing, panic and then exhaustion: this is how an asthma attack can develop in cats. The chronic disease, in which the bronchi and airways constrict, usually manifests itself in the form of acute attacks and puts cats under massive stress. However, feline asthma can also become a long-term problem, including shortness of breath and anxiety - namely if the trigger is not identified and eliminated or is identified too late. So that you are prepared in case of an emergency, you will find everything you need to know about cat asthma here: from symptoms and causes to diagnosis and treatment options.
How does asthma manifest itself in cats?
Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory tract - this applies to feline asthma as well as its human counterpart. The term, which comes from Greek, means something like "oppression" - a feeling that is also very familiar to cats with the disease. In asthma, an external stimulus causes the muscles in the bronchial area to cramp, while mucus also builds up in the respiratory tract. After a very short time, the bronchial and respiratory tracts are severely constricted - the cat feels this especially when breathing. In addition to a strong tightness in the chest area, a number of other symptoms indicate Symptoms indicate that your cat is experiencing an asthma attack:
- dry cough, sometimes mucous sputum
- rattling and whistling breathing sounds
- Shortness of breath: mouth breathing with mouth wide open and tongue hanging out
- bluish discoloration of the mucous membranes, for example the tongue
- Redness and swelling in the mucous membranes
- itching and pustules on the skin
- Fear and panic: greatly enlarged pupils
- weakness and lethargy
- flat lying position, front legs bent to the side (elbows)
Cat asthma usually occurs in attacks - a stimulus then causes the symptoms to become acute. An asthma attack often begins with a cough that becomes more intense, followed by unusual breathing noises. Depending on the intensity of the asthma, other symptoms gradually appear - panting through the mouth is the first sign of shortness of breath. While such an attack of cat asthma is over in just a few minutes for some cats, in other cases it can last for several hours, leading to anaphylactic shock and thus becoming a life-threatening situation for the animal.
Whenever you think your cat is having difficulty breathing, you should immediately consult a veterinarian. They can identify the cause and, in acute situations, provide the cat with oxygen and medication to relieve the spasm.
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How does asthma develop in cats?
Asthma in cats is usually caused by allergies. These can appear unexpectedly from one day to the next and turn the lives of the little furry friends upside down.
A variety of allergens, i.e. substances to which the cat is allergic, can lead to an asthmatic reaction. The most common triggers include:
- dust mites
- pollen
- Perfumes in the cat litter or dust development on the cat litter
- cleaning products
- perfumes or deodorants
- Cigarette smoke (also passive, e.g. when smoking at the window)
- severe air pollution in the cat's catchment area
An asthma attack is a type of allergic reaction of the cat's body to contact with the allergen. The body reacts with an increased defense reaction to the incompatible substance. The immune system then releases histamine, which starts an inflammatory reaction. Mucus and spasmodic muscles then constrict the bronchi and cramps in the chest area can occur.
Depending on how often the affected animal comes into contact with the allergen, the symptoms associated with chronic feline asthma can occur acutely from time to time or accompany the cat permanently. This is the case, for example, when a house cat that lives in a smoker's apartment reacts to tobacco smoke with allergic asthma or when the pollution of the ambient air causes feline bronchial asthma in an outdoor cat.
In some cases, ingredients in the cat’s food can also trigger an allergic reaction. In the case of Hypoallergenic cat food can help to tackle the problem at its source and eliminate the discomfort. Specially developed diet food for four-legged allergy sufferers such as the products from the KATTOVIT Sensitive range avoids critical ingredients and instead relies on a well-tolerated recipe made from poultry, rice, etc.
Cat has asthma – what to do?
An asthma attack puts sick cats into a state of stress and anxiety. Due to the shortness of breath, which often occurs as a symptom, the disease can also endanger the cat's life. A visit to the vet is therefore a must - to clarify whether the symptoms are really asthma, and in the next step to investigate the cause.
If you notice one or more symptoms typical of asthma in your pet, you need to act quickly. The vet will then diagnose and treat the animal.
Diagnosis: How does the vet diagnose cat asthma?
Before the vet can diagnose asthma in your cat, other Diseases that are characterized by similar symptoms should be ruled out. Coughing, shortness of breath, etc. can also indicate bronchitis, inflammation of the lungs, heart failure or heart and lung worms.
To be sure that a cat is suffering from asthma, several examination steps are usually initiated. For example, the lungs are listened to in order to gain initial information from the lung sounds. An X-ray of the lungs can also show changes and a lung function test can provide information about the animal patient's lung volume. A lung lavage sample can also be used as part of the diagnosis of feline asthma.
With the help of a blood test, the vet can find out what the oxygen saturation is and whether the number of immune cells - in technical jargon these are called basophil granulocytes - indicates an allergy or a parasite infestation. The latter, in turn, can then be ruled out by examining the cat's stool.
During a bronchoscopy, mucus is taken from the bronchi and examined for bacteria. This method can also prove to be informative.
Regardless of which approach your trusted veterinarian chooses to use when making a diagnosis, one thing is certain: the more information you give the expert about previous illnesses, symptoms and other abnormalities, the faster the diagnosis can be made. The general rule here is: more is more. Even seemingly unimportant details and assumptions can be helpful in cases of doubt.
Therapy: How can you help cats with asthma?
Asthma is a chronic disease. A complete cure is therefore impossible. However, there are ways to treat sick cats and enable them to live a long and at least partially carefree life despite everything - even with asthma.
In general, one has to distinguish between two types of treatment for cat asthma: emergency therapy for acute asthma on the one hand and the treatment of the chronic disease and chronically occurring symptoms on the other hand.
treatment options in an emergency
If your cat is struggling with an acute attack, it needs one thing above all else: oxygen. The narrowing of the airways and the panicked state the animal is in severely inhibit the supply of oxygen. If the shortness of breath lasts too long and breathing even stops, serious consequences can occur - in the worst case, the circulatory system and/or organs will fail and the cat will not survive the combination of allergy, seizure and shock. To avoid this at all costs, go to the vet or an emergency clinic immediately if symptoms occur - it does not matter whether the illness is already known or not. Before you arrive, it is strongly recommended that you call the practice to inform them of the incoming patient so that an oxygen tent can be prepared for your cat.
Once the oxygen supply is ensured, there are other medications that can relieve the cat's asthma symptoms. At the top of the list are so-called bronchodilators. These are medications that expand the bronchi and thus counteract the feeling of tightness and shortness of breath. Bronchodilators are available as tablets and as an inhalation spray. Cortisone, on the other hand, is often used as a means of alleviating allergic reactions and preventing inflammation.
Inhalation therapy with a bronchodilator spray administered using a face mask is also available as an emergency option for home use. This allows experienced owners to react directly to less severe attacks. However, assessing the situation and carrying out inhalation therapy requires practice, routine and calm and is therefore not suitable for everyone.
Long-term treatment for affected animals
To minimize the risk of an attack and to give your pet as carefree a life as possible, the first step is to identify the allergen and, if possible, eliminate it. However, the cause of the illness cannot usually be identified medically. Instead, try the classic process of elimination and gradually remove or replace perfumes, cleaning products, cat litter and other potential risk factors. If there is an improvement, the culprit was most likely there.
The extent to which medical treatment makes sense away from acute attacks depends on how severe the disease is, how often the animal suffers from asthma attacks and to what extent chronic symptoms are present. Since feline bronchial asthma is incurable per se, treatment extends over the entire life of the animal. As a cat owner, it is best to have a close discussion with the veterinarian to find out what the best course of action is for your furry friend. There are various treatment options:
- Cortisone can reduce the severity of the allergic reaction and inhibit inflammation.
- Bronchodilators expand the bronchi and can thus prevent breathing difficulties in the long term.
- Immunosuppressive medications may suppress the excessive immune response to the allergen.
However, it should be noted that medications such as cortisone and the like can cause side effects under certain circumstances. In addition, the administration of tablets or injections at the vet may be a stress factor for your pet. Stress can also lead to increased asthma symptoms. So every cat owner has to decide individually which approach is the right one.
Tip: In order not to unnecessarily provoke an illness, you can use perfume-free cat litter and also make sure to stop smoking in the presence of your cat and in the rooms in which it stays.
If you want to do something good for your weakened pet and end the exhaustion gently and naturally, you can rely on particularly nutrient-rich, wholesome food. KATTOVIT Aufbaukur provides ailing cats with energy and at the same time serves as a well-deserved treat – after all, bravery deserves to be rewarded!
