| Feline Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease | | | | * Corticosteriods are medications like Methyl |
| characterized by sudden episodes of breathing | | | | Prednisone and Depomedrol. They act within 48 |
| difficulty. Episodes are most often triggered by | | | | hours of injection and last 10 to 14 days. This is a |
| allergies or stress, which cause constriction of the | | | | viable alternative for some owners, unable to give |
| airways. This leads to breathing difficulty, coughing | | | | pills to their cat. Cats, unlike humans, are relatively |
| and wheezing. A low-grade, chronic cough may be | | | | resistant to the side effects of steroids; |
| the only sign but an acute crisis can occur at any | | | | therefore this is suitable for long-term |
| time that is potentially a life-threatening event. | | | | management in certain cases. |
| Affected cats are usually between 2 and 8 years | | | | LONG TERM MANAGEMENT OF ASTHMA |
| of age. Siamese breeds and females may be | | | | Long-term management of Asthma involves: |
| more susceptible. | | | | 1. Removing allergens from environmenta. Use an |
| CAUSES | | | | air purifier, electrostatic air filter.b. Use dust free, |
| The most common causes are allergies to inhaled | | | | scent free cat litter.c. Avoid odor-controlling |
| substances called allergens in the environment. | | | | sprays.d. Reduce stress, don't smoke. |
| Pollen, mold, and dust are incriminated outside. | | | | 2. Various medications are used to open the |
| Tobacco smoke, perfumes, dusty cat litter, and | | | | airways (Bronchodilators) and decrease the allergic |
| powdered carpet deodorizers are the most | | | | reaction (Corticosteroids) similar to those used for |
| common culprits inside. Other causes include | | | | Human Asthma.a. Airway Dilators include:i. |
| stress, i.e., new pet moves into home as well as | | | | Terbutaline (Brethine), andii. Theophylline |
| lung parasites including lungworms and | | | | (Theo-dur). |
| heartworms. Bacterial infections often complicate | | | | These medications decrease airway constriction |
| these cases; secondary bacterial pneumonias are | | | | and allow air to pass in and out of the lungs more |
| not uncommon in asthmatic cats or people. | | | | easily. Terbutaline is available as an inhalant for |
| SIGNS | | | | humans and certain vets have devised methods |
| 1. Hairball-like coughing often with difficulty | | | | to use this as an inhalant for cats.b. |
| breathing. This hairball cough does not bring up any | | | | Cyproheptadine is a medication that decreases |
| hairballs. | | | | the chemical serotonin, which has been shown to |
| 2. Wheezing. | | | | be involved in airway constriction. It is often used |
| 3. Shortness of breath. | | | | along with steroids and/or in cats unable to take |
| 4. Breathing may be slow and deliberate, too fast | | | | steroids. Side effects include increased appetite |
| and shallow. | | | | and sedation.c. Zamflurkast (Accolate) – |
| 5. Cats may breathe with their mouth open to | | | | This is a new human asthma medication used to |
| help move air through their lungs. Cats normally | | | | decrease the dose of steroids necessary to |
| breathe with a closed mouth. | | | | manage asthma. In cats, this is considered |
| DIAGNOSIS | | | | experimental but initial reports have been good.d. |
| Diagnosis is confirmed by chest x-rays, which | | | | Cyclosporine – A - This medication is used |
| allow differentiation from other diseases with | | | | in human organ transplant patients to modulate |
| similar signs, such as Bronchitis, Heartworm | | | | the immune response and is quite expensive. |
| Disease, and Pneumonia. Fluid and mucous samples | | | | Recently, trials have been used in feline asthmatic |
| from the airway may be collected and | | | | cases unresponsive to other therapies.e. |
| microscopically examined to help pinpoint the | | | | Anti-Interleukin-5 Antibody is an anti-cancer |
| exact cause. | | | | medication still in the experimental stages for use |
| TREATMENT | | | | in asthmatic felines. |
| True asthma usually responds quickly to a | | | | COMPLEMENTARY TREATMENTS |
| combination of medications geared to open the | | | | Principles include treating allergies if present, |
| airway and block the allergic reaction. Severe | | | | decreasing airway inflammation and reducing |
| cases often also require oxygen therapy. | | | | environmental stress. |
| Antibiotics are indicated if bacterial infections such | | | | * Hypoallergenic Diets may relieve asthmatic signs |
| as Pneumonia are present. | | | | associated with dietary allergies. |
| In an emergency: | | | | * Fish Oil: Flaxseed Oil. |
| * An injection of Epinephrine (adrenalin) reverses | | | | * Antioxidants: Vitamins C & E |
| an asthmatic crisis in 15 minutes. | | | | * Vitamin B6 |
| * Terbutaline is an airway dilator – when | | | | * Vitamin B12 |
| given by injection, it will open airways within 30 | | | | * Acupuncture has been effective in certain |
| minutes. | | | | cases. |