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