2024-04-23 08:00:00
Pet owners are often faced with the challenge of distinguishing between harmless hairballs and more serious health problems in their cats. An often overlooked condition is asthma in cats, the symptoms of which can easily be confused with the usual regurgitation of hairballs.
Typical signs of feline asthma include persistent coughing, difficulty breathing, wheezing and rapid breathing. It is particularly easy to confuse the cough with regurgitation and vomiting of hairballs, which are part of the cat’s normal grooming.
Symptoms of Feline Asthma
To determine if a cat has asthma or is just trying to clear a stuck hairball, it’s a good idea to pay attention to the frequency and intensity of the symptoms. Hairball vomiting is normal, especially in long-haired cats. However, the frequency, duration and accompanying symptoms can indicate whether it is asthma. A coughing fit often occurs with asthma along with shortness of breath. The cats assume a crouched position and breathe with their mouths open. A beeping sound can often be heard. Pet owners should consult a veterinarian immediately if they are unsure or if symptoms persist.
Causes of Feline Asthma
With feline asthma, cats do not get enough air and suffer from shortness of breath. Hyperactivity of the bronchi leads to increased mucus secretion, inflammation and oedema, which reduces lung volume.
The causes of feline asthma, in addition to a genetic predisposition, are often attributed to environmental allergens such as:
– Cigarette smoke
– Emphasize
– Pollen
– Detergents
– House dust
Diagnosis and treatment of feline asthma
To confirm the diagnosis of feline asthma, a series of tests must be carried out so that other diseases, such as lungworm with similar symptoms, can be safely ruled out.
This includes a detailed general examination including listening to the lungs for unusual sounds such as crackles and wheezing, a blood test, a chest ultrasound and a bronchoscopy.
Pulmonary lavage of the lower respiratory tract under anesthesia makes it possible to take tissue and bacterial samples in a gentle way. By analyzing the washed out cells, bacterial infections or lungworms can definitely be ruled out.
Once all other possible causes have been ruled out, treatment for feline asthma is initiated. The quality of life of the sick cat can be significantly improved with long-term medication. The medicines can be administered orally or inhaled. Of course, inhalation must be practiced carefully so that the cat can tolerate inhalation in an emergency situation. Anti-inflammatory steroids help the bronchi to dilate once more and the mucous membrane to swell.
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