Asthma (Feline)
| PrintFeline asthma is a common, chronic lung disease of cats involving the lower airways, including bronchi and bronchioles. Pet parents often mistake the disease for hairballs. However, the cough is not productive.
Common name: Asthma
Scientific name: Feline bronchial disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Diagnosis
Signalment
Cats of all ages are susceptible to feline asthma.
Incidence/prevalence
Approximately 1 percent of the adult cat population has feline asthma. The Siamese cat population ranges up to 5 percent.
Geographic distribution
There is no specific geographic distribution for feline asthma.
Clinical signs (primary, most to least frequent, scientific term, synonyms)
Chronic coughing, Acute onset of difficulty breathing, Open-mouth breathing, Exercise intolerance.
Cause (scientific, common term)
Inhaled irritants and allergens (e.g., cigarette smoke, dust, perfume).
Organ system affected (most to least affected)
Lungs, lower airways.
Diagnostic tests
Wheezes may be heard on expiration during a physical exam. Chest X-rays, Transtracheal wash (sterile fluid is placed in the airways and drawn back out. It is then cultured and examined for various cell types)
Differential Diagnosis
Heart disease, Parasitic disease (heartworm, lungworm, roundworm), Infectious/inflammatory disease (pneumonia), Cancer.
Overview
Feline asthma is a lung disease of cats involving the lower airways including the bronchi and bronchioles, affecting up to 1 percent of all cats and 5 percent of Siamese breeds. Pet parents may mistakenly attribute the dry cough to an attempt to vomit a hairball. Cats with asthma may have an acute episode of difficulty breathing, which can be life-threatening. They can also present as having a nonproductive chronic cough.
Asthma is thought to be an allergic or immune-mediated reaction in the airways caused by inhaled irritants. The airways become thickened, and there is an increase in mucus production, which makes it more difficult for the cat to breathe. Although a specific cause cannot always be found, many asthmatic cats live in a household with people who smoke.
Treatment
Home Care
It is very important to minimize inhaled irritants in the cat's home. Asthmatic cats should not be in a household with smokers. Dust-free, unscented litter, such as recycled newspaper or wheat litter, should be used in the cat's litter boxes.
If potent cleaning products are used, adequate ventilation should be maintained and the cat should be confined to a separate room, or removed from the home, until the air has cleared.
The cat should be removed from any home with construction or painting until the project is completed. Incense, scented candles and perfumes should be kept to a minimum.
Professional Care
Veterinary care is important. Based on the cat's history and physical exam, a routine blood screen and fecal analysis should be performed to rule out other possible diseases. Chest X-rays may show “hyperinflated” lungs, a flattened diaphragm, thickened airways and possibly a collapsed lung lobe. A transtracheal wash may be performed so that the veterinarian can examine fluid from the lungs and culture it for bacteria.
A type of white blood cell common in allergic diseases, called an eosinophil, usually comprises the largest population of cells. The most relevant bacteria that may be cultured are called Mycoplasma, which can contribute to the respiratory problems seen in cats with asthma.
Action
Once a diagnosis of asthma is made by a veterinarian, a treatment plan is devised. The veterinarian may deworm the cat in case of undetected parasitic infection. If the cat is otherwise healthy, treatment starts with oral corticosteroids, which help decrease the inflammation in the airways.
If the cat is responding well to the oral steroids, an inhaled steroid, such as fluticasone, is started for long-term management. Inhaled steroids help prevent ongoing inflammation and chronic airway changes without the systemic side effects of oral steroids.
An inhaled bronchodilator may also be used for cats with particularly severe signs and can be given at home in the event of a crisis, before the cat is taken to the hospital. Inhaled medications are given through a mask that has been created specifically for this purpose. Antibiotics may be used if a Mycoplasma infection is present.
Outcome
Asthmatic cats generally need lifelong medical treatment, and some may have recurring episodes of respiratory distress.
References/Additional Readings
Padrid, P. CVT Update: Feline Asthma. In:Bonagura, J.D.,ed. Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy Small Animal Practice, 13th Ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 2000:805-810.
Johnson, L.R. Diseases of the Small Airways. In: Ettinger, S.J., and Feldman, E.C. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 6th Ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders, 2005; 1235-1237.
Author
Cara Lane, MA, VMD
Editor
Steven Hansen, DVM, MS, MBA
DABVT, DABT
© 2007. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
Please note that PetVet should only be used as a guide and in no way should be substituted for licensed veterinary care.
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