Introduction
Bronchitis in cats can be caused by a variety of reasons, and diagnosis may involve several tests to determine what is causing the condition. The cat’s symptoms and history are also important considerations that are taken into account for bronchitis diagnosis.
Diagnosing Bronchitis in Cats
When a cat comes into a veterinarian office with bronchitis symptoms, the doctor generally asks about the cat’s history and looks at any additional symptoms that may be present. If a cat is presenting symptoms that may also indicate a viral or bacterial infection, the veterinarian may begin tests and initial treatments for these causes. Cats that have recently been adopted from shelters, catteries, or pet shops are also at an increased risk for carrying viral or bacterial infections.
Complete blood tests and a screening for parasites may also be conducted in order to determine the cause of the bronchitis. Blood tests may help to pinpoint underlying medical conditions, such as feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus, which could be lowering the cat’s immune system to the point where a bronchial infection develops. Heartworm tests are normally performed as these parasites can cause coughing or asthma symptoms to appear. While lungworms are rare in the United States, some veterinarians may want to test for this parasite as well.
In cases where a good look at the lungs and bronchial tubes are needed, procedures such as bronchoscopy and chest x-rays may be performed. Chest x-rays can give a more in-depth look at the health of the lungs, and the bronchoscopy procedure will allow the doctor to see the condition of the airways. The bronchoscopy procedure uses a camera on the end of a flexible rod to view the airways of a sedated cat.