Introduction
Owners of asthmatic cats can take comfort from the fact that there are a number of treatments available to minimize the consequences of this disorder, including prescription medications and life-style changes. Once asthma is diagnosed, the veterinarian will try to identify the underlying cause of the allergic reaction. Owners should keep an “asthma diary” which records when their cat has an asthma attack, the severity of the attack and how long the attack lasts. While it may seem burdensome, an accurate record of a cat’s asthmatic episodes can help identify the asthmatic trigger.
Treating Asthma in Cats
The goals of treating feline allergic bronchitis are to stabilize respiratory function, alleviate inflammation and identify and remove the inciting allergens from the cat’s environment if at all possible. Cats with allergic bronchitis should be treated aggressively in order to minimize long-term airway inflammation and resulting chronic bronchial damage. In addition to environmental and lifestyle changes, a number of prescription medications can help to reduce the number and severity of asthma attacks. Once the disorder becomes chronic, complete resolution may not be possible.
The most common treatment protocol is administration of glucocorticoids and bronchodilators to help reduce the number and severity of allergic attacks. In cases of secondary infection, antibiotics that penetrate airway secretions may be recommended as well; incorporation of antibiotic therapy should follow evaluation and culture of airway samples. Finally, cough suppressants are available for prolonged or exhausting non-productive coughs, although they are used cautiously in cats because coughs are a useful and normal mechanism for clearing airway secretions. In the past, nebulizers were most commonly used to administer these medical treatments to asthmatic cats. However, nebulizers are difficult to use on animals. More recently, metered-dose inhalers have become available. These inhalers are specifically designed to fit a cat’s muzzle and are especially helpful to administer bronchial dilation medications in acute situations. Asthmatic cats also often benefit from periodic oral bronchodilators, anti-histamines and steroid therapy.