If your cat’s coughing and sneezing frequency suddenly increases in the fall, you should suspect asthma. Feline asthma is a typical chronic allergic disease. It has a worldwide prevalence of over 1%, and at least 1 in 100 animals is diagnosed with asthma. Most of the onset is between the ages of 2 and 6, and since it cannot be cured and the symptoms worsen chronically or gradually, early diagnosis and management are very important.
Asthma in cats is difficult to cure, so management is very important｜Source: Getty Images Bank
The exact cause of asthma in cats is still unknown, but it is known that people are affected by allergies as much as asthma in humans. When asthma occurs, the mucous membrane of the narrow passageway through which air passes through the airways and lungs becomes inflamed, mucosal edema, mucosal spasm, and secretions increase.
Cat asthma, which is difficult to diagnose, has ‘these symptoms’?
Symptoms include coughing and sneezing. In particular, if you lie on your stomach, extend your neck, stick out your tongue, and make a strong ‘kekk’ sound as if you are trying to expel foreign substances in your throat, it is highly likely that you have asthma. In addition, as symptoms worsen, dyspnea, tongue, gums, and lips may turn blue and appear cyanosis. If cat asthma is not treated in a timely manner, it can lead to serious complications and death.
The biggest problem with feline asthma is that it is difficult to diagnose. Because there are so many different causes of coughing, if no other specific cause is found following conducting various tests such as a parasite test first, ‘CT scan’, ‘chest radiograph’, and ‘drug test’ are performed to differentiate asthma. . In addition, the bronchoalveolar lavage test is performed by inserting a very thin tube up to the bronchi, injecting saline, and collecting it to check whether inflammatory cells are detected.
Environmental management is important
Feline asthma is a very difficult disease to cure. However, there is no major problem in the lifespan of a cat if appropriate medication and management are combined. Bronchodilator and steroids are used for treatment, and oral medications have side effects such as diabetes and pancreatitis, so aerosol inhaled medications are mainly used.
Environmental management is also very important. It is best to remove as much as possible the irritant that may cause allergy. The main irritants are ▲ house dust mites ▲ mold ▲ pollen ▲ cigarette smoke ▲ cat sand dust ▲ perfume. Seasonal factors may also affect the severity of symptoms. In weather with a large daily temperature difference, such as autumn, the respiratory mucosa becomes sensitive and irritated, which can worsen symptoms. Therefore, it is recommended to remove dust from the house as much as possible and use a humidifier during the dry season. In addition, it is recommended to check the health of your cat by receiving regular health checkups every 6 months to 1 year.
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