Asthma and Bronchitis in Cats
My cat started having coughing spells. I thought she was trying to cough up a hairball. My veterinarian has diagnosed feline asthma and bronchitis. I didn’t know cats could have such a thing.
Feline asthma affects a fair number of cats and is often associated with bronchitis. “Asthma” is technically an acute or chronic inflammation of the airway associated with several physiologic effects including:
- Increased responsiveness to various noxious stimuli
- Narrowing/constriction of the airways
- Reversibility of airway constriction
- The presence of inflammatory cells within the airways
The term “feline bronchitis” describes the coughing and/or wheezing that comes from inflammation in the lower airway. Asthma and bronchitis are typically considered as two parts of the same syndrome.
If the cat’s airways are sensitive to certain stimuli, exposure to those agents can cause an inflammatory response and the cat will experience bronchial spasms, increased mucus production, and possible accumulation of mucus in the airways. Inability to clear the bronchi of mucus can lead to airway obstruction and may leave the cat susceptible to secondary respiratory infections. Chronic airway obstruction may trap air in the tiny lung passages called alveoli, leading to over-inflation and lung damage.
Coughing and respiratory distress (difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, open-mouth breathing, etc.) are the most common signs of feline asthma and bronchitis. Coughing is a significant finding since there are relatively few causes of coughing in cats. Coughing cats assume a squatting position with the neck extended. These cats will also generally wheeze – sometimes loud enough to hear if you are close to the cat.
Are some cats more likely to get asthma?
Feline asthma and bronchitis are seen most commonly in cats from two to eight years of age, and the Siamese cat seems to be at higher risk for developing this disease syndrome. Overweight and obese cats are at greater risk for developing chronic respiratory disease, and one study suggests it may be more common in females.
What causes feline asthma and bronchitis?
The actual cause of the inflammation associated with feline asthma and bronchitis is unknown. It is better to consider triggers that enhance the inflammation and cause asthma and bronchitis signs. These triggers may include:
- Dust from cat litter
- Cigarette smoke
- Perfume
- Hairspray
- Carpet cleaners/fresheners
- Scents added to laundry detergent and/or fabric softeners
How is asthma diagnosed?
Diagnosing asthma and bronchitis in cats requires ruling out other diseases that cause respiratory signs. These diseases include infectious pneumonia (fungal, bacterial, parasitic), feline heartworm disease (cats are aberrant hosts for the canine heartworm disease parasite), primary lung parasites, and tumor disease (either a lung tumor, or one that has metastasized or spread to the lungs from elsewhere in the body).
“Diagnosing asthma and bronchitis in cats
requires ruling out other diseases
that cause respiratory signs.”
Diagnostic tests will include a complete blood count (CBC), blood chemistries, fecal exam, and urinalysis. These tests will assess the general health of the cat and may provide clues as to the underlying cause. One type of white blood cell, the eosinophil, is commonly associated with allergic events or parasitic disease and its presence supports a tentative diagnosis of asthma. In some cases, special tests will be performed on stool samples, looking for evidence of lungworms. Additional diagnostic tests may include the following:
- Heartworm test. This is a blood test and should be performed on any coughing cat. • Feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) tests. These tests are helpful in determining the overall health of the cat.
- Thoracic radiography (chest X-ray). There are several characteristic changes seen on lung radiographs in cats with asthma and bronchitis. Radiographs can help eliminate other lung and heart diseases. For instance, feline heartworm disease and lungworm create specific suggestive lesions that can be seen on radiographs.
- Bronchoscopy with cytology and/or culture. Bronchoscopy is a procedure typically performed by a specialist and allows the veterinarian to visualize the airways of the anesthetized cat with a small fiber optic scope. Samples of the mucus and cells lining the bronchi may be obtained for examination under the microscope and for culture.
- Tracheal lavage. Tracheal lavage involves “washing” the trachea with a small amount of sterile saline, providing cells and mucus from the windpipe. This material can then be cultured for microorganisms and examined under the microscope.
In most cases, a single underlying cause cannot be identified, despite a complete and thorough diagnostic work-up. Even when the underlying cause is not identified, many cats can achieve a reasonable quality of life with medical management.
How is asthma treated?
Once other diseases are either identified and treated, or ruled out, treatment for asthma and bronchitis can proceed. Treatment of this disease syndrome is best considered “management” as a cure rarely occurs. Successful management of feline asthma and bronchitis typically involves some combination of the following:
- Avoiding triggers – Any triggers that aggravate breathing problems in cats with this diagnosis should be avoided. This means trying different brands of cat litter, eliminating cigarette smoke from the home, etc. It is important to pay close attention to environmental factors that may aggravate or worsen the condition.
- Normalize body condition – Being overweight or obese causes systemic inflammation that can contribute to feline asthma and bronchitis, as well as increasing the workload on the heart and lungs. Normalizing body condition is critical to success.
- Bronchodilators – Bronchodilators are inhaled and used to open up the airways, allowing the cat to move air in and out of the lungs more freely. In order for this to be effective, they need to be used consistently, as directed by your veterinarian.
- Corticosteroids – Corticosteroids have potent anti-inflammatory effects and can provide relief to cats experiencing the respiratory distress of asthma and bronchitis. A cat may receive an injection of long-acting corticosteroid that has the ability to relieve symptoms for several weeks to several months. More commonly, a cat may be prescribed an inhaled corticosteroid to try to limit the effects of the steroid to the lungs and minimize negative side effects.
- Hypoallergenic nutrient profile – Your veterinarian can assist you in understanding if your cat’s asthma control will benefit from a food that is either less allergenic, or truly hypoallergenic. Nutrition takes time to have its effect on cats with asthma and bronchitis, but may lower the reliance on medication.
- Medical acupuncture – Neuro-modulation via medical acupuncture may be a technique that can provide some relief of symptoms to cats with asthma and bronchitis. In those cats who respond to medical acupuncture, their need for medication to control their symptoms may be reduced.
Will my cat be cured of asthma and bronchitis?
Cats with feline asthma and bronchitis are rarely cured. The goal of treatment is to lessen the severity and frequency of the “attacks” and improve overall quality of life. Most cats with feline asthma and bronchitis can live very full and active lives.
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