Feline Asthma-Kitty starts to Cough!

Feline asthma,chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, and allergic bronchitis. Regardless of the name, it is a common cat ailment. Inhaled allergens cause sudden contraction of the smooth muscles around airways, leading to typical asthma symptoms just like those seen in people. It is usually quite difficult to determine which allergens cause asthma in individual cats, but common ones include grass and tree pollens, cigarette or fireplace smoke, various sprays (hair sprays, deodorants, flea sprays, deodorizers and deodorizing carpet powders, and dust from cat litter trays. (Try to choose low duct producing cat litter with big granules if you must use it)
Feline asthma is found in cats of all ages. The prevalence in the general adult cat population is about 1%. The most common symptoms in cats with asthma are wheezing and coughing. The coughing has been described as a dry, hacking cough that could be confused with gagging or retching. Many cats are misdiagnosed as having hairballs! Bouts of coughing occur frequently. In mildly affected cats, coughing and wheezing may occur only occasionally. A few cats with asthma are asymptomatic in between acute and severe bouts of airway constriction. The most severely affected cats have daily coughing and wheezing and many bouts of airway constriction, leading to open-mouth breathing and panting that can be life threatening.
The symptoms of asthma can mimic other diseases, such as heartworm, pneumonia and congestive heart failure. If your pet is unwell, don't forget to alert your vet if you have used any spray products in th hom, on your pet or furnishings. If you live in a contry area, let your vet know if your pet started to wheeze after local fields were sprayed etc.
The good news is, it is something that can affect your pet one time only and never occur again. All the measures you can take that are preventative will also be good for every member of your houshold, not just your cat. Consult your vet if your cat continues to cough and wheeze.

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