Some animal owners are surprised when they go to veterinary offices and receive certain diagnoses. “But can cats have this disease like people?” The reality is that yes, these cats share certain disorders and pathologies with humans. One of them is asthma, so if you suspect that a cat may be sick and that this could be the reason, it is advisable to go to the veterinarian as soon as possible so that he can make the relevant diagnosis.
Feline asthma is caused by inflammation of the cat’s lower respiratory tract or lungs due to inhalation of irritating particles. Which triggers a whole series of symptoms linked to your respiratory system. In order to know if it is a case of this type, the first thing to do is to pay attention to the symptoms that the animal presents and, if there are suspicions, take it to a medical consultation.
The medical team at the TUCAN veterinary center assures that asthma is one of the most common respiratory pathologies in cats. The way in which a case of this disease can be identified is to identify its symptoms.
If a case of feline asthma is suspected, and after having attended a medical consultation, the veterinarian will perform a series of tests to rule out other pathologies and confirm, if applicable, the diagnosis of asthma. To do this, a chest x-ray and bronchoalveolar lavage will be performed, for which anesthesia of the animal is required, as explained by the TUCAN clinic.
In the case of feline asthma, the treatment consists of “controlling and reducing the intensity of asthma attacks,” the specialists indicate. In addition to treating the causes and symptoms that cause said disease, that is, such as inflammation and bronchoconstriction.
When asthma attacks occur, animals must deal with a high level of stress, something especially important to avoid in cats. For this reason, veterinarians emphasize the importance of providing oxygen to the animal and dilating the bronchioles, so that its breathing can normalize. This is achieved through a series of medications that the owners are informed about, in addition to teaching them how they should use them and in what situations.
The clinic advises avoiding accumulations of dust in the home, avoiding litter that releases this substance, not exposing the cat to tobacco smoke and not coming into contact with aerosols or cleaning products that emit vapors.
