Seeing your beloved cat gasping for breath is a stressful experience for any pet owner. With feline asthma, the symptoms can range from anything to a slight cough to a full-blown asthma attack, which can be fatal if your cat is not given immediate help. There is no cure for the condition, but there is treatment available to help your cat live a long and happy life.

Treatment options

Asthma itself is not treatable, but medication to be administered to treat acute symptoms and to help prevent future attacks. This treatment is either anti-inflammatory or bronchodilator therapy, or quite often a combination of both.

Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs and are that most commonly prescribed medication for asthma. These help to prevent the inflammation caused by the immune system response, and so helps to prevent the airways from becoming constricted. Corticosteroids can be administered orally, by injection or by inhalation. These drugs are not without their side effects, so the benefits must be weighed up against the potential dangers of long-term use.

Bronchodilator therapy works more directly on the airway, dilating the bronchi and relaxing the lungs, though it does not prevent the initial immune response. Like corticosteroids, these can be administered orally or by injection, but are most commonly given by using a specially adapted inhaler known as a spacer.

Preventing asthma attacks

As asthma is generally due to an allergic reaction, reducing your cat’s exposure to the allergen can go a long way to helping prevent asthma attacks. In the first instance, you may wish to talk to your vet about allergy testing, which can provide you with details of specific things your cat is reacting to. Common allergens include cigarette smoke, air fresheners, perfumes, pollen, and dust, which should be eliminated where possible.

Stress and obesity can also contribute to asthma and can increase the severity of attacks. So keeping your cat healthy, happy and in good shape is one of the best things you can do for them. You may also wish to keep a record of any asthma attacks or flare-ups. This can help your vet identify any additional triggers that are contributing to your pet’s allergies, such as seasonal factors.

Prognosis

While there is no cure for feline asthma, it can generally be well-managed with the right treatment and preventative action. The exact prognosis will depend on the severity of the disease and its symptoms. Some cats may improve rapidly with a single intervention, while others may require constant management of their symptoms. For owners of cats with asthma, the most important thing is to be able to prevent asthma attacks and to be prepared to administer immediate treatment if they do occur, as these attacks can be fatal.