Feline Asthma (Bronchitis)

Question 1

What is feline asthma?

Answer 1

Hypersensitivity reaction in cats that leads to decrease airflow in the small airway due to increased mucous secretion, airway edema, and cellular infiltrates.

Question 2

What does feline asthma cause?

Answer 2

Constriction and spasm of the smooth muscle of the airway.
Results in inflammation and swelling which leads to hyperinflation of the lung and air trapping as the cat can’t exhale completely past the narrow airways.

Question 3

What are the clinical signs of feline asthma?

Answer 3

Range from mild cough to acute and severe respiratory distress. Expiratory wheeze can be heard (push of air outwards through the narrowed airway).

Severe cases = dyspnea, harsh lung sounds or crackles, open mouth breathing and has increased expiratory effort.

Question 4

Diagnosis of feline asthma

Answer 4

Made on clinical signs and radiographs.
Radiographs
:bronchial thickening that looks like small donuts due to hyperinflation of the lungs
:flattened diaphragm due to caudal displacement
: normal rads does not mean no asthma

• Transtracheal wash: eosinophilic inflammatory cells but patient must be stable before attempting this procedure
• Blood work: increased eosinophil count

Question 5

Treatment for feline asthma

Answer 5

• Minimise stress
• Oxygen supplementation
• Administer inhaled or injectable bronchodilator to open airways
• Albuterol = inhaled bronchodilator of choice
• Terbutaline = injectable bronchodilator of choice
• Aminophylline = second choice injectable