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Cat Asthma?
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blazergirl4ever posted:
Hello. I have a 5 year old female cat that seems to be very healthy but here lately she has been coughing. About 10 months ago I had to rush her to a emergency vet because she was coughing and afterwards was having trouble breathing. The vet did a chest xray and said it looked good so he told me that she had a severe allergic reaction to something. After thinking for a while we figured it was probably mold in the garage. I completely closed that room off from her and she has not had another attack like that since, but here lately she has started coughing again. The coughing just comes in spurts and some days she does not do it at all. When she does it she does not having trouble breathing afterward and she seems to be her happy self. She hasn't had a loss in appetite, she wants to play, and has not lost any weight. Sometimes when she plays if she runs a lot she will have a coughing spell for a minute or so afterward. Does it sound like she has asthma? What can I do to help her? She is part of the family so your help is so appreciated
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Cat Asthma?Hello. I have a 5 year old female cat that seems to be very healthy but here lately she has been coughing. About 10 months ago I had to rush her to a emergency vet because she was coughing and afterwards was having trouble breathing. The vet did a chest xray and said it looked good so he told me that she had a severe allergic reaction to something. After thinking for a while we figured it was probably mold in the garage. I completely closed that room off from her and she has not had another attack like that since, but here lately she has started coughing again. The coughing just comes in spurts and some days she does not do it at all. When she does it she does not having trouble breathing afterward and she seems to be her happy self. She hasn't had a loss in appetite, she wants to play, and has not lost any weight. Sometimes when she plays if she runs a lot she will have a coughing spell for a minute or so afterward. Does it sound like she has asthma? What can I do to help her? She is part of the family so your help is so appreciated
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AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Drew Weigner, DVM, ABVP responded:
Asthma is certainly a possibility. It's a diagnosis by exclusion (i.e., ruling out other causes) but is fairly common in cats. Chest x-rays are often suggestive for this disease but in very acute cases, they can be normal. Since she may have had this problem for several years now, repeating her x-rays should be helpful as they should show changes by now.

Other causes include heartworms, lung parasites, heart disease, and cancer. It's also possible it's nothing more than hairballs but, regardless, she needs to be examined by your veterinarian. Lung diseases can be serious and often fatal.

Drew Weigner, DVM, ABVP
The Cat Doctor
Board Certified in Feline Practice
Report This| Share this:Cat Asthma?Asthma is certainly a possibility. It's a diagnosis by exclusion (i.e., ruling out other causes) but is fairly common in cats. Chest x-rays are often suggestive for this disease but in very acute cases, they can be normal. Since she may have had this problem for several years now, repeating her x-rays should be helpful as they should show changes by now.<br /> <br />Other causes include heartworms, lung parasites, heart disease, and cancer. It's also possible it's nothing more than hairballs but, regardless, she needs to be examined by your veterinarian. Lung diseases can be serious and often fatal.<br /> <br />Drew Weigner, DVM, ABVP<br />The Cat Doctor<br />Board Certified in Feline Practice
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Drew Weigner, DVM, ABVP Expert
Drew Weigner, DVM, ABVP, is one of the few board-certified feline specialists in the nation, having practiced medicine for more than 25 years. Weigner...More

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