Feline Asthma

[coaster]

Thanks, Roze. Asthma had occurred to me, but I guess I dismissed it since he'd been in to the vet. I think I'll have to research it some more.

[CTCat]

It's quite possible the cough could be left over from his cold but 3 weeks seems like quite a while for a left over cough. Your vet would hear some raspiness in the lungs but usually an x-ray help confirm.

Originally Posted by timskitties

how often would they do this, and what would set it off?

Tommy has been doing this about once a day ever since he got over a cold about three weeks ago. He engages in strenuous activity without any breathing problems, and there's no wheezing is regular breathing. The vet has listened to his chest with a stethoscope and had no comment.

[hefner42]

hey all! just a note on the asthmatic cats... my cat was diagnosed with asthma 4 years ago. he would sit hunched like he was coughing up a hairball but nothing was coming up. after x rays and things, they diagnosed him with asthma. they tried prednisone and other pills, but i just couldnt get him to take them. so they decided to start him on depo-medrol shots. he gets them every 4 to 6 weeks and he has done great on them!

[coaster]

thanks, hefner! my Tommy isn't coughing any more, so I think that was just leftover from his cold finally clearning up. thanks for sharing that...it's good to know for future reference.

[CTCat]

Originally Posted by hefner42

hey all! just a note on the asthmatic cats... my cat was diagnosed with asthma 4 years ago. he would sit hunched like he was coughing up a hairball but nothing was coming up. after x rays and things, they diagnosed him with asthma. they tried prednisone and other pills, but i just couldnt get him to take them. so they decided to start him on depo-medrol shots. he gets them every 4 to 6 weeks and he has done great on them!

Always try the lowest dose pills first if you can. The depo shots are hard on the cat after a while. Remember that they are steroids and too much of a good thing can be bad.

[hefner42]

yeah, i know the steroids are not good over time, but it was a last resort. i was not willing to let him drown in fluids in his lungs and the shots were the only thing that would help. we tried everything to get him to take those pills! he just wouldnt do it. we even crushed them up and mixed them with soft food! no success! he was having asthma attacks every other day. the shot was the only thing that has helped him. i would much rather have given him the pills, but he wasnt allowing that. i do understand the concern though.