SCOOBY DOO, OCTOBER 2003 PET OF THE MONTH
Scooby Doo is a two year old cat who normally likes to tear around the house. Scooby's owners recently became concerned when they noticed that he was a little less active and having coughing
episodes. Scooby had not had any previous health problems and is an indoor only cat.
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Tear around the house? Me? |
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When Scooby's owners brought him in to see us, he was more quiet than he would normally be. The only abnormality upon physical examination was a wheezing sound
when his lungs were auscultated. After discussing the findings with the owner, radiographs of his chest and two different blood tests, the first a CBC and the second
a heartworm test, were recommended. The bloodwork was all considered normal. The chest radiographs showed a consolidated lung lobe and thickenings of the
airway. The possibilities for the changes included feline asthma, pneumonia, which could be caused by parasites, bacteria, or fungal infections, or heart
disease. The most likely cause, given his age and the fact that he is an indoor only cat, was feline asthma.
Feline asthma is a disease that usually affects young to middle aged cats (2-8 years), with females being affected about twice as commonly as males. The disease is characterized by inflammation in the
airway, which causes narrowing of the airway. The narrowing results in difficulty breathing and the irritation produces a cough. Owners will commonly notice
coughing episodes followed by gagging or retching as if the cat was trying to vomit. In severe cases, owners will find their cat breathing with it's mouth open. The clinical
signs can be seasonal, but are more commonly a year round problem, due to airway hypersensitivity.
There are different treatment options depending on the severity of the clinical signs and the individual response to the treatment. The mainstay of treatment is corticosteroids, which are designed to
decrease the amount of inflammation in the airway. The steroids can be given by several routes, including orally, injection, or through the use of inhalers. In addition
to steroids, the use of bronchodilators is commonly used to relax the airway and allow the cat to breathe easier. Bronchodilators can be given orally or through inhalers. The majority of cats
will respond well to medical therapy and can be managed long term on a combination of medications.
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I'm ready for my closeup! |
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Scooby has returned to his normal active and happy personality and is doing quite well at home. With medication Scooby should be able to live a long and happy life.
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