Feline asthma, or cat asthma, is a chronic respiratory disease that, like asthma in humans, is triggered by an allergic reaction. Typical signs of feline asthma include severe coughing or wheezing. Young to middle-aged cats are most commonly affected.
Feline asthma is caused by an allergic reaction in the bronchial tubes, which leads to obstruction (narrowing) of the lower airways. This allergy can be triggered by pollutants or external stimuli such as cigarette smoke, dust mites, cleaning products, perfume, or even ingredients in cat food. However, it is not yet fully understood why the bronchial tubes react to these stimuli with a hypersensitivity reaction. A genetic predisposition in combination with previous damage to the bronchial tubes caused by earlier respiratory diseases is suspected.
Since initial contact with the allergens (substances that trigger allergies) initially only causes sensitization of the bronchial tubes and does not yet lead to clinical symptoms, the disease is often not recognized until late in its development. This is known as an immediate-type allergy. Upon renewed contact with the allergen, the bronchi quickly become obstructed and inflammatory changes occur in the bronchial walls, resulting in the characteristic symptoms of asthma.
During an acute asthma attack, cats experience coughing fits, shortness of breath, and a bluish discoloration of the tongue. The animal's entire body is often shaken during a coughing fit, accompanied by wheezing noises. A cat with an acute asthma attack and severe shortness of breath is always considered an emergency and must be taken to a veterinarian immediately!
The chronic course of the disease manifests itself in recurring attacks of coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath and, as the disease progresses, also in a significantly reduced general condition.
Since a wide variety of respiratory diseases can cause similar symptoms, the veterinarian can only make a tentative diagnosis based on a clinical examination and a detailed preliminary report. Further tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis. A blood count is usually performed, which can provide valuable information about chronic respiratory disease.
It is also advisable to examine a stool sample to rule out the presence of parasites that can also colonize the lungs (lungworms). X-rays can be used to visualize structural changes in the lungs and bronchi as well as changes in the position of the diaphragm.
Another very effective examination method is bronchoscopy, in which the trachea and bronchi are viewed from the inside using an endoscope. During this examination, the airways can be flushed and mucus samples taken. This examination is known as bronchoalveolar lavage.
In the first instance, if known, an attempt must be made to keep the triggering allergens away from the cat to prevent the symptoms from worsening. Depending on the severity of the disease, anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator medications are used for long-term therapy, which can be administered in tablet form or inhaled as a metered-dose aerosol via a breathing mask. The advantage of inhalation therapy is that it has significantly fewer side effects, but in severe asthma, inhalation alone is often not sufficient, at least in the beginning. Treatment of a cat with asthma must be continued for life, as the disease itself is incurable. Your vet will draw up a detailed treatment plan for your cat and can send you the medication digitally via petsXL, so that you can find all upcoming medication doses in your timeline and set reminders for yourself.
As the owner, you can also take the following simple measures to reduce additional stress on your cat's breathing:
Even though feline asthma cannot be cured, many cats with asthma can lead an almost symptom-free life with the help of appropriate measures and treatments. Regular veterinary check-ups to monitor the course of the disease and the treatment plan are essential to achieve long-term treatment success and ensure a favorable to good prognosis.
Laryngeal whistle syndrome, also known as hemiplegia laryngis or recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN), describes the paralysis of one side of the laryngeal muscles caused by a disorder of the nerve responsible for controlling them. The disease manifests itself through a typical sound during inhalation, which is why riders often say that the horse has a "tone." Large horses are particularly affected, with geldings and stallions more commonly affected than mares.
Liver disease has a complex effect on metabolism. Symptoms are nonspecific and only appear when 70% of the liver is no longer functioning. This means that liver disease is only detected once it is at an advanced stage.
Some breeds that have been bred by humans to achieve a desired appearance suffer from serious health problems: breathing difficulties, joint damage, eye problems, or limited ability to communicate – the list of diseases and affected animal breeds is long. But what exactly is torture breeding?
A horse is quite large, and the damage it can cause is considerable. In the event of an accident, the costs can easily run into several thousand dollars. A substantial sum may also be required if our horse falls ill or even needs surgery. Not to mention the financial worries if we lend our horse and it has an accident while being ridden. It is therefore very sensible and important to think about what would happen in the worst-case scenario. There are plenty of insurance policies available. Every horse owner and rider should find out exactly what is available and choose the right policy for their needs. Below is a list of some insurance policies and situations where they might be needed.
The word brachycephaly comes from Greek and means short-headed or round-headed. It describes the hereditary shorter and wider skull shape of some dog and cat breeds, which is reminiscent of the "childhood pattern" of young animals. The health consequences of this shortened facial skull are far-reaching and are referred to as brachycephalic syndrome.
This infectious disease caused by the coronavirus affects only cats and occurs worldwide. The disease remains one of the most common causes of death in cats. The name is derived from the most common symptom of this disease, peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining).
The West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes between birds, but also to humans, horses, and other mammals. For a long time, it only occurred on the African continent. However, since 1999, the West Nile virus has also spread to the US. In 2018, it was detected for the first time in birds and two horses in Germany (Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt). Since then, infections have occurred in the summer and fall months. Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony are particularly affected. However, more and more cases are now also occurring in Thuringia, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Bavaria. West Nile infection is a notifiable animal disease.
Testicular tumors are the second most common type of tumor in male dogs and account for four to seven percent of all tumors in dogs overall. There are different types of tumors, with dogs with one or two undescended testicles (= cryptorchidism) having a significantly increased risk of developing a testicular tumor.
Unfortunately, our pets are not immune to cancer either. Malignant lymphoma is a malignant tumor that originates in cells of the immune system. Since these cells are mainly found in lymph glands, it is also referred to as lymph gland cancer.
A doping scandal in dressage riding brought this condition to the attention of riders and owners a few years ago. But what exactly is this condition? More and more horses, especially sport horses, are now affected by this neuromuscular disease, the causes of which are still largely unknown. It is considered incurable and can severely impair a horse's performance. Large, heavy horses between the ages of 4 and 7 are particularly at risk, as are horses with naturally high muscle tone. Male horses are more commonly affected than mares.
This disease, also known as endothelial dystrophy, is a change in the cornea of the eye and is similar to Fuchs' dystrophy in humans. This disease causes damage to the endothelial cells that form the innermost layer of the cornea.
