ASK-THE-VET: TREATMENT FOR CAT ASTHMA
February 8th, 2010 by Dr. Donna Spector
Question: Seeking the current treatment options for cat asthma. Are Flovent and Brethine still used? How Does Flonase fit into the tx. plan which is what my vet suggested.
Answer: Inhaled steroids (e.g. flovent) are currently the treatment of choice for feline asthma. Medications such as inhaled albuterol or oral terbutaline are used for acute flare-ups of coughing in asthmatic cats. Flonase is not typically used in asthma. It is a nasal steroid and has use for nasal allergies (rhinitis) and other nasal problems. Perhaps your veterinarian detected a nasal issue in your cat…it often goes hand in hand with asthma. Ask to be sure.
Hope that helps.
Dr. Donna Spector
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February 9th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
My 7 year old Russian Blue, Suzi, has sneezing fits that really knock her for a loop. This has been going on for about 6 months or so…we had her to the vets and he gave her clavamox for a URI. She seemed better for a while and it started all over. I use to use a corn based litter and changed to a clay base…thought that may have something to do with it, so I have now gone back to the corn based litter. She is having smaller episodes…but when she does have them…she will have white “snots” that come out from her nose. Last night when I was holding her I could hear that she was “stuffy”…but she didn’t have any sneezing fits. Could she be asthmatic?
February 11th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Hi Lori,
Sorry to hear that Suzi is so congested. What you are describing (congestion, snots, sneezing) are not signs of asthma, but of rhinitis. Rhinitis is inflammation in the nasal passages and can be caused by many things: allergies, infection (cryptococcus, viruses, etc), benign polyps, cancer (lymphoma) are the most common things. Antibiotics often appear to work for a short time because the nose is filled with bacteria and the medication cuts the numbers, however, rarely is the real problem a true bacterial infection. The most common (and most frustrating) is allergic rhinitis (which is similar to hayfever or other nasal allergies in people) and is a problem cats often have to deal with periodically throughout the year. A thorough workup includes checking Suzi for the things I listed above and doing a nasal scope with biopsy. Ask your veterinarian what the next steps would be for Suzi.
Good luck.
Dr. Donna Spector