"I think if we can identify [asthmatic cats] quite early and get treatments on board to suppress [their cough], then hopefully we can avoid them coming to such extremes," she said.
Helpful Humans
Recent advances in the treatment of human asthma are helping sick felines.
"We now do exactly what we do for infants and children," Padrid said. The Chicago-based vet has extensively studied feline asthma and related pulmonary disease in people.
Inhaled anti-inflammatory medications similar to human inhalers can be delivered to cats through an aerosol chamber with a facemask.
Research in the field of human asthma has also suggested a link between bacterial Mycoplasma infection and a worsening of asthmatic symptoms.
Studies done in the United States and Australia have shown the bacteria are present in one-fifth of all lung fluid samples taken from asthmatic cats, Reed said.
Next year Reed plans to study 50 cats with asthma to identify the incidence of this bacterial infection in felines and hopefully improve their treatment.
"We often have asthmatic cats that improve with antibiotics, even though we haven't diagnosed an infection," she explained. "We're suspicious [the bacteria are] there. We're just not finding it, and that's what I want to try and do."
In the meantime Padrid encourages owners with asthmatic cats to work closely with their veterinarian.
"There's a lot of support available now to help their cats," he said. "With proper treatment and proper diagnoses, [asthmatic] cats can live a very long healthy life."
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