Get Advice from a Vet

ASK A VET
Veterinarian, DVM, MBA
Get free advice on diet, health, fitness, and wellness questions within 3 business days via email.

Symptoms of Feline Asthma

Ask the Vet
Lindsay Butzer, DVM
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Back to results
Enter Your Information All fields are required

While efforts are made to answer all questions as quickly as possible, if an immediate answer is required or if your pet is in need of urgent or emergency care, contact your pet's veterinarian immediately.

*Please note: Questions submitted and the answers will appear on our website as a benefit to all pet owners. Please make sure not to include any personal information in the box where you enter your question.

Ask the Vet
Lindsay Butzer, DVM
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Thank you! Your question has been submitted.

You will receive an answer from Dr. Lindsay and our vet/tech team as soon as possible, usually the same day.

All answers are provided for informational or educational purposes only, and are intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your pet's veterinarian.

It may be necessary to consult your pet's veterinarian regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your pet's symptoms or medical condition.

Close
Ask the Vet
Lindsay Butzer, DVM
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Oops! Your question has not been submitted.

An error has occurred, please reload the page and try again.

Close
Ask the Vet
Lindsay Butzer, DVM
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Got questions? Ask Dr. Lindsay & our Vet Team:

While efforts are made to answer all questions as quickly as possible, if an immediate answer is required or if your pet is in need of urgent or emergency care, contact your pet's veterinarian immediately.

Do these answer your question?
Showing of | See All
Have another question, or can’t find your answer?
Submit your question
We're Sorry!

There is no answer related to your question

Can’t find your answer?
Submit your question
Category
Back

Symptoms of feline asthma
Depending upon the severity of the asthma, affected cats may experience varying degrees of labored breathing, from mild wheezing to intense choking, gagging and coughing.
Symptoms are often seen after exertion or exercise, as well as after stress. A cat will typically hunch his or her body close to the ground and extend the neck down and out during an episode.

How are cats diagnosed with asthma?
The diagnosis of asthma is often made through a combination of clinical historical symptoms and in-house veterinary testing. This may involve stool checks to rule out migrating intestinal parasites, as well as blood work, including testing for heartworm and a CBC/differential blood count.
Many asthmatic cats will have an elevation in a type of blood cell known as eosinophils. Most veterinarians will make a tentative diagnosis of asthma by observing the classic bronchial "donut" appearing airway changes on chest X-rays. A definitive diagnosis of asthma can be made by a tracheal wash or a bronchoalveolar lavage. However these latter tests require general anesthesia.