Letter Of Community Interest

feline asthma or chronic bronchitis feline

L'asma del gatto è anche nota come bronchite cronica, asma bronchiale o bronchite allergica.

La penetrazione all'interno delle vie respiratorie di antigeni inalati provoca la degranulazione acuta dei mastociti (presenti sulle mucose dell'apparato respiratorio) e, quindi, il rilascio di serotonina.

La serotonina è il principale mediatore prodotto dai mastociti felini e contribuisce alla contrazione della muscolatura liscia di bronchi e bronchioli.

Ciò ha pertanto come conseguenza un'improvvisa contrazione di tale muscolatura liscia, con relativo restringimento del diametro del lume delle vie aeree, generando un rumore caratteristico al passaggio dell'aria (sibilo) ed una sensazione di soffocamento ad ogni atto respiratorio (quella che in umana viene definita "fame d'aria").

La malattia è spesso progressiva ed esita in bronchiectasia ed enfisema.

Gli antigeni che scatenano il rilascio della serotonina di solito non vengono identificati, ma quelli più comunemente sospettati sono i pollini di erbe ed alberi, il fumo (di sigarette o di camino), spray (lacca per capelli, antipulci, deodoranti ambientali, ecc.), dusty litter, flea powder and dust, among the causes to be taken into account also the possibility of a food allergy.

Cigarette smoking is becoming an increasingly important role as a possible cause of the problem in families where there are smokers, due to the pollution of fumes to the floor or carpet, which corresponds precisely to the target level it comes from the air inhaled by the cat.
The most common clinical sign is a cough and difficulty breathing.
asthmatic cats usually take a characteristic crouched position. Those affected
in modo grave mostrano dispnea espiratoria, sibili, respirazione a bocca aperta e cianosi (colore bluastro delle mucose esplorabili, dovuta alla ridotta ossigenzione del sangue).

Alla visita clinica il paziente presenterà quindi un'espirazione prolungata e difficoltosa che coinvolge la muscolatura addominale (dicrotismo respiratorio).

Si possono riscontrare anche respirazione a bocca aperta, cianosi, ortopnea (dispnea da decubito), ansia, talvolta dilatazione addominale da aerofagia (per la respirazione a bocca aperta) e , all'auscultazione, murmure polmonare rinforzato e/o sibili espiratori, oltre ovviamente alla tosse.

Regarding the diagnosis, therefore, use is made primarily of clinical signs: Asthma in fact must always be suspected in cats that are coughing, especially if you take the typical crouched position.
In the second instance must proceed with a chest X-ray: The story of cats with pulmonary asthma usually has a characteristic that is termed "interstitial" (an increase of interstitial pattern with peribronchial thickening), but you can also observed patchy alveolar radiopacity, increased chest diameter, flattening of the diaphragm.
In some subjects we have the collapse of right middle lung lobe.
Other imaging findings that can be observed there is the swelling of the right heart and pulmonary un'iperinsufflazione, bloating (gas expansion of the stomach) or emphysema (the so-called emphysematous bubbles, especially in chronic cases) or even pneumothorax (accumulation of air in the pleural cavity, due to rupture of alveoli or brochioli).
As for blood tests and the clinical chemistry haemogram that does not give a diagnostic findings, peripheral eosinophilia has been reported in a very variable percentage (20 to 75% of cases) and sometimes it present some hyperproteinemia. Among the investigations
diagnostic reactions to be taken into account there is also a bronchial wash or bronchoalveolar (BAL), by which one can detect a significant increase in eosinophils (but also present in normal cats, but to a lesser extent).
A further consideration must be made is that the detection of antibodies or antigen heartworm, through appropriate testing , possibly associated with echocardiography for diagnosis of heartworm disease, another important cause of cough not be underestimated, especially in endemic areas.
Among the differential diagnosis should be considered (in addition to heartworm cardiopolmonare), il linfoma felino, la cardiomiopatia, l'edema polmonare, la polmonite ab ingestis, la broncopolmonite e l'edema polmonare non cardiogeno.

Ricordiamo comunque che la tosse non è un sintomo così comune nel gatto, per cui quando presente l'asma felina va sempre sospettata per prima.

In quanto alla terapia durante la crisi respiratoria occorre somministrare Ossigeno attraverso una maschera facciale, un catetere nasale, una tenda (realizzata tramite l'applicazione di un collare elisabettiano chiuso parzialmente tramite del cellofan) o una gabbia ad ossigeno: queste due ultime eventualità sono da preferire, perché meno stressanti per un gatto in respiratory failure.
Secondly, it should give intravenous corticosteroids with rapid action, and perhaps add to the latter of bronchodilators subcutaneously every 15-30 minutes to effect.
Once you have the control of respiratory crisis we think about the long-term management of this pathological condition, which is to first delete all suspected triggers (dust, smoke, deodorants, perfumes, insecticides and other allergens), avoidance of stressful situations or excessive fatigue, the choice of a cool, well ventilated area where the cat to stay.
is based in the market of patented devices for administration of substances inhaled dose predetermined (we talk about the aerosol sprays with corticosteroids), consisting of a spacer to apply to one side of the bottle of MDI (Metered Dose Inhalers) and the other end of anesthesia to place a mask on the face of the cat. This is a good alternative to the administration of these drugs orally or parenterally.
In most cats, the prognosis for the control of asthma symptoms feline is good, especially when it has not yet been an extensive and permanent damage to lungs.
Unfortunately, the ultimate healing is unlikely, unless you are unable to identify the underlying cause and eliminate it permanently.
So most cats require constant care.
Also, people with serious asthma attacks and acute are always at risk of sudden death due to respiratory failure and choking.