Oct 11
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Asthma Control – Feline Asthma And Feline Heartworm Disease
International Asthma day 2011 in Malmö
Image by “The owner”
The Asthma and Allergy Society in Malmö
Distinquishing Between Heartworm Infection and Asthma in Cats
Though there are many different causes of respiratory disease in cats, feline heartworm disease and feline asthma are two of the most common. Only within the past few years has the veterinary profession as a whole discovered that heartworm disease is cats is common and it is thought that many cats previously diagnosed with feline asthma might actually be cats suffering from feline heartworm disease instead.
Symptoms of Feline Asthma
Cats with asthma may present with symptoms ranging from mild to life-threatening. Common symptoms seen are:
sneezing
coughing
wheezing
difficulty breathing
lack of appetite
lethargy
Symptoms of Feline Heartworm Disease
Feline heartworm disease can cause a variety of symptoms in infected cats. Heartworm-associated respiratory disease, or HARD, is the most commonly seen form of heartworm disease in cats. HARD occurs when the immature heartworms invade the lungs and commonly seen symptoms are:
coughing
wheezing
difficulty breathing
lack of appetite
lethargy
This form of feline heartworm disease closely mimics feline asthma.
Other symptoms which may be seen with feline heartworm disease are vomiting and sudden death.
Differentiating Between Feline Asthma and Feline Heartworm Disease
Differentiating between feline asthma and feline heartworm disease may be quite difficult and, in many cases, may not be possible. Basic testing often recommended for cats presenting with respiratory symptoms may include:
blood testing, usually including a complete blood count and blood chemistry profile
specific blood testing for heartworm antigen and antibody
radiographs (x-rays) of the chest
ultrosonography of the chest, more specifically the heart
Though specific testing for heartworm antigen and antibody can provide valuable information, these tests are not without pitfalls. False negatives are frequent and negative tests do not rule out heartworm disease in symptomatic cats.
Radiographs may provide important clues as to the cause of feline respiratory symptoms, but there can be overlap between what is expected radiographically in feline asthma and feline heartworm disease. Therefore, radiographs are not always accurate to determine the specific cause of respiratory symptoms in cats, though they may show abnormal changes within the lung fields.
Ultrasonography can provide a definitive diagnosis of feline heartworm disease if an adult heartworm is seen within the heart, but negative findings do not rule out heartworm disease as a cause of respiratory symptoms. Many cats suffer from HARD, which can occur before the heartworms mature and are present in the heart.
Treatment of Feline Asthma and Feline Heartworm Disease
Feline asthma and feline heartworm disease (particularly the HARD form of heartworm disease) often cannot be differentiated from one another diagnostically. Fortunately, treatment for feline heartworm disease and feline asthma is essentially the same.
No specific therapies exist to cure either feline heartworm disease or feline asthma. Drugs used in treating canine heartworm disease are too dangerous to use in cats.
Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment for both feline asthma and feline heartworm disease. Corticosteroids are used to decrease the inflammation present in the lungs of cats with both heartworm disease and asthma. Corticosteroids may be given in an oral form, often prednisone or prednisolone. Alternatively, corticosteroids such as Flovent ® (fluticasone) may be administered with an inhaler.
Other medications frequently used in treating respiratory symptoms in cats caused by heartworms or asthma are bronchodilators, such as albuterol or terbutaline. As with corticosteroids, bronchodilators may be administered orally or with an inhaler.
Feline Heartworm Disease is Easily Preventable
One of the primary differences between these two diseases is the fact that feline heartworm disease is easily prevented, whereas feline asthma is not.
Numerous medications exist to help prevent feline heartworm disease and these medications are extremely effective if used according to label directions. Commonly used feline heartworm preventive medications include Heartgard Plus Feline ®, Revolution for Cats ® and Advantage Multi for Cats ®.
Written by Lorie Huston
Working as a veterinarian for the past 20+ years, Lorie has developed a strong desire to help pet owners keep their pets healthy by educating them on
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