The cat coughs dry, the cat coughs like it’s choking or the cat coughs and vomits, are some of the concerns that arise among the tutors, if your cat has these symptoms is that something irritates or clogs the airways (nose, throat, bronchi or lungs).
We usually think of a cat cold, but the causes of coughing in cats are numerous, some are easier to treat and others more complicated, but no situation in which the cat coughs is normal, therefore, as soon as you notice that your pet coughs repeatedly or regularly, take it immediately to your veterinarian.The faster you act, the faster you can treat the causes of coughing in cats and alleviate your pet’s distress.
In this Animal Expert article, we’ll explain why your cat coughs, what it can be, and what to do.
Coughing is the body’s reaction to eliminate accumulated secretions or foreign bodies in the airways.Coughing is not a disease in itself, but it is always a warning sign that something is wrong and can be a sign of more respiratory and/or heart disease..
Associated with this problem, we may have
The cough associated with these and other symptoms may be specific to certain types of diseases, making it easier for the veterinarian to diagnose the disease.
Normally, if we see a cat coughing, we automatically think of hairballs or a cold cat, but these two conditions are just some of the possible causes of coughing in cats.
Coughing in cats is often mainly induced by irritation or inflammation of the bronchi or trachea and may be associated with a wide variety of causes, including:
Once hairballs are discarded, the most common diseases are chronic bronchitis, feline asthma and viral and bacterial pneumonia.
The more detailed the description of your pet’s symptoms and history, the easier it will be for the veterinarian to reject or include certain assumptions, for example, if you have been in contact with a foreign substance, been outdoors, coughed during exercise or slept.
Frequency, duration, height and type of cough are also essential for a quick and good diagnosis.
Sneezing is often mistaken for coughing, so we give you a quick and simple trick to distinguish it: when sneezing, the animal has its mouth closed, coughing has its mouth open.
In addition to a good history and physical exam, the veterinarian may need blood and urine tests to check for infections or allergens while performing an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI if necessary. In some cases, it may be necessary to observe the airways.directly through laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the cough. In addition to being very important in the treatment of symptoms, it is very important to eliminate, or at least try to control, the cause of these symptoms.
Some diseases are incurable, but most can be controlled
To treat hairballs, your doctor may suggest that you change your diet or malt to avoid them, in the case of parasites it is necessary to use antiparasitic agents, in all other cases may be bronchodilators, antibiotics, antihistamines and / or corticosteroids In very serious cases, it is possible that the cat must be hospitalized to receive oxygen and be able to breathe better.
You have to be very careful because there are many drugs that are not suitable for cats and, instead of curing, can kill the animal, it is important to emphasize that you must strictly follow the instructions of your veterinarian and the treatment that has recommended it.If they are not cured well, these diseases can lead to even more serious problems.Even if your pet appears to have no symptoms and still has medications to administer, follow the instructions and provide the amount of prescription drugs.You can never stop treatment in the middle without the indication of a veterinarian.
There are home remedies for a cat with a cold or flu, and some things you can do for your pet:
Some home remedies for cats with coughs and hoarseness include
Even if it is home remedies, it is important to be informed with your veterinarian about the best remedy for your pet.If you want to know more home remedies, read our article on home remedies for flu in cats.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis, we suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Respiratory Diseases section.