- Eliot Kaplan, DVM -
Coughing cats are commonly seen in my practice and all age groups are represented. The three most common causes of coughing in cats are feline asthma, feline lungworm, and feline heartworm disease. Luckily, in the Okanagan Valley feline heartworm disease is non-existent. Feline lungworm results from a cat eating snails or slugs. It is easily treated and in many cases, the affected cat shows no symptoms. Feline asthma, however, always results in symptoms and if untreated, can be a progressive and terminal disease.
When I am presented with a coughing cat, after a thorough exam is given, a chest radiograph is mandatory. In many cases, the diagnosis of asthma can be made based on the exam and radiographs alone. However, if the cat has free access to the outside, I will often recommend a quick and easy procedure to get a sample of cells and fluid directly from the lungs called a bronchoalveolar lavage. Lungworm larvae will usually show up with this diagnostic technique.
If the chest radiograph shows a discrete abnormality in a lung lobe, I will often take a sample from that area with a small needle and with the help of ultrasound. This procedure is called a fine needle aspirate and lung tumors can sometimes be diagnosed in this manner. In addition, I prefer to do bloodwork on the coughing patient because in some cases, the bloodwork can help establish the diagnosis. For instance, some cancers that cause coughing can show up on bloodwork.
Unfortunately, a few patients will go undiagnosed despite utilizing the above diagnostic steps. In some of these cases, the only way to get an accurate diagnosis is with a lung biopsy. Because this is not a benign procedure, the benefit versus the risk must be taken to account.
But what must always be considered is that treatment is usually most effective when a specific diagnosis is made. In this way, the specific treatment can be implemented against the disease process diagnosed. Resolution or at least remission of the condition is more likely with this approach. In contrast, treating a coughing cat based on symptoms without a specific diagnosis being made is rarely effective. |
