Breathing Easier

I've certainly had cats on my mind lately and I've got some great news! I just finished reading an article about a possible cure for feline asthma in one of the latest online veterinary journals (AAHA NewStat 10/28/09). Apparently, 1%-5% of all cats suffer from feline asthma (that translates into 4.1 million cats!) This can be a very serious disease and is potentially fatal so it's good to hear about the progress they're making.

The funding for this research comes from the Morris Animal Foundation. They provide essential funding to veterinary schools all over the country for the advancement of animal medicine. This latest study conducted by Carol Reinero, DVM, DACVM, PhD looks to be quite promising.

Have any of you had cats afflicted with feline asthma? If so, how did it affect your relationships with them and their quality of life? Once again, I ask you cat lovers to send us your thoughts!

--Dana

Comments

[turtlecookie]

Very interesting, Dana. (Couldn't find the study in the link.) The last time I had Jazz in for her appt., I mentioned that she'd had an unproductive cough for about 3 weeks. I thought it was a hairball issue. The vet said it sounded like a breathing issue. They treated her for asthma and tested her for heartworm, which apparently can mimic asthma in cats. The treatment helped, so I brought her in for her vaccines (we didn't do them while she was wheezing). Interestingly a couple of days after her vaccines, the wheezing started again. It went away on its own before I could get her in to the vet, but now I am wondering if it was retriggered by the vaccines or if it was just coincidence. So, i don't know if she has asthma or not. If she does, I want to try something other than the shots or pills. Perhaps accupuncture. Something less invasive physically and emotionally for her. So far so good, though. I'd be interested in reading the article, Dana.

Turtlecookie

[Dana]

Sorry that the link did not work for you...I'll try to get you the right one!