Coughing cat? It may be asthma

If you have a cat with a chronic cough, then it’s a good chance your cat has asthma.

It’s way more common than most people think.

One of the ways to potentially help your cat is by providing additional antioxidants to help decrease free radical damage, and lung inflammation.

My supplement ULTIMATE Feline has additional antioxidants, along with nutrients such as probiotics designed to decrease inflammation.

Seems like a good idea to be on this…

Dr Jones’ Ultimate Feline Health Formula

Asthma in Cats

 

SIGNS

Asthma only occurs in cats, not in dogs. The most common sign is that your cat is coughing and not producing hairballs. Often this is accompanied by difficult breathing. Occasionally you can hear a whistling sound when they breathe.

 

CAUSES

The airways in the lungs narrow in response to a variety of things making it difficult to breathe. It may be brought on by smoke, pollen, a new food or even stress.

 

SOLUTIONS

• IT’S IN THE AIR – Avoid chemical irritants that could trigger an attack. Smoke outside if you must. Avoid perfumes, deodorizers, and strong chemical cleaners. Purchase an indoor air-filter to eliminate some of the small particles that can irritate the lungs.
• ELIMINATION DIET – Food allergens have been found as the causative agent for some cats. You can make your own hypoallergenic diet (ie a unique protein like Turkey, plus a healthy fat (sunflower oil), plus a supplement such as Ultimate Feline, or try a veterinary allergy diet, such as Duck and Potato. Whatever food you choose, it must be fed for 12 weeks.
• EMOTIONAL CONTROL – A common flower essence, Bach Rescue Remedy, can be helpful in calming your pet. Put 3-4 drops in his mouth every hour until he relaxes.
• NO ROLY-POLY CATS WANTED – If your cat is overweight, begin a weight-loss program with a specific calorie-reducing diet. The decreased body fat will make it easier to breathe.
• STEAMING IS BEST – Increasing the humidity in your house can decrease the incidence of asthma attacks. Regularly use a humidifier or vaporizer to maintain 30% humidity. In an attack, turn on the shower and steam your bathroom.

SEE YOUR VETERINARIAN In a severe asthma attack, your cat will need emergency treatment. They may use oxygen and specific anti-inflammatory medication.

SUPPLEMENTAL PROTECTION Vitamin E is a great antioxidant the can prevent or reduce the severity of an asthma attack. Give your average 10 lb cat 100 IU per day. Poke the capsule and drizzle it on their food.

SOMETHING FISHY: KRILL or FISH OIL should be supplemented in every asthmatic cat. Krill oil has high levels of EPA/DHA without the toxins found in most fish oil. The dose is 1/2 to 1 capsule daily. The omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to decrease the severity of asthma in certain children. Our Krill oil supplement is a GREAT option: Dr Jones’ ULTIMATE Omega 3 Formula [https://drjonesnaturalpet.com/supplements/ultimate-omega-3-formula.html]

HOMEOPATHIC:

• ARSENICUM – Often helpful with asthma, a primary cause of coughing in cats. Give Arsenicum 6C every 2-3 hours in a severe relapse then the 30C dose once a week.

• HERBAL

1. SLIPPERY ELM. From the bark of the slippery elm tree, this is a very safe, and often VERY effective remedy for our cats. I use this remedy often.

 

Using Slippery Elm for Pets

Give 1 capsule (per 10-20 pounds), opened up and the contents mixed with warm water, when using slippery elm for dogs and cats daily – this is the 400mg capsule. Slippery elm powder will absorb many times its own weight in water, so be sure to add enough to make a gruel. This gruel can be given before meals by syringe or eyedropper, or added to baby food, canned food or a homemade diet. It has a mild, slightly sweet taste and is usually well-tolerated by cats when mixed with food.

 

Creating a Syrup

Author Anitra Frazier gives the following recipe for Slippery Elm Bark syrup in her book, The New Natural Cat, which applies equally well to our canine companions when adjusted for weight: into a small saucepan place 1/2 cup cold water and 3/4 teaspoon powdered slippery elm bark. Whip with a fork to break up clumps. Bring to simmer on low heat, stirring constantly. Simmer 1 or 2 minutes or until slightly thickened to a syrup or molasses consistency. Cool and refrigerate for up to 7 days. Commercially made syrups are also available.

 

95% CURCUMIN

This is the active ingredient isolated from turmeric. A study in people with asthma found this:

Results and Conclusion: The results showed that curcumin capsules help in improving the airway obstruction which was evident by significant improvement in the mean FEV1 values. There was also significant improvement in the hematological parameters and absence of any clinically significant adverse events indicates dependable safety profile of curcumin capsules, though there was no apparent clinical efficacy. Therefore, it is concluded that curcumin is effective and safe as an add-on therapy for the treatment of bronchial asthma.

Best Wishes,

Dr Andrew

P.S. If you have a coughing cat, THINK asthma as a possibility. Don’t let it get to the point where your cat needs to be on steroids (if you can).

P.P.S. About my cat supplement:

• Additional antioxidants
• Probiotics
• Decreased inflammation, and potentially less chance of asthma