Asthma crisis (cats) – You may a wheezing cat or shortness of breath, open mouthed breathing, distress
What we will do
- Gather Historical Data: Many clients with asthmatic cats already know they have asthmatic cats. Yet, other cats show up in severe respiratory distress for unknown reasons, and any cat can be so stressed that typical emergency measures, such as placing an IV catheter right away are contraindicated. The calm cat in all situations fares better than the highly stressed cat.
- Gather Current Data: Chest radiographs (X-rays) are a high priority to help determine if the patient is truly having an asthmatic event or if the patient is in respiratory distress for other reasons, including congestive heart failure, pleural effusion, pneumothorax (collapsed lungs) or a diaphragmatic hernia due to unknown trauma. However, timing the chest radiographs is an art and they need to wait until the stressed cat in respiratory distress is stable enough.
- Treatment: Cats having an asthmatic crisis respond to sedation, steroids, and oxygen therapy. We know from our combined experiences that mild sedation needs started immediately. When these critical patients are rushed back, we do not stick masks in their faces and frantically shave a leg for an IV. Instead, we give a very quick injection or two, and allow the patient to settle down in an oxygen flooded ICU cage. After the patient has stabilized, other treatment or tests are initiated.