Elimination Diets: Trial diets to pinpoint food allergens. Imaging for Asthma: X-rays or other imaging to detect airway inflammation or narrowing. Treatment plans are tailored to your cat’s specific needs and may include: Flea Prevention: Products like NexGard Combo to prevent flea allergy dermatitis.
April 17, 2009 -The antigens that initiate serotonin release are usually undiagnosed, but the common suspects are grass and tree pollens, house dust mites, smoke (cigarette or fireplace), sprays (hair sprays, flea sprays, household deodorizers), dusty cat litter and flea powders. Food allergy is also a consideration. Cigarette smoke is becoming a greater suspect in smokers’ households because the pollutants gravitate to the floor or carpet; a cat’s respiratory intake is on or near this level. A preliminary diagnosis is often made clinically based on the characteristic cough, especially in cats living in an area with a high incidence of allergens or during high-allergen seasons.
Instead, veterinarians rely on information gathering and testing to arrive at a diagnosis. If a veterinarian suspects your cat may have asthma, he or she will take into account the cat’s health history as well as the results of imaging studies, microscopic evaluation of the cells in the cat’s airway secretions (cytology), and in some cases, blood and allergy testing.
The dose response and routes of sensitization for these allergens are now thought to be diverse. It is important to remember that exposure outside a house with a cat is sufficient to cause sensitization. Furthermore, the only solid evidence about a role in asthma relates to Fel d 1.
