Investigation and treatment of feline chronic bronchial disease

Abstract

DOMESTIC cats presenting with a chronic cough or wheeze are encountered with some frequency in small animal practice. The problem may be persistent or episodic, and can vary widely in severity. Clinically, many cases resemble human chronic bronchial disease but, with much still to learn about the feline disease, terms as specific as ‘feline asthma’ and ‘chronic bronchitis’ may be misleading. This article reviews the options for investigation available to the veterinary clinician, which are limited compared with the techniques used in the medical field. As discussed, inhaled therapy is becoming an increasingly important component of therapy, again based on experiences gained in human medicine, but at present treatment remains essentially symptomatic.