Natural Pet Health

Asthma, or chronic bronchitis, is a devastating disease that affects both cats and dogs. What happens is that the tiny airways in the lungs become inflammed and more thick than they should be. Breathing in oxygen becomes a lot more difficult and your pet has a hard time catching his/her breath. If the asthma becomes severe then mucus and muscle work in coordination to restrict breathing.

Any cat or dog can get asthma but the most affected ages are the ones who are young to middle age. Many holistic vets blame the food we feed our pets. The artificial preservatives and colorants found in commercial pet food is not healthy for cats and dogs. Also, in the United States our animals receive far too many vaccinations. These two things combined can cause serious damage to your pets immune system and make them less resistant to things like asthma attacks.

It is often difficult to tell when a pet is suffering with asthma. Cats can be the most difficult because asthma often sounds the same as coughing up a furball. Mild asthma attacks will sound like a simple cough and can turn into wheezing when the animal exhales. If the asthma attack is severe then it will be nearly impossible for your cat or dog to breathe. Severe asthma can even be life threatening.

If you notice that your pet is breathing sharply (you can tell by the movement of their chest) they might be experiencing an asthma attack. Cats often extend their heads forward and push their legs away from their chest. The most serious sign can be found by taking a look at their tongue. If it has a color somewhere between blue and purple then you are seeing a sign of a severe oxygen shortage. Take them to the vet immediately.

Two major things are to blame for causing asthma attacks – allergens and stress. Smoke, perfume, bug spray, car fumes and commercial cleaning products are all examples of allergens that can cause an asthma attack.

If your pet has asthma then you can rest assured that they will need medication for the rest of their lives. There are a lot of conventional and herbal medicines that are available to help your pet live a better life. Conventional medicine offers bronchodilators, antihistamines and corticosteroids. These have several side effects but are often necessary if the asthma is severe enough. Inula helenium and althea officinalis are herbs that can be used in conjunction with what the vet has prescribed for your cat or dog. Make sure they know you are also using homeopathic medicine to control your pets asthma.

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