Pet Asthma Care at Tierrasanta Veterinary Hospital

If you suffer from asthma or know someone else who does, you may already understand how debilitating this respiratory problem can be. What you may not realize, however, is that pets can suffer from asthma just like humans can. If your pet struggles to breathe due to a suspected case of asthma, you need to know what to look for and where to seek skilled treatment. Fortunately, that treatment is waiting for your pet right here at Tierrasanta Veterinary Hospital in San Diego.

Causes and Symptoms of Pet Asthma Attacks

Asthma is a condition in which the lung tissue becomes acutely inflamed as the result of an allergy. Exposure to such common allergens as dust, dander, smoke, pollen, household chemicals, and dust mites can set off asthma attacks in susceptible animals. An allergic reaction causes the airway to swell up and fill with mucus, making breathing difficult or even impossible. In this respect it is like allergic bronchitis. Allergic bronchitis, however, is more of a low-grade chronic condition than a life-threatening acute event.

It is important for pet owners to recognize the hallmark symptoms of pet asthma. An asthma attack may cause your pet to wheeze or cough; cats may even look as if they are trying to dislodge a hairball. Your pet may engage in rapid, open-mouthed breathing that resembles panting as he struggles to take in air. Loss of appetite, low energy levels, and blue-tinged gums also point to an acute asthma attack.

How Our San Diego Animal Hospital Can Help

Our San Diego animal hospital can determine exactly what is going on with your pet's respiratory system. Our diagnostic techniques can check for the possibility of other lookalike illnesses such as a lung infection or heartworm infestation. Blood tests may reveal antibodies associated with allergic reactions, while X-rays can show signs of a narrowed airway or hyperinflated lungs.

Once we have confirmed a diagnosis of asthma, antihistamines, steroids, and/or broncho dilating drugs can re-open your pet's airway and allow him to breathe freely again. We may prescribe these drugs in oral or inhaler form for your pet's ongoing asthma management needs. We can also advise you on how to identify and remove potential asthma triggers from your pet's everyday life. If your pet has been an outdoor animal up to now, it might be time to move indoors so you can control his environment more closely.

Call Tierrasanta Animal Hospital Today

If you seek a trusted veterinarian for your asthmatic pet, look no further than Tierrasanta Animal Hospital. Call our San Diego clinic at (858) 292-6116 today!