Cold and cough are common occurrences in humans when there is climate change or due to some food side effect, similarly in pets like cats. These conditions are uncomfortable not only for us but also for them. If your cat is coughing occasionally it can be considered normal as it may be due to some minor irritation in their throat but if they are constantly coughing you need to get help from a professional like a veterinarian Murrieta, CA, to assess in case they have any underlying health conditions. To solve the issue you must understand what causes them to cough them constantly and how you can solve them. It is advised to get help from professionals as soon as possible but let us understand the factors causing them and solving techniques in this blog, so read along.
Some Common Factors Making Them Cough
Hairballs
Cats are consistent groomers, and while they are grooming themselves by licking themselves the loose hair on their body gets stuck with saliva, gets into their digestive system, and forms a hairball because of all the hairs sticking together. These hairballs will sometimes irritate, and cats will try to cough them out. This type of cough will be a dry and hacking one, and they vomit it out too.
Respiratory Infections
A persistent type of coughing can be due to the effect on nasal passage, throat, or lungs and is a sign of upper or lower respiratory infection caused by viruses, bacteria, and even fungi. They will sneeze a lot and you will see nasal discharge and they have difficulty breathing. You will need help from a vet to ensure timely care with antibiotics or antiviruses.
Heartworm
It is a parasitic worm that can harm their arteries, especially the heart and respiratory ones. You will see symptoms of persistent coughing, frequent vomiting, and difficulty breathing in them. However, this factor of coughing is not common but not impossible too which is why it is better to get assessed.
Asthma
Just like us humans, asthma in cats will also cause them to cough a lot, more than usual. This happens because their airways are inflamed which causes them to wheeze and cough, and one another symptom is labored breathing or difficulty in breathing. Asthma triggers can be due to different factors like dust or smoke.
Allergies
In humans, we see different types of allergies from environmental factors like dust, smoke, and pollen. Similarly can develop allergies from these too which can cause them to cough and wheeze. Specific factors if we talk about it can be due to fabrics and perfumes and cigarette smoke.
How Can You Treat Them?
The moment you notice their unusual coughing, take quick action to get them assessed by your nearby vet. They will give you appropriate treatment options and also pet-safe medications like antibiotics, antihistamines, and steroids to prevent bacterial infections, and allergy-induced coughing as well as reduce inflammation in airways. In some cases if an object is stuck and making them cough and even blood to come out surgery will be advised. If the assessment says that they are having these episodes due to environmental factors then as an owner you must adjust your lifestyle in a way that they are causing harm to your pet, like not smoking in front of them and keeping them away from other types of smoke at your home, not clean in their presence to avoid dust allergy and also help them grooming to avoid hairball coughing. These little bit changes may not affect you as much as it will help them for better health.
Visit Your Vet Regularly!
To ensure that they stay at their optimal health you must get them checked regularly by a veterinarian and get their advice on how to help your pet in case any condition arises.