Asthma

Pet Asthma Care at Atlas Animal Hospital & Emergency Vancouver

One minute your beloved pet seems absolutely fine; the next, he’s coughing, wheezing, and struggling to breathe- This is an understandably alarming scenario — and it’s also a sign that your pet might suffer from the respiratory disease known as asthma Asthma can range in severity from a minor annoyance to a major health crisis. Here at Atlas Animal Hospital a Emergency Vancouver, we can confirm an asthma diagnosis can provide immediate treatment to tame those scary symptoms.

Causes and Symptoms of Asthma in Pets

Asthma is recurring inflammation of the passages that allow air into and out of the lungs- These passages are fairly narrow to begin with, so when they become
inflamed and swollen, the space within them can become too narrow for your pet to breathe normally. Allergens are the usual cause of asthma attacks. Pets may
be allergic to such diverse triggers as molds, fertilizers, insecticides, household cleaning products, kitty litter dust, smoke, and other kinds of airborne matter
Once the allergen in question reaches your pet’s airways, it can cause symptoms such as:

Coughing (including coughing up mucus)
Wheezing
Excessive panting
Blue-tinged gums (a sign of insufficient oxygen)
Gasping for air

If your pet is relatively lucky, his asthma may cause him only mild, intermittent trouble. But some cases of asthma can be so severe that they threaten the animal’s life by making breathing impossible. Either way, you want to know that you have ready access to skilled, experienced veterinary care. That’s why you’ll want to bring your pet to Atlas Animal Hospital & Emergency Vancouver for an evaluation sooner rather than later

Prompt Diagnosis and Treatment at Our Vancouver Vet Clinic

Our Vancouver vet clinic can check your pet’s symptoms and general health to see whether he is suffering from asthma or from some other medical condition- (A respiratory infection, heartworm infestation, or heat stroke can mimic the effects of asthma, to name just three examples) Diagnostic procedures such as X-rays, bronchoscopy, and tracheal wash can help us understand your pet’s condition. We then administer a drug called epinephrine to stop an attack, reverse the airway swelling, and help your pet breathe normally again. Our vet team can show you how administer this drug to your cat at home with an inhaler We can also recommend specific environmental or lifestyle changes to help your pet avoid asthma triggers.

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