Feline Airway Disease Pathophysiology and Management

Feline airway disease encompasses inflammatory disorders of the lower respiratory tract, notably feline asthma and chronic bronchitis. Pathophysiology involves aberrant immune responses to environmental antigens, infectious agents or irritants, leading to infiltration of eosinophils, mast cells and neutrophils, bronchoconstriction, mucus hypersecretion and progressive airway remodelling. Chronic inflammation drives smooth muscle hypertrophy, subepithelial fibrosis and epithelial damage, reducing airway calibre and heightening airway hyperresponsiveness. Clinical signs include chronic cough, wheezing and intermittent dyspnoea. Diagnosis relies on a combination of clinical examination, thoracic radiography, bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology. Management seeks to suppress inflammation and relieve bronchoconstriction through inhaled or systemic corticosteroids and bronchodilators, alongside allergen avoidance and environmental control. Advances in non-invasive monitoring, such as barometric whole-body plethysmography and cough challenge tests, are refining assessment of lung function and therapeutic response. Early identification and individualised treatment protocols can enhance quality of life and long-term prognosis in afflicted cats worldwide.

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Feline Airway Disease Pathophysiology and Management publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in feline airway disease pathophysiology and management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL): A procedure in which fluid is instilled into and recovered from the lower airways to analyse cellular and biochemical constituents.

Bronchoconstriction: Narrowing of the airways due to smooth muscle contraction, mucosal swelling and increased mucus secretion.

Eosinophil: A granulocytic white blood cell involved in allergic inflammation and parasite defence, frequently elevated in asthmatic cats.

Barometric whole-body plethysmography (BWBP): A non-invasive technique for measuring respiratory parameters and airway reactivity in conscious animals.

References

1. Clinical features and radiographic findings in cats with eosinophilic, neutrophilic, and mixed airway inflammation (2011‐2018). Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2020).
2. Evaluation of barometric whole-body plethysmography for therapy monitoring in cats with feline lower airway disease. PLOS ONE (2022).
3. Reactions to environmental allergens in cats with feline lower airway disease. Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2023).