Treating asthma in cats with inhaled steroids using the Aerokat Chamber is safe and the likelihood of side effects is minimal. After a steady training period, which gets the cat used to having the mask on his face, daily treatment with the Aerokat spacer will diminish the coughing, wheezing, gagging and panting spells that cats suffer from during an asthma attack. While there is no cure for feline asthma, when treating with the Aerokat the symptoms will likely disappear within a month. Asthmatic cats can live a normal, happy life.
Where to Buy the Aerokat
Some owners of asthmatic cats obtain an Aerokat Chamber through their veterinarian. Alternately, the Aerokat is available without a prescription and can be purchased in the USA from VetRxDirect. For those wishing to buy the spacer from outside the US, the Aerokat manufacturer Trudell Medical International has a list of distributors on their web site.
Where to Buy Asthma Inhalers
While many veterinarians will prescribe inhaled medicines for cats with asthma, it can be quite costly to fill these prescriptions at local pharmacies. Online pharmacies sell meter dosed inhalers like Flovent (also known as Flixotide) and bronchodilators like Albuterol and Ventolin much cheaper; sometimes with no prescription required.
www.4CornersPharmacy.com is one such web site that offers generic Flovent (Flixotide) and Albuterol (Ventorlin) at cheap prices with no prescription required. The inhaled asthma medication sold from 4Corners is safe to use on cats with asthma and is trusted by many caregivers for their asthmatic felines.
Another online pharmacy to buy more affordable asthma medication from is www.express-medicine.com. This online pharmacy does require a prescription, but sells Flovent brand asthma inhalers and both brand Ventolin and generic Albuterol at discount prices.
Correct Dose of Inhaled Asthma Medicine for Cats
When deciding how much inhaled steroid to administer and how often, it is generally better to give more than is needed than not enough, to ensure that symptoms are kept at bay. Once beginning inhaled steroids for feline asthma, it takes 7-14 days for the medicine to build up in the cat's system and show full benefits. All of these MDIs are the same asthma medicines that are used for human asthma, and are safe and effective for use in cats.
Flovent and Flixotide are corticosteroids used for daily treatment and maintenance. Cats with mild asthma who do not show symptoms every day may benefit from 110 mcg twice a day, for a total of 220 mcg daily. Cats with daily asthma symptoms should be treated with 220 mcg and given two to four puffs per day. Moderate symptoms should respond to two daily puffs spaced 12 hours apart, while severe symptoms will need two 220 mcg puffs in the morning and two 220 mcg puffs in the evening. Once a proper dosage is found, the amount should not be decreased.
The MDI canister must be shaken for at least ten seconds immediately before each puff. After each daily puff, the cat's muzzle should be wiped with a damp cloth or paper towel. This prevents steroid residue build-up, which can cause fur loss. The mask should be rinsed off after every use as well.
Albuterol and Ventolin are bronchodilators usually used in emergencies only, on an as-needed basis. One or two puffs, breathed for 10-12 seconds per puff, should end a cat's asthma attack within five minutes. These puffers only come in one dose.
Sometimes Albuterol or Ventolin is used daily, for cats with daily symptoms. Puffs are given immediately before administering Flovent or Flixotide to ensure the airway is open and the cat will fully inhale the steroid medicine. For this use, one puff should be sufficient.
Treatment for feline asthma with the Aerokat chamber should continue indefinitely. This method allows the cat to go off of oral and injected steroids and live a normal life, free of asthma symptoms and with limited side effects.
More Information:
FelineAsthma.org
Related Articles:
Feline Asthma: Treating Coughing and Wheezing Cats Safely and Affordably
Leigh Peterson - Leigh Peterson is a pets writer, pet sitter, professional singer and internet marketer specializing in online PR.
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