[Charlie+]There are several diseases that are related to Feline Asthma. Lungworms, heartworms, upper & lower respiratory infections, lung cancer, cardiomyopathyand lymphocytic plasmacytic stomatitiscan all mimic asthma symptoms and therefore should be ruled out. Please note that these diseases, particularly heartworm, react favorably to steroid treatment, so you cannot assume that it is in fact asthma simply from a favorable reaction to treatment. Diabetes and kidney disease can result from feline asthma treatment.
Lungworms
Lungworms are parasitic nematodes that require an intermediate host for infection to cats. The route of infection for lungworms is oral. Lungworms can be ruled out by a fecal test.
Heartworms
How Come All of a Sudden You are Telling Us Cats Can Get Heartworm?
Veterinarians have been missing the diagnosis of heartworm disease in cats for years. We long believed that the cat disease was rare, and if seen would look like the dog disease, i.e. progressive cough leading to heart disease, wasting away, followed by death from heart failure. Recently we've learned that only the very rare case of cat heartworm disease looks like this. Because of new test