Feline chronic bronchitis is a chronic cough syndrome from persistent inflammation of the lower airways. It sits next to asthma in the group of feline lower airway disease, but its inflammation is neutrophilic rather than eosinophilic and the airway changes are less reversible. Cytology is what separates the two, and treatment overlaps heavily.
Key facts
Chronic bronchitis at a glance- Species and system: cat, lower respiratory tract (bronchi).
- Cause: often idiopathic; irritants such as smoke and dust, allergens, previous infection and parasites have been implicated.
- Hallmark: chronic cough (more than 2 months), often mistaken for hairball retching, with wheeze and expiratory effort.
- Diagnosis: exclusion of mimics, radiographs, and airway cytology showing predominantly neutrophils.
- Treatment: corticosteroids and trigger control; bronchodilators for rescue.
What's inside
15 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prognosis
- Working with the asthma overlap
- Infection and the airway
- Owner counselling
- Checking response to treatment
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 3 tables, 3 self-test questions and 9 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.