Cat Barking Cough: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
The cough which happens on cats comes in different types including barking cough. Each type commonly has a different cause so that it can be used to choose the right treatment. It will be better if you meet the veterinarian in order to identify the types of sound as well as find out the cause of it. Then, the veterinarian will help to give the solution about it.
Causes of cat cough
Hence, you need to bring the pet to the veterinarian for more proper care. Hairball is known to be one of the most common causes of cough in cats. Cough caused by hairball often sounds dry and hacking since it triggers the hairball to be removed.
Cough also can be due to infection in the upper respiratory system. If so, the symptoms which might appear will be similar to cold. If the cough only appears when the cats exercise, then it commonly causes by acute bronchitis. Meanwhile, if you find out that the cat experiences difficulty breathing while coughing, it can be a sign of cat asthma.
Barking cough also can be the result of serious diseases in cats. For example, it might occur due to fungal infection, heartworm, or fungal infection. The cough which resulted from serious diseases most likely comes with other symptoms so that it has more than one symptom.
Treatments for cough
If feline asthma is the real culprit behind the cough, steroids can be used in order to reduce the ongoing inflammation. Both oral and inhaler form can be used. Bronchodilators will also help to open up the air passage. If the barking cough is due to hairball, then your veterinarian usually suggests performing a particular diet for a hairball. It includes bran, pumpkin, or lubricants on the cat's daily diet. This method helps the cat easier in getting rid of cat barking cough.