Are asthmatic cats allergic to humans? - Yahoo! News
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051019/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_asthma_cats
Print Story: Are asthmatic cats allergic to humans? on Yahoo! News
Back to Story -
Help
Yahoo! News
Are asthmatic cats allergic to humans?
Wed Oct 19, 2:10 AM ET
Cats are blamed for triggering asthma attacks in humans but veterinarians in Scotland said on Wednesday it may also work the other way around.
Irritants such as cigarette smoke, dusty homes and human dandruff can increase inflammation in feline lungs and worsen asthma in cats.
"There is a percentage of asthmatic cats whose asthma has been triggered by things people do, or possibly by people themselves," said Nicki Reed, of the
University of Edinburgh's Hospital for Small Animals in Scotland.
"Cats with feline asthma syndrome can be made worse by living in a household where people smoke, or where there are other potential allergens or irritants.
In the first study of its kind in Britain, Reed and her team are planning a trial involving 50 cats to determine whether a bacterium called Mycoplasma which
is found in human asthma patients in also involved in the feline disease.
If it is, they hope it will lead to improved treatments for the one in about 200 cats that suffer coughs, wheezing and shortness of breath caused by asthma.
Pedigree oriental breeds such as Siamese cats are more prone to the respiratory problem than other cats, according to the researchers.
Copyright © 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written
consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
Copyright © 2005 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions or Comments
Privacy Policy -
Terms of Service -
Copyright/IP Policy -
Ad Feedback
Bronchitis usually contributes to asthma attacks. he airways in the lungs get inflamed due to an allergic reaction, usually caused by germs, dust, and second hand smoke.If it has bronchitis, it will have a moist sounding cough. So you must find out what is causing the allergic reaction and remove it from the household.
Posted by: Cat food | April 22, 2012 at 12:16 AM