This is how you can get your clients on board with inhalers

It is a question many in the veterinarian community grapple with. Helping pet owners make informed decisions on behalf of their animals is an important part of what we do. From explaining a diagnosis to going over medical terminology and treatments, there is a lot of knowledge to share. 

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean doing so is easy!  

On the contrary, educating clients is a skill that takes practice.

One way to get better at communicating? Look at case studies. In the summary below, let’s explore how one client learned that using an inhaler is the best care for cats with asthma, plus examine how veterinarians can provide tips and tricks for client-friendly education.

The Story of Little Man’s Feline Asthma

It all started with a sweet orange tabby named Little Man. He presented for a cough that had been present his whole life and getting worse recently. Little Man was an older cat around 9 years of age. His owner approved bloodwork and radiographs and we noted two major changes:

1)    Little Man was on the verge of becoming diabetic.

2)    He appeared to have evidence of chronic lower airway disease or Feline Asthma.

Of course, we know most pet owners will be familiar with terms such as “diabetes” and “asthma.” But when it comes to veterinary medicine, pet parents may need to be educated in language used for animal care vs. that used for human medical conditions. For example, when veterinary staff talk about asthma, and we describe it as chronic lower airway disease, we base this on x-ray findings. These findings show up as inflammation along the small branches of the lungs and vessels of the lungs. You can imagine with chronic inflammation in the lungs, there will be damage that is irreversible.

Understandably, hearing this news can be extremely distressing to clients!

As can the sight of their beloved cat wheezing, coughing, and open-mouthed breathing.

Because of this, it was imperative to explain our main goal to Little Man’s owner: support the lungs by decreasing the inflammation present and preventing future inflammation.

Oral Steroid Therapy Not Always the Solution

The concept of a “cat inhaler” may be new to your clients.

That is because steroids are often used. Unfortunately, Little Man’s other finding complicated our treatment. Oral steroid therapy in a patient who is diabetic can cause a worsening of their diabetes and lead to other complications. Regardless of diabetes, it is not recommended for any patient to stay on steroid therapy long-term as it can lead to organ damage/failure, heart disease and other unwanted side effects such as:

·      Excessive urination

·      Thirst

·      Weight gain

·      General lethargy

So, our client was naturally left wondering, “What else could be done about Little Man’s asthma diagnosis?”

Cat Inhaler to the Rescue

Luckily, there is another option for Little Man that will give him a great quality of life (minus the steroid side effects).

You guessed it – a cat inhaler!

Inhaled steroid therapy has all the positive effects of decreasing inflammation in the lungs with a more direct pathway and it refrains from all the negative side effects noted above that are found with systemic oral steroids. It is the perfect option; not just for Little Man, but for any cat in need of relief from Feline Asthma. Inhaled steroid therapy is ideal for long term use in cats to help treat and prevent future asthma attacks.

Above all, it’s vital that cat owners feel comfortable using this tool. And (this next part goes without saying) the cats themselves shouldn’t be stressed or frightened of inhalers. The last thing anyone wants is to be hissed at or scratched…ouch.

Fortunately, cats can be trained to accept inhalers in three to five days.

Again, this why the importance of client education cannot be understated.

Next, how to teach somebody to administer an inhaler to a cat?

This is done through the use of an AeroKat. This is an inhaler that is specifically designed for cats. You administer a puff of the inhaler while securing the other end over your cat’s nose and mouth and then allow a few seconds for them to inhale

the puff. This is done once to twice a day long term. This has been shown to increase survival time in cats with Feline asthma and it gives them an overall better quality of life than they would have with either oral steroids or no treatment.

Educating Clients with Helpful Tips

Remember, veterinarians must educate pet owners and empower them to care for their animals.

Tips and tricks – no matter how small – can make a BIG difference.

For instance, where to get medication? Here in the US, we often suggest owners order the inhaler medication for their cats from a pharmacy in Canada due to cost restrictions ordering it here in the US. So, it can be a little more work for us as veterinarians but totally worth it for healthy pets and happy clients.

Additionally, veterinarians can make the process easier for pet parents by sharing insider tips. I often tell owners to feed a palatable treat (such as canned tuna/chicken) to make sure their feline associates the Aerokat with positive reinforcement. Or, add a splash of tuna juice. Apply inside where the cat’s noise will be to make it more palatable.

Food rewards, affection in the form of hugs and cuddles, as well as a gentle and calm approach will go a long way. 

Long term, this needs to be a positive event for the client and the pet so that they will be willing to do it. Therefore, make sure you are checking in periodically and praising their hard work.

Final Thoughts

In summary, using an inhaler is the best care for cats with asthma. For Little Man, this proved to be a lifechanging treatment. By educating the client from start to finish and offering tips, tricks, and hands-on training, we were able to successfully treat his feline asthma, and hopefully in the future, thousands more just like him!