The cat breathes heavily from its belly. Frequent breathing in a cat: causes and emergency help. Reasons to urgently consult a doctor

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What is tachypnea?

Tachypnea (polypnea) is abnormally rapid breathing. Tachypnea, unlike shortness of breath, may not be a sign of a serious illness.

Causes

There are many reasons for rapid breathing in cats. They may be as follows:

Upper respiratory tract problems

Damage to the nostrils and sinuses (infections, narrowing, inflammation, tumors)
Damage to the soft palate
Diseases of the larynx (tumor, collapse, paralysis, spasm)
Tracheal diseases (tumors, collapse, foreign bodies)
Damage (compression) of the upper respiratory tract(tumors, lymph nodes)

Problems related to the lower respiratory tract

Lower respiratory tract disorders include obstructive diseases and restrictive diseases:

In most cases, tachypnea is not dangerous, but it can also cause serious illnesses which can even be life threatening. Therefore, tachypnea should not be ignored and should be contacted by a veterinarian.

Symptoms

Cough
Labored breathing
Blue gums
Fatigue
Weight loss
Poor appetite
Excessive thirst or frequent urination
Vomit
Diarrhea

When your cat is breathing rapidly and you, not knowing what to do, are looking for advice on this topic on the Internet on forums, we recommend not to self-medicate or experiment on your beloved cat. The fact is that there are many reasons for tachypnea in an animal, and the consequences of your experiment may disappoint you and your family.

Diagnostics

Before testing begins, factors that may be considered should be considered and eliminated. cause of tachypnea(overheating, stress, excessive physical exercise). If tachypnea continues or progresses despite removal possible reasons, then you must not ignore this problem and immediately contact your veterinarian. Your doctor may order the following tests:

A complete blood count, blood chemistry panel, and urinalysis are important basic tests. They will help identify anemia, infections and diabetes.
Test for the presence of helminths
Measurement eye pressure blood
Test for hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's syndrome)
X-ray for detection foreign body or tumors of the upper respiratory tract
Ultrasound of the heart and chest cavity
Cytology or thoracentesis (taking fluid, air or tissue from chest for analysis)
Computed tomography, rhinoscopy or trachiobronchoscopy are prescribed in more severe cases

Treatment

If possible, the underlying causes (heat, stress, strain) should be identified and eliminated.
Symptomatic therapy
Oxygen therapy if the pet is in serious condition
Antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications for infectious or inflammatory diseases
Fluid therapy is indicated for dehydration or systemic disease (eg, uremia)

Care and maintenance

Follow all directions from your veterinarian. Place your pet in a well-ventilated place and protect your pet from stress.

If a cat's breathing changes to rapid breathing, this can be caused by both physiological and pathological reasons. The owner of a furry creature must be able to recognize dangerous manifestations from the norm, but first you need to understand why the cat began to breathe frequently?

The normal breathing rate of a pet ranges from 20 to 40 breaths per minute. If a cat begins to breathe with greater intensity, this does not mean that he is necessarily ill. Often the reasons for such changes in breathing are:

overexcitement, fear or rage;
travel in any transport;
being in an unfamiliar place;
visiting a veterinary clinic and taking medications;
physiological changes in the cat’s body (estrus, pregnancy, childbirth);
active games, walks, exercise, etc.;
the process of eating food;
overheat.

All of the above does not pose a danger to your pet. Usually after some time (after the end of the game, normalization emotional state, ending a meal, etc.) breathing is restored.

When should you worry?

If you notice that the cat is inhaling air suspiciously often, while he may open his mouth slightly, stick out his tongue, then you should take action and help in this situation qualified specialist. Most likely the fluffy will be diagnosed pathological processes in the respiratory organs. It is possible that the diagnosis will reveal a disease that is not directly related to the respiratory system.

Feline health problems that lead to rapid breathing:

Diseases of the throat and trachea (edema, paralysis, collapse, oncology, etc.).
Pathological processes in the bronchi ( helminthic infestations, bronchitis, asthma). Then the pet will additionally have a dry cough and elevated temperature.
Pathologies of the nose in cats ( inflammatory processes, infections). When a purr, along with rapid breathing, wheezing and discharge from the nose are observed.
Lung disease (blockage due to large quantity worms, oncology, edema, inflammation).
Abundance of air in the chest.
Hernias in the diaphragm.
Neoplasms in the breast with changes in the diameter of the lymph nodes.
Heart problems (any heart failure, arrhythmias).
Intoxication.
Diseases endocrine system, hormonal imbalances.
Anemia.
State of shock.
Fever.
Dehydration or severe overheating.

If, in addition to rapid breathing, you find that your beloved cat has begun to behave suspiciously, his temperature has risen, shortness of breath has appeared and his heart rate has increased, you can hear wheezing in the chest and there is discharge from the oral cavity and nose, if there is blanching or redness of the mucous membranes, then without hesitation, take the mustache to the veterinary clinic for diagnosis.

How to help your pet?

If the mustache breathes quickly and heavily after a physiological process (childbirth, walks, active games etc.), then the owner just needs to wait a little until breathing is restored.

In some cases, the cat begins to inhale air more often during sleep; this also should not cause concern, since furry cats also dream and react emotionally to them.

The help that should be provided to the owner in the event of a problem depends on the reason that caused it.

If breathing problems appear after vaccination. This symptom may indicate the onset of an allergy to the components of the vaccine. If rapid breathing occurs quickly (within 15-30 minutes after the injection), the mustache requires immediate qualified help - anti-shock therapy, which is why animals remain indoors in veterinary clinics for some time after vaccination. The appearance of breathing problems 3-4 hours after the procedure indicates that the vaccine has begun to act and that the response is effective. immune defense. Additionally, the mustache may refuse treats, be lethargic, and may develop diarrhea and fever - all these manifestations are normal if their duration does not exceed the threshold of 24 hours.
As a result of overheating. In this situation, the pet must be placed in a cool and quiet place, wrapped in a damp cloth and not soldered too much. cold water. There are severe cases when your pet should be taken to a veterinary clinic or a specialist should be called to your home.
After anesthesia. This could be the reason pain syndrome or intoxication as a result of anesthesia. In the first case, you can give the pet a drug with an analgesic effect (it should be prescribed by a veterinarian), and in the second, the mustache needs professional therapy.
During pregnancy. If the future tailed mother's breathing changes to rapid, then this is the first signal imminent birth. At such a moment, the pet’s sensations rapidly change – she is either hot or cold, which affects breathing and heartbeat. The owner should not panic in this situation - this is normal. physiological process. But the animal must be taken to the doctor if it has been noticed that the pet is breathing frequently and heavily long before the onset of labor.

Professional help

If a cat with rapid breathing is examined by a veterinarian, then first of all, the owner of the mustachioed creature should be told about the possible causes of the problem and, together with the veterinarian, rule it out. physiological factors. After a thorough examination of the pet, the veterinarian will work according to the following scheme:

determine the temperature of a sick mustache, which will help confirm or exclude infectious nature illness;
will give directions for biochemical, as well as clinical researches blood – necessary to detect anemia, diabetes or infections;
will detect the presence of worms in the tail (if any);
to exclude tumors in the chest area, problems with the heart and peritoneum, the doctor will give a referral for an ultrasound and x-ray;
in particularly severe situations, thoracentesis may be required when piercing chest wall, which helps to identify the presence of excess air or fluid in the organs;

In case of injuries and oncological development of the disease, in most cases surgical intervention is necessary. In other situations it is prescribed drug therapy, which directly depends on the diagnosis made by the specialist.

At in a state of shock(rapid fall blood pressure), the pet needs to quickly restore the respiratory rhythm, which is done with the help of adrenaline therapy, infusion therapy, various diuretics, corticosteroids, and analgesics.

Uneven breathing in a pet - actions of the owner

There are times when a pet’s breathing quickens, and after a while it disappears altogether. With this problem, a change in the shade of the mucous membranes from pink to blue may be observed. To help the mustache, the owner must follow the following algorithm:

The pet must be fixed on a table or any other flat surface. The line from the neck to the end of the spine should be straight.
Next, inspect the mouth of the mustache and clean it of mucus, saliva and other objects.
Roll your palm into a tube (you will inhale air through it).
Do deep breath and exhale through a tube from your palm into your pet’s nose. You can cover it nasal cavity cats with a thin cloth and exhale through it, then there is no need to use your palm.
Every three seconds, exhale air into your pet’s nose, but do not overdo it, as excessive volume of air can cause harmful influence on the condition of the lungs.

During the process, do not forget to monitor the pulse of the mustache; if it is absent, you should indirect massage hearts.

The above actions can save the life of your beloved creature, so do not wait for the doctor to arrive - act confidently and quickly. Subsequent therapy should be carried out under the supervision of a qualified specialist.

Video

Hello! My cat is in Lately(about 3 weeks) I began to breathe frequently from my stomach. Yesterday she seemed to be trying to vomit, but nothing happened, after which she stretched out exhausted on the floor. If you leaned towards her, you could hear some sounds (light wheezing or something like that). No vomiting. He eats very well (we feed Whiskas dry and wet food, meat, fish). She responds to her name, reacts to noises, but it is clear that she is despondent, moves very little, and always either lies or sits by the window. I noticed that she was reluctant to lick herself, it lasted very little time, which is why tufts began to appear. Possibility to be taken to veterinary clinic There will only be a veterinarian consultation on the 31st. Help me please. What should I do now, how can I help her and what could this even be?

Hello!

Send a photo of the animal. There can be many reasons for the symptoms you describe. Describe in detail the animal's diet, indicating the ingredients included in it. When did you perform routine deworming? When was the animal vaccinated and with what vaccine? What additional vitamin supplements do you use? This is very important diagnostic information. Please provide it as soon as possible.

Please note that feeding Whiskas, Friskas, Meow, Felix and Kitiket food is not recommended for feeding cats. Neither dry nor wet. This is very junk food which can sooner or later provoke gastrointestinal diseases and quite often lead to the death of the animal. Sausages, milk, soups, borscht and everything else “that we ourselves eat” are not suitable for feeding cats. This rule is. Feed the animal either high-quality industrial feed: Acana, Gina, Orijen, Hills, Royal Canin, Eukanuba, Go Natural or Now Fresh. Or natural products: rice, oatmeal, buckwheat + beef, turkey, rabbit (not in the form of minced meat) and vegetable stew(cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, beets). The percentage of meat in the main diet is at least 70%. Also remember what to mix natural food and industrial feed is prohibited under no circumstances. Vitamins must be used for any type of diet, for 1-1.5 months. 2 r. in year.

In order to begin to understand the causes of the symptoms you describe, it is necessary to carry out.

General urine analysis.
Biochemistry of blood.
Detailed blood test.
Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity.
ECHO-cardiography.

This is the minimum research that may be required. Provide results laboratory diagnostics in the near future.

At this stage, use Cralonin 3 drops. for 1 tbsp. l. water int. 3 r. in the village up to 14 days. Evinton 1 ml im. 2 r. in the village up to 14 days.

Health to your pets!

Best regards, team" Veterinary practices"

All existing reasons shortness of breath in a cat can be divided into two large groups:

extraneous, that is, physiological;
those that are provoked by the disease. With them, shortness of breath becomes one of the symptoms of the disease.

Natural reasons:

Overheating. Because of the heat, the animal opens its mouth and breathes frequently, sometimes sticking out its tongue. Since cats don't have sweat glands, then they can only cool down in this way.
Severe fatigue after a long run, playing, etc. physical effort. Heavy breathing is a sign of “turning on” the compensatory functions of the body.
A stressful condition of any origin can cause shortness of breath.
The pain syndrome can also cause rapid difficulty breathing.
Shortness of breath in an older cat is a sign of wear and tear on the entire body, a natural aging process.
When an animal is exhausted, it suffers from weakness, accompanied by shortness of breath at the slightest effort.
The same phenomenon is observed with overweight and obesity in a domestic cat.

Dyspnea may indicate the presence of:

diseases of cardio-vascular system, Firstly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This disease in cats is difficult to diagnose because it is not accompanied by severe symptoms, for example, like dry heart cough in dogs;
diseases respiratory system. It could be common cold with a runny nose, allergic reaction, bronchial asthma and many other equally dangerous diseases;
consequences of anesthesia. If after surgical intervention the cat breathes frequently and with difficulty with its mouth open and its tongue hanging out, this may be an indicator of the development of complications after the anesthetic drug;
poisoning, including CO. It is usually accompanied by a whole range of different symptoms;
progressive anemia. This dangerous disease appears due to too low hemoglobin in the blood. With it, the animal weakens, constantly freezes, hides, eats poorly - it has no appetite.

If a cat begins to breathe heavily, then some kind of disease has probably begun to progress in her body. Here are examples of the most common ones:

Hypoxia.
Inhalation of food particles or toys.
Heart failure.
Joy.
Heat.
Allergy.
Injuries.
Fever.
Poisoning.
Tumor.
Hydrothorax.
Pneumothorax.

Now let's look at each of them in more detail.

Hypoxia is a lack of oxygen in organs and tissues. This disease has acute and chronic forms. Acute occurs with large blood losses. Chronic form appears as a result of diseases of the respiratory system, liver, and blood.

If heavy breathing is accompanied by wheezing, this may indicate that there is a foreign body in the nasopharynx.

Heart failure makes itself felt after the pet finishes its active games. At the same time, you can notice not only heavy breathing, but also a cyanosis of the tongue, which soon disappears.

If an animal experiences shock, its blood circulation is disrupted, resulting in a lack of oxygen.

A pet that has damage to the ribs, chest and spine will breathe from the stomach, while the ribs are practically motionless.

When a cat experiences joy, its breathing quickens, but this is a temporary phenomenon.

Hydrothorax occurs very rarely, as independent disease. As a rule, this disease appears in parallel with heart failure, anemia, or kidney and liver diseases. This disease often leads to lymph outflow, stagnation in the veins, and decreased functionality of the heart muscle. All this can lead to the death of the animal.

There are 3 types of pneumothorax: open, closed and valve.
Open pneumothorax occurs during injury when a hole is created and air enters and exits during inhalation and exhalation.
Closed pneumothorax also occurs as a result of injury, only air remains in place. The passage to it is closed by a blood clot.
And the most dangerous form- this is a valve pneumothorax, since air enters with each breath, but cannot escape because it is closed by a valve.

The more complex the injury during pneumothorax, the less likely the animal is to survive. If the injury is not severe, then the animal will live. If a large amount of air penetrates, the organs in the chest become cold, the volume of the lungs decreases, and respiratory distress occurs. In addition, infection can enter the lungs and chest through the wound.

The animal may become frightened by this condition and begin to breathe rapidly, resulting in suffocation.

Genetic diseases of the cardiovascular system and congenital heart defects (non-occlusion of the ductus botallus, pulmonary stenosis)
Acquired defects and arterial hypertension.
Infections, poisoning or inflammatory diseases of the heart or lungs.
Malfunctions of the endocrine system - hyperthyroidism and diabetes.
Arrhythmias.
Cardiomyopathies.

The most common cause is cardiomyopathy - a dysfunction of the heart muscle, which can be either dystrophic or hypertrophic in nature.

In dystrophic or dilated heart failure, heart failure develops due to excessively dilated cavities that prevent normal ejection volume.

With myocardial hypertrophy, the volume of blood ejected decreases due to a decrease in the cavities of the excessively enlarged heart muscle.

In addition to the direct causes leading to the development of deficiency, there are a number of predisposing factors: obesity, adynamia, poor nutrition, frequent infections and weakened immunity.

This is what rapid breathing is called. On medical language the pathology sounds like tachypnea. Very often, with this diagnosis, the animal takes a position in which the front legs are extended and the back is arched.

Tachypnea in cats can be pathological and physiological. The second type is the norm. Observed after birth, when the cat is hot. In this natural way, the pet’s body returns to normal. Sometimes physiological shortness of breath in animals can be observed after castration or sterilization. In this case, the cat also recovers from the effects of anesthesia and comes to its senses.

Symptoms of shortness of breath

Tachypnea in cats manifests itself in specific behavior. The animal tries to lie down and take a semi-recumbent position to facilitate breathing. His mouth may be half open. At the same time, appetite decreases sharply. The cat's condition is apathetic. Breathing becomes noisy, fast, hoarse, or shallow. It may seem to the owner that the cat is constantly sleeping.

He also tends to hide in far corners and hide; he is irritated by light. Sometimes he may cough. The animal's gums become blue or burgundy. This is a sign that there is not enough hemoglobin in the blood, all tissues are poorly supplied with oxygen. If the course of tachypnea is mild, then there may not be such symptoms.

If tachypnea occurs in old cat(more than 10 years), then most likely this is due to chronic heart failure. It always causes shortness of breath. But if we're talking about about tachypnea in representatives of brachycephalic breeds, for example, Persians, then in them this phenomenon is considered the norm. After all, such violations are provoked by the flattening of the animal’s muzzle. Yes, in this case, tachypnea can hardly be called physiological.

Upper respiratory tract problems

Damage to the nostrils and sinuses (infections, narrowing, inflammation, tumors)
Damage to the soft palate
Diseases of the larynx (tumor, collapse, paralysis, spasm)
Tracheal diseases (tumors, collapse, foreign bodies)
Damage (compression) of the upper respiratory tract (tumors, lymph nodes)

Problems related to the lower respiratory tract

Lower respiratory tract disorders include obstructive diseases and restrictive diseases:

In most cases, tachypnea is not dangerous, but it can also cause serious illnesses that can even be life-threatening. Therefore, tachypnea should not be ignored and should be contacted by a veterinarian.

Congenital defects (especially obstructive cardiomyopathy - narrowing of the aortic lumen).

Congenital diseases of the heart valves.

immoderate and incorrect treatment, incompatibility of the drugs used.

Hyperthyroidism (excessive hormone production thyroid gland).

Oncological pathologies.

Tachycardia is often provoked by pancreatitis.

Types of heart failure

According to the characteristics of the process, this disease can be divided into acute and chronic. Typically, cats are characterized by chronic insufficiency.

Acute heart failure

Occurs in people when sharp violation blood supply to the myocardium (infarction). There is no major factor that causes blockage in cats coronary vessels– atherosclerosis. This feature of the cat family lies in their diet, which does not clog its blood vessels cholesterol plaques. Heart attacks occur due to a sharp imbalance in the functioning of the nervous and endocrine systems during severe stressful situations. The stress response can be so severe that it causes the heart to stop completely.

The most stressful (and deadly) veterinary procedure is the operation of pulling out claws, which leads to disability of the pet due to the removal of the first phalanges of the fingers.

Chronic heart failure

It often affects our pets, regardless of breed and age. The disease can develop even in a young animal from 1 year old. The main characteristic of this form is the slow progression of the disease; the animal may not show any signs of failure due to the powerful compensatory properties of the cardiovascular system. Unfortunately, this uniqueness forces cat owners to seek veterinary help even in severe stages of the disease.

Symptoms of shortness of breath

Conventionally, shortness of breath is divided into physiological and pathological. The first occurs in a cat as a reaction to stress or overheating, as well as after injury. The second accompanies diseases of the internal organs.

In addition, it is customary to classify shortness of breath:

Depending on the change in the frequency of respiratory movements into bradypnea (sparse and shallow breathing) and tachypnea (shallow, rapid breathing). The first develops due to damage to the brain structures and membranes of the brain, perhaps with ascites and endocrine diseases (diabetes). The latter is called “the breath of a hunted animal” and develops with anemia, heat and severe stress.
Depending on which part of the respiratory movement is difficult, inspiratory and expiratory shortness of breath are distinguished. In the first case, breathing occurs with difficulty inhaling (in case of trauma to the trachea by a tumor or some object). In the second case, the animal has difficulty exhaling. This happens with bronchial asthma. There may also be a mixed form of pathology. Mixed forms may develop after a car injury or a fall from a great height.

Shortness of breath is a symptom of a large number of pathological conditions. Sometimes very serious, for example, cerebral dyspnea that develops when there is pressure from a tumor or hematoma on respiratory center in the pet's brain.

Signs of pathology

Signs of respiratory distress in an animal are not only breathing with open mouth. The owner may notice:

unusual pose of the pet;
wheezing sounds when breathing;
bluish coloration of visible mucous membranes (oral mucosa, gums);
it is difficult for the cat to inhale or exhale; she breathes too quickly.

If these signs did not appear as a result of visible physical efforts of the pet, it must be shown to a veterinarian. Because shortness of breath can be a sign of a serious illness.

Symptoms

If your cat has shortness of breath, it may be accompanied by the following additional signs:

When overheated, tired, severely stressed, or in pain, the animal tries to hide, lies, sometimes on a wet and cold surface, breathes with an open mouth with its tongue hanging out, making the same movements as a dog.
A cat can drink a lot.
Her pupils are dilated, she is scared and nervous.
If dyspnea is caused by a disease, the cat may have nausea, vomiting, severe weakness, lethargy, apathy, refusal to eat, increase or decrease in body temperature.
An animal may sleep a lot if it has circulatory problems or heart problems.
For diseases respiratory organs shortness of breath may be accompanied by sneezing, noise in the lungs, mucus from the nose, inflammation and the appearance of mucous or purulent discharge.

Only an experienced veterinarian with extensive experience who has modern equipment in the clinic can recognize which disease or physiological disorder caused the development of dyspnea. This is especially true for hard-to-diagnose heart diseases, so if owners want to help their pet, the best thing they can do is take him to a veterinary clinic.

Cough
Labored breathing
Blue gums
Fatigue
Weight loss
Poor appetite
Excessive thirst or frequent urination
Vomit
Diarrhea

During development acute pathology external symptoms appears within a few hours. Chronic course underlying disease causes shortness of breath as the hemodynamic, gas exchange and perfusion characteristics of the lungs change.

Changes usually begin with an increase in breathing rate (over 35 breaths per minute). A characteristic symptom of cats is “dog breathing,” when the animal breathes with its mouth open. Excitement and muscle contractions occur abdominals to help the act of breathing, panic increases over time.

If the reason pathological condition is an accumulation of fluid or bronchial asthma - wheezing becomes audible, sometimes at a distance (remote). The cyanotic color of visible mucous membranes rapidly increases and skin, certain areas of the oral cavity turn pale.

Diagnosis of shortness of breath in cats

It is very important to identify the disease in the initial stages of development. Can do it experienced doctor in a well-equipped clinic, since in this case a banal phonendoscope will not do.

It is necessary to carefully collect all the information you know - what infectious and chronic diseases your pet is suffering, how long ago the symptoms of the disease began, the presence of vaccinations and changes in the animal’s behavior.

General examination – will help with preventive examinations. It helps to identify the disease in the absence external manifestations, based on listening to murmurs, rhythm disturbances and visualization of the cardiac impulse (a sign of myocardial hypertrophy).

Definitely worth measuring blood pressure to exclude hypertension and identify disorders in one of the blood circulation. With reduced values, dilated heart failure can be suspected.

Conducted general tests blood, biochemistry. It is also worth taking blood samples for thyroid hormones to rule out hyperthyroidism. And check for increased sugar levels.

ECG is the main way to detect abnormalities in the heart. Allows you to identify functional changes in the myocardium and the presence of arrhythmias. A more clear picture of heart failure can be seen with an ultrasound scan.

It is also necessary to take an x-ray; on it you can see the expansion of the borders of the heart, its displacement from its normal position, fluid in the heart sac and pleural cavity, as well as ascites.

Before starting tests, factors that may cause tachypnea (overheating, stress, excessive physical exertion) should be considered and eliminated. If tachypnea continues or progresses despite removal of possible causes, then it is important not to ignore the problem and contact your veterinarian immediately. Your doctor may order the following tests:

A complete blood count, blood chemistry panel, and urinalysis are important basic tests. They will help identify anemia, infections and diabetes.
Test for the presence of helminths
Measuring eye pressure blood
Test for hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's syndrome)
X-ray to identify a foreign body or tumor in the upper respiratory tract
Ultrasound of the heart and chest cavity
Cytology or thoracentesis (taking fluid, air, or tissue from the chest for analysis)
Computed tomography, rhinoscopy or trachiobronchoscopy are prescribed in more severe cases

First of all, it is necessary to exclude factors that can provoke the development of tachypnea in a cat (heat, stress, physical activity). If tachypnea persists and/or symptoms worsen or are present for a long time, you should contact your veterinarian.

Standard examination includes general and biochemical tests blood and urine analysis. They will help identify diseases that cause rapid breathing, such as anemia, infection and diabetes.

Also held:

analysis of thyroid hormone (T4) levels in all cats over six years of age;
analysis for leukemia and immunodeficiency virus;
analysis arterial blood for gases for evaluation acid-base balance patient;
chest radiographs. Sometimes an X-ray of the neck is needed to identify foreign bodies or tumors in the upper airway;
ultrasonography heart and chest cavity;
thoracentesis (taking fluid, air, or tissue from the chest cavity), fluid analysis, or cytology.

More detailed diagnostics may include rhinoscopy, bronchoscopy, and computed tomography.

Important diagnostic value has not only anamnesis and a general physical examination, but also an in-depth examination, including:

Careful auscultation to detect changes in the functioning of the heart and lungs.
Tonometry.
X-ray of the chest, neck, abdomen.
Cardiological examination with ECG and EchoCG according to indications.
Laboratory blood test.
When performing a puncture, pathological fluid from the pleural cavity is also transferred to the laboratory.
Severe cases requiring deep differential diagnosis, are an indication for bronchoscopy and esophagoscopy.

It is important to remember that shortness of breath in cats is not independent disease, but a symptom indicating the progression of the underlying disease or the development of complications. Therefore, a thorough diagnosis will help to begin timely, effective therapy.

Animal treatment

At the hospital, the animal will be examined and a number of examinations and tests will be performed. Only by accurately establishing the cause of the condition will the veterinarian know what to do in a particular situation. Treatment is always aimed primarily at eliminating the cause of shortness of breath, that is, the underlying disease, so it is never the same for all cats. Only by coping with it can you count on the disappearance of shortness of breath.

If this condition is associated with natural causes, then it is important for the animal owner to eliminate the source of shortness of breath. If the cat is overheated, it needs to be given water and placed in a cool place. At severe weakness you will have to wet her head and limbs with water. If the cat gets worse, it is necessary to take him to the clinic.

When stressed, you need to talk to the cat as softly and quietly as possible, without trying to forcefully pick it up or stroke it if it avoids. In this state, she can even bite the owner. We need to protect her from unnecessary attention and allow her to calmly come to her senses by eliminating the source of stress.

An exhausted animal is shown to a veterinarian and a diet enriched with vitamins and nutrients. For an obese cat, everything is done exactly the opposite, that is, they cut back on calories and portion sizes, gradually introducing food into his life. large quantity active movement and games for weight loss.

Once you are sure that the owners have done everything for their pet, you can be confident about its future. You should always remember that in domestic cats, symptoms of heart disease can be mistaken for laziness and personality traits of the animal. If your cat is fat, inactive, and short of breath, take him to the vet before it's too late.

Since the causes of the disease are different, the methods of treating your pet are completely different. Breathing on your own can return to normal only after experiencing emotions of joy and shock. In other cases, only a veterinarian can help.

Hypoxia in a cat can be cured with pharmacological drugs, which reduce oxygen consumption by tissues.

If pieces of food or particles of a toy get into the animal’s nasopharynx, then you should not try to pull them out yourself. Only a doctor can do this.

In the case when to heavy breathing fever and cough are added, this may indicate that the animal has bronchitis or laryngeal edema.

Wheezing breathing can be characteristic not only of diseases such as hydrothorax and pneumothorax, but also with edema, pneumonia and heart disease.

It is imperative to examine the cat's body; if scratches and bruises are visible on it, it may have injuries. An animal with serious bruises loses its appetite and is constantly thirsty. It needs to be shown to a specialist, possibly an ultrasound or x-ray.

To cure hydrothorax, you first need to determine the cause of the disease. Treatment is carried out with a course of antibiotics and vitamins, as well as cardiac and diuretics. You should also limit your pet's intake of water and liquid food. The cat is punctured and the fluid is partially removed, no more than 300 ml.

Treatment of hydrothorax is ineffective, therefore they mainly treat expensive purebred animals.

In any case, no matter how severe the animal’s condition, there is no need to abandon it to its fate. Let a specialist examine the cat and decide its fate himself. If there is even a small chance of salvation, you must seize it.

If you notice signs of heart failure in your pet, be sure and urgently contact the clinic. Acute oxygen starvation can lead to asphyxia and death of the animal!

Treatment should begin with salt-free diet pet and reduction total number drinking liquid. It is necessary to give moderate physical activity, you can include walks for these purposes. fresh air. During exercise, carefully monitor the animal's condition to avoid shortness of breath and increased cyanosis.

Drug therapy should be carried out taking into account the severity of the disease and changes in the heart muscle. The main effect of the drugs should be aimed at normalizing blood supply, restoring the functioning of the myocardium and blood flow.

To remove fluid from the cavities, diuretics are prescribed. The drug of choice is hydrochlorothiazide, which has minimal side effects upon admission to low dosages. Should be taken in the morning.

At severe symptoms For CHF, furosemide is used; it begins to act within 15 minutes after administration.

The main drugs for the treatment of heart failure are ACE inhibitors. These include enalapril and captopril. The dosage is selected strictly individually. During therapy, the animal’s condition must be monitored and blood pressure measured.

Cardiac glycosides are aimed at improving myocardial trophism. Digoxin is used for treatment, but its use is contraindicated in the presence of arrhythmias. Prescribed in minimal doses, gradually increasing to the optimal amount over the course of a week.

To improve pumping function, beta-blockers are used - bisoprolol, metaprolol. The starting dose should be an eighth of the expected dose, and increased every 2 weeks.

Standard drug therapy regimens:

ACEI only – used in treatment initial stages illness.
ACE inhibitor and diuretic - with the development of insufficiency of 2 or 3 degrees.
ACE inhibitor, diuretic, cardiac glycoside and beta blocker - the most common and “gold standard” therapy in veterinary medicine.

If possible, the underlying causes (heat, stress, strain) should be identified and eliminated.
Symptomatic therapy
Oxygen therapy if the pet is in serious condition
Antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications for infectious or inflammatory diseases
Fluid therapy is indicated for dehydration or systemic disease (eg, uremia)

It is not the shortness of breath itself that needs to be treated, but the cause that caused it. If the animal overheats, it needs to be moved to a cooler room. Experienced breeders recommend cutting long-haired pets for the summer.

If the animal reacts violently to minor stimuli, for example, is afraid of trips to the clinic, you can ask the veterinarian to recommend sedatives (cat Baiyun or VetSpokoin).

If your pet is too well-fed, gets tired quickly and is breathing heavily, it’s time to think about proper diet for him. There are special dietary foods for this, which your veterinarian will help you choose.

If shortness of breath is caused by something more serious, you will need special treatment, medicinal or surgical.

The underlying cause of tachypnea must be identified and addressed.

Symptomatic therapy should be carried out while searching for the root cause. This includes oxygen therapy, antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs for animals with infectious or inflammatory diseases, infusion therapy with dehydration or concomitant systemic diseases.

Therapeutic measures depend on the cause that caused shortness of breath. Increasing respiratory failure requires urgent initiation of therapy before an accurate diagnosis is made in order to stabilize the patient's condition. The animal is placed in an oxygen chamber to improve oxygenation. According to indications, thoracentesis is performed (removal of fluid or air accumulation from the pleural cavity).

Drugs are prescribed to relieve swelling and remove excess fluid from the body. Cardiac glycosides and bronchodilators are administered. If the cause of shortness of breath is bacterial infection, then broad-spectrum antibiotics are used.

If the measures taken do not eliminate respiratory failure– tracheal intubation with further connection to a ventilator is indicated.

When the cat returns home, you need to carefully follow the veterinarian’s recommendations, avoid stress, and control appetite and activity. This will help prevent relapses of the disease, and will also increase the quality and life expectancy of the animal.

Therapy

In many mild cases tachycardia, treatment consists of prescribing drugs that help restore normal electrolyte balance. If the cat is unstable (severe weakness, fainting, or arrhythmia), hospitalization and treatment may be required. clinical settings, with constant infusion medicines intravenously.

Once the animal's condition has stabilized, medications may be prescribed to oral administration. It should be remembered that all medications prescribed by the veterinarian must be given to the animal in strict accordance with his instructions. This is due to the possibility of relapses of the disease. Finally, old and weakened cats often require lifelong treatment, because worn out heart needs constant support.

Prevention

if you choose a kitten with a pedigree, study its relatives for the presence of chronic and genetic diseases, and birth defects development.
Avoid developing obesity.
Give rational exercise to the cat in order to prevent adynamia.
Conduct regularly preventive examination from a veterinarian to identify the disease in the initial stages.
Try to minimize stressful situations for your four-legged friend.

If hot weather is the cause of your pet's heavy, rapid breathing, you should place him near a fan. Spraying from a spray bottle is allowed. Some owners wash their cats. But this procedure can cause stress. It is advisable to trim long-haired pets for the summer.

If the root cause was stress, you can give the animal sedative medications such as Kot Bayun and Stop Stress.

More often it is caused physiologically, less often it occurs due to health problems. It is important for the owner to be able to distinguish the first from the second in order, if necessary, to promptly seek help from veterinarian. Persistent and progressive respiratory failure can lead to the death of the pet.

You can guess that a cat has health problems if, while breathing:

wheezing or whistling is heard;
air is captured and released with difficulty;
the animal sits in an unusual position, is worried, tries to lie down, but is suffocating, so it gets up again and again;
the animal breathes with its mouth slightly open and it is clear that the mucous membranes of the gums and lips are pale pink or bluish in color;
the frequency of inhalations and exhalations is noticeably higher or lower than normal.

Breathing with your mouth slightly open - true symptoms shortness of breath

On a note! The body of animals living on land is designed in such a way that it does not accumulate precious oxygen, but receives it in the current mode from the air, through respiratory movements. If the process is disrupted for some reason, the animal’s life is endangered.

Types of shortness of breath

Breathing difficulties in cats caused by diseases are classified into:

bradypnea - rare breathing which occurs due to insufficient functioning of the corresponding center of the brain;
tachypnea - frequent, shallow breathing - one of the signs of fever, and possibly blood pathologies.

Depending on the phase that is affected, shortness of breath is defined as:

inspiratory, when breathing is difficult;
expiratory, if there are problems with exhalation;
mixed, when both phases suffer.

Physiologically caused shortness of breath

It is characterized by the fact that:

is caused by natural processes of the body’s vital functions and does not require treatment;
essentially represents a reaction to the influence of stress factors or unfavorable conditions, upon expiration of which respiratory process the animal returns to normal.

Causes

A physiological respiratory disorder develops in an animal when:

Psycho-emotional stress. It is accompanied by the release of a large amount of adrenaline into the blood, which stimulates the heart. The body's need for oxygen increases sharply. To compensate for its deficiency, the cat begins to breathe more often and deeper.
Physical stress. When an animal runs a lot and quickly, the heart contracts more often, oxygen is consumed faster, so the cat breathes more actively than at rest. The same thing happens if the animal overheats.
Stress due to chest injury. The injured pet, in addition to being frightened, experiences pain, which, if the ribs are broken, intensifies with breathing. Inhalations and exhalations become careful, superficial, and the animal’s mouth is open. The situation is critical and requires emergency measures.

Symptoms

We are talking about the behavior of a cat when shortness of breath can be explained by physiological reasons:

the animal is worried about thirst and drinks a lot after active games and running;
the pet becomes lethargic, looks for shade to hide and rest, and if it finds a wet surface, it lies down on it. This happens after a long stay in the heat. After a couple of hours, the cat comes to his senses, eats with pleasure and continues to behave. active image life;
the animal is restless and shows obvious signs of fright, one of which is dilated pupils. Perhaps you had to run away from the dog.

Attention! Such manifestations are considered physiological norm when they are caused by appropriate circumstances.

How to help a cat

She needs to be left alone, offered a bowl of fresh, cool water, and then give the pet the opportunity to rest and sleep.

Pathological shortness of breath

It, in itself, is not considered a separate pathology, but is always one of the symptoms of a health problem. If breathing difficulties occur regularly but are not related to exposure unfavorable factors- this is a reason to go to a veterinary clinic to examine your pet and get a doctor’s consultation.

Symptoms

They are common to shortness of breath in general and are described in detail above, in the subsection “Features of breathing disorders.”

Causes

Breathing problems can be caused by diseases:

Shortness of breath in cats can be a consequence of obesity. Remembering that the constitution of an animal largely depends on the breed, you should know by what external parameters you can suspect excess weight at the pet's.

Table 1. Signs that allow you to assess the situation with the animal’s body weight

Weight	Image	Description
		The body is proportional. Ribs and pelvic bones do not stick out, but can be felt without difficulty. The waist (the difference between the width of the chest and pelvis) is visible. The abdomen and chest are covered with a small layer of fatty tissue
		The spinal column and ribs are not immediately palpable. The waist is barely noticeable. There is a noticeable layer of subcutaneous fat on the chest, back and abdomen. After active games, the cat gets tired faster
		The ribs and spine are almost impossible to feel under a thick layer of fatty tissue. Back, chest and big belly covered with an impressive layer of fat. The cat moves little, suffers from shortness of breath from minor exertion

Attention! Determine the exact cause respiratory disorders Can the only way– by contacting a veterinary clinic and submitting your pet for a full examination.

Diagnostics

After a conversation with the owner of the animal, the doctor examines the cat, listens to its breathing and heartbeat, after which he prescribes:

X-ray examination of the chest organs;
echocardiography;
MRI or CT scan of the head (if there is a suspicion of a tumor);
blood analysis.

Based on the diagnostic results, therapy is prescribed.

Video - Shortness of breath in a cat

Treatment

The main task is to eliminate the underlying pathology that caused respiratory disorders. At the same time, measures are taken to improve and stabilize general condition the animal, for example, is given oxygen to breathe in an oxygen chamber or through a mask, and if the situation is critical, they perform artificial ventilation lungs.

For pathologies of the respiratory system, bronchodilator, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial medications are prescribed according to indications. In severe cases, the animal is hospitalized.
If a foreign body is detected in the trachea, an operation is performed to remove it, and the swelling is relieved with anti-inflammatory drugs. The process may require intubation of the trachea (insertion of a tube into it through the mouth), or installation of a tracheostomy (the same, but through an incision on the surface of the neck). All this is performed under anesthesia.
An asthma attack is relieved with glucocorticosteroids, as well as bronchodilator drugs.
At cardiovascular pathologies type of cardiomyopathy, beta blockers are indicated, as well as calcium channel blockers and urinary aids (diuretics).
With pathologies of the central nervous system, everything depends on the diagnosis. Thus, if a brain tumor is detected, surgery and appropriate therapeutic support are indicated.
For anemia, iron supplements and a complex of vitamins are prescribed. In especially severe cases, we may talk about blood transfusions.

In case of injuries (for example, from a fall from a height), a puncture of the patient’s chest is performed, which is necessary to remove the thoracic region, air. Sometimes drainage is installed for these purposes. Everything is done under conditions veterinary hospital, where furry patients are under the supervision of veterinarians around the clock.

Considering that there can be many causes of respiratory disorders in cats, prevention comes down to maintaining the normal health of the pet. When it is at the proper level, the animal is hardy and gets sick less often. In this regard, it is recommended:

feed your cat regularly and in a balanced manner so that she receives required volume proteins, vitamins and minerals. Optimal diet will become ready-made feed premium and super premium quality;
make sure that in the summer the animal has somewhere to hide from the heat and heat, and also drink plenty of fresh water;
do not overfeed your pet and do not force it to run or play after eating;
Monitor your cat's health.

Attention! If he begins to breathe heavily, you should not expect that “everything will go away on its own.” If you suspect a pathology, you should show the animal to a veterinarian, and then follow all his recommendations with precision.

Conclusion

Shortness of breath in a cat is an extraordinary phenomenon. The beast will not deliberately push itself periodically to such an extent that it is difficult to breathe. If a cat often sits with his mouth open, he feels very bad. This means that the animal must be saved.