Cat Shortness of Breath

Cats pant in hot weather to regulate their body temperature. They also pant when they are frightened or nervous. These are normal body reactions and are not shortness of breath. If your cat is truly having trouble breathing minor breathing out and is gasping for breath, there is probably a serious obstruction in the chest or breathing tubes.

Cat Shortness of Breath Home Remedies

During an emergency, give artificial respiration and see your veterinarian immediately.

Cat Shortness of Breath Treatment

Your veterinarian will perform a careful examination of all systems. Your pet may need oxygen at this time. If there has been evidence of trauma (such as an auto accident), X-ray swill be taken when your cat is stabilized. An outdoor pet that has no fever and sudden breathing problems may have a chest injury from being in a fight or being hit by a car.

An old cat with a history of coughing and heart disease develops sudden shortness of breath may have a failing heart. Acrimony (a sudden degeneration of the heart muscle of a cat at any age) can also cause the heart to fail. Oxygen and drugs are necessary to strengthen the heart. Blood tests, electro-cardiograms, echocardiograms, hoarseness and X-rays are indicated.

There are other common diseases that your doctor will consider if your cat has short-ness of breath: clamps in nursing cats, anemia, internal hemorrhage from bleed-in disorders or trauma, fever from infection or heatstroke, tumors, or feline infectious peritonitis. Hospitalization is almost always necessary for a pet that has shortness of breath.

Cat Shortness of Breath Diagnosis

There are several diagnostic tests to fond out the reason behind the shortness of breath of your pet so often.

• On taking your pet for cat shortness of breath the vet doctor would generally go through the medical history and conduct a detailed physical history of the animal. Special attention would be given to diagnosing the cause of the shortness of breathy through auscultation or examining the heart and lungs with stethoscope.
• The radiographic X-ray of the chest is also done.
• The blood pressure level of the pet is also measured.
• Echocardiogram or the ultrasound examination of the heart is also carried out.
• Testing of blood in the laboratories is also carried out to detect the cause of the cat shortness of breath.

The following are the treatments conducted after finding the cause behind the shortness of breath.

• In severe cases of shortness of breath the pet cat is hospitalized and is treated by supplying oxygen.
• The pet is attended to minimize the level of stress.
• Sometimes the shortness of breath may occur due to the accumulation of liquid around the lungs or the pleural effusion. To cure the disorder the fluid is trained out with the help of a needle. This process is known as Thoracentesis.
• To treat the shortness of breath the pet cat can also be given Diuretics or ‘water pill’ like furosemide or (Lasix®), spironolactone and such.

How to Splint a Cat Leg
Bandaging a Cat
Cardiomyopathy in Cats
Cat Abdominal Pain
Cat Abscess
Cat Aggression
Cat Allergy
Cat Anal Glands
Cat Bad Breath
Cat Breast Cancer
Cat Burn
Cat Cancer
Cat Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Cat Chemical Burn
Cat Chest Injuries
Cat Circulatory System
Cat Constipation
Cat Contact Dermatitis
Cat Convulsion
Cat Cough
Cuts on a Cat
Cat Decreased Appetite
Cat Diarrhoea
Cat Digestive System
Cat Ear Discharge
Cat Euthanasia
Cat Eye Discharge
Cat Eye Injury
Cat Fever
Cat First Aid
Cat Foreign Objects
Cat Genetic Disease
Cat Head Injury
Cat Heat Stroke
Cat Hoarseness
Cat Increased Appetite Diarrhea
Weight Loss
Cat Insect Bites
Cat Lameness
Cat Larynx
Cat Third Eyelid Problems
Cat Leukemia
Cat Limb Injuries
Cat Lumps
Cat Nose Bleed
Cat Obesity
Cat Panleukopenia
Cat Parasite
Cat Poisoning
Cat Poisonous Plants
Cat Puncture Scratch
Cat Rabies
Cat Rodent Ulcer
Cat Runny Nose
Cat Scratching
Cat Shock
Cat Shortness of Breath
Cat Skin Tumors
Cat and Skunk
Cat Smoke Inhalation
Cat Snake Bite
Cat Tick
Cat Toad Poisoning
Cat Underweight
Cat Vaginal Discharge
Cat Veterinarian
Cat Vomiting
Feline Acne
Feline T-lymphotropic Virus
Fiber Optic Endoscopy
Cat Fleas
Hypokalemic Polymyopathy Syndrome
Hypothermia and Frost Bite
Increased Water Intake
Painful Frequent or Bloody Urination
Porcupine Quills
Signs of Cat Internal Bleeding
Cat Skin Diseases
Cat Pregnancy