Has your cat at home ever experienced these symptoms? Even if you haven't done anything, your cat seems to have difficulty breathing, breathes abnormally hard, or sometimes breathes irregularly. These symptoms are definitely not normal for cats, but your cat may have a physical disorder that causes these symptoms. So, what could be the cause? Let's try to understand.
Symptoms of heavy breathing in cats, if observed, are:It is a breath that appears to be very forceful or labored. Sometimes the cat may remain in a crouched position all the time because they cannot lie on their back or side due to the large amount of fluid or fluid in the chest or abdomen. Or, a very severe case of cat flu can cause difficulty breathing. The symptoms of a cold are often obvious in the form of green nasal discharge and crusty eye discharge. The cat may have low blood oxygen levels and the color of the mucous membranes may turn pale or purple.
Causes of heavy breathing in cats such as
1. There is an obstruction in the upper respiratory tract, such as a large amount of mucus, a tumor, fungus, or a mass in the nasal cavity and pharynx.
2. Obstruction of the lower airway, such as bronchial stenosis caused by allergies. We will see the cat exhibiting loud, labored breathing and the cat will often exhale with more force than normal.
This radiograph shows the affected lungs of a cat with asthma. Photo by Dr. Jayne Kubat.
3. Problems with the lungs and bronchioles, such as pulmonary edema from a heart attack or pneumonia. Cats will often show signs of difficulty breathing both while breathing in and out. If there is an abnormality in the chest cavity, whether it is a solid, liquid, or gas, the cat will show signs of difficulty breathing, but it will not make a loud noise.
4. Having fluid in the chest cavity
5. The presence of gas in the chest cavity, which is caused by the destruction or rupture of the air sacs.
Diagnosis
- Diagnostic X-rays (X-rays) to look for abnormalities in the lungs, chest, throat, and nasal cavities.
- Ultrasound
- Blood tests to assess your cat's condition
- Chest fluid examination or cell collection from the tumor for examination is only performed after a confirmed diagnosis of fluid in the chest cavity.
Treatment
- Give oxygen
- Drain water or gas from the chest cavity.
- Medical treatment, which depends on the symptoms or cause of the disease.
However, the treatment for cats with heavy breathing and difficulty breathing will depend on the cause. Therefore,Cat owners should take their cats to the veterinarian at least once a year for a health checkup, such as a heartworm test, a test for ticks and fleas, and regular observation of their cat's behavior. If you notice any abnormalities in your cat's breathing, you should immediately take them to the veterinarian to determine the cause and prevent any potential illnesses.
Information from
Dr. Oraya Prapanphot (Dr. Nun), veterinarian at Talingchan Animal Hospital
Long Beach Animal Hospital http://bit.ly/3TWFxLo
Veterinary Partner http://bit.ly/3TN9zRO
Vetlexicon http://bit.ly/3U8H5Cp
Allwell http://bit.ly/3TTuUZK
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