Causes of Heavy Breathing in Cats. There are many causes of heavy breathing in cats, most of which pose a significant threat to their well-being. Asthma and Chronic Bronchitis - Cats with asthma and an associated condition, chronic bronchitis, often display labored breathing, wheezing, and coughing. Your cat's heavy breathing can be broken down into three classifications: dyspnea, tachypnea, and panting. Let's learn more about each type of cat breathing heavy. 1. Dyspnea: Labored Breathing. Dyspnea means "difficulty breathing". Cats with dyspnea may exhibit the following symptoms:
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Trauma. Trauma is the least common cause of heavy breathing in cats. Typically pet parents are aware when trauma occurs. Cats who are hit by a car - or experience other trauma - develop rib fractures (breaks) or bruising (contusions) of the lungs. The pain as well as squishing of lungs or airways results in respiratory distress. Pneumonia. Pulmonary edema. One of the most common causes of heavy breathing in cats is pulmonary edema, a fluid buildup within the lungs. This is often caused by heart failure but can also happen with electrocution, near-drowning, choking, cancer, or other systemic illnesses. 2. Exercise or Stress. One of the possible causes of heavy cat breathing is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This cardiac disease means that a cat's heart is enlarged, pumping more blood, thus accumulating fluid in a cat's chest or lungs. Except for open-mouthed and hardened breathing, cats with an enlarged heart might also show signs of lethargy. To know if a cat is breathing rapidly, you first need to know a healthy respiratory rate (breathing) for a cat, which is 20 to 30 breaths per minute when resting calmly or sleeping. Breaths should create small movements of the chest; if your cat's sides are moving a large amount, this can indicate labored breathing. Be concerned if your cat.
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Common Triggers for Labored Breathing in Cats. Labored breathing, characterized by an increased effort to breathe, can be caused by several factors. One common trigger is the presence of respiratory infections, such as feline upper respiratory infections or pneumonia. These infections can cause inflammation and narrowing of the airways, making. Airway Obstructions. Heavy and rapid breathing are conditions that result from extra fluid in the chest. This extra fluid in the chest typically causes labored breathing and can interfere with the cat's lungs. This, in turn, can impact the respiratory rate and how much oxygen is getting to your cat's heart with each breath. Remember, heavy breathing in cats is generally serious and warrants an emergency vet visit, especially if they require extra effort to breathe or if their breathing rate increases. Familiarising yourself early on with your cat's normal breathing can help you to identify if it becomes abnormal, so this is a good habit to get into.. Risk factors for dyspnea will vary according to the risk factors associated with the condition that is causing the respiratory distress. Labored breathing stemming from heart failure, for example, will tend to affect older cats, since they are at elevated risk for that condition. Asthma-induced dyspnea, on the other hand, can affect cats of all.
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Heavy breathing at rest, other than an occasional deep sigh, indicates dangerous health problems such as heart failure or severe lung disease. The most common signs of heavy breathing in cats include: Loud breathing. Choking. Fatigue or lethargy. Rapid rising and falling of abdomen or chest. breathing with mouth open. Difficulty breathing, or "dyspnea," can slowly develop over time or occur suddenly. Several medical conditions can cause dyspnea in a cat, including infection, heart disease, trauma, and cancer. Breathing difficulty can look like slow, deliberate, labored breathing or rapid, shallow breaths. It can also involve loud, raspy breathing or wheezes.
Respiratory Infection. Respiratory infections can make it very hard for cats to breathe, causing heavy breathing. Respiratory infections are usually viral, but when a secondary bacterial infection develops, antibiotics might be needed for treatment. Humidifiers and steam may help loosen mucus and make nasal breathing easier as your cat gets better. Symptoms of respiratory infection in a cat can include: coughing. sneezing. nasal discharge. difficulty breathing. If untreated, respiratory infections can lead to more severe health problems, such as lung damage or pneumonia. 2. Asthma. Asthma is a respiratory disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways.
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If your cat is struggling to breathe, they might show the following signs: Heavy, noisy, fast or shallow breathing. Panting/open mouth breathing. Pale gums. Collapse. Sudden/unexplained death. Never ignore a breathing problem (especially mouth breathing), stay calm, keep your cat calm, and contact your vet straight away. Anemia, neurologic disorders, trauma, abdominal enlargement, and pain can also cause cats to pant or exhibit heavy breathing. If your cat is panting or has labored breathing, contact our emergency veterinary clinic right away. Our Flat Rock critical care vets are available 24/7, 365 days a year to help pets in need..
