Shortness of breath in a cat: types, causes, treatment

Shortness of breath in a cat or dyspnea is a disorder of the breathing process, expressed in changes in the frequency, depth and rhythm of respiratory movements. It can be both physiological and pathological in nature. In the latter case, dyspnea is a symptom of serious diseases.

Due to some differences in the physiology of dogs and cats, it is quite natural for a dog to have an open mouth with a protruding tongue during extreme heat. Thus, it regulates temperature (the body cools through the evaporation of saliva from the tongue). After all, animals do not have sweat glands on their bodies.

For a cat, an open mouth is an unnatural position, and she rarely resorts to it. In most cases, this indicates that the animal has health problems. That is why the owner should show concern in response to the appearance of this symptom in his pet. Let's take a closer look at what this phenomenon is.

Types of shortness of breath

As mentioned above, shortness of breath in a cat can be physiological or pathological.

In turn, pathological shortness of breath, based on the type of breathing disorder, can be divided into the following types:

bradypnea - slow breathing when the functions of the respiratory center are suppressed;
tachypnea - rapid shallow breathing. This is a characteristic symptom of fever, as well as anemia and other blood diseases.

In addition, there are several forms of shortness of breath, depending on which phase of breathing is disturbed:

inspiratory dyspnea - the inspiratory phase is disrupted;
expiratory shortness of breath - the expiratory phase is disturbed;
mixed shortness of breath - both inhalation and exhalation are complicated.

Causes of pulmonary failure

Any disturbance in the functioning of one or more respiratory organs (for example, the respiratory tract or lungs) can lead to the development of respiratory failure in a cat or dog, which poses a direct threat to the health and life of the animal.

Respiratory failure occurs when the level of oxygen in the blood becomes too low (hypoxemic form) and when the level of carbon dioxide in the blood becomes too high (hypercapnic form).

Important! The causes of hypoxemic (pulmonary) and hypercapnic (ventilatory) forms of respiratory failure in dogs and cats differ.

Causes of hypercapnic (ventilation) form of respiratory failure:

Violation of central regulation of breathing (control of respiratory muscles). Such disorders occur with arterial hypotension (low blood pressure), as well as with pathological processes occurring in the central nervous system (for example, meningoencephalitis), traumatic brain injury and poisoning with drugs that suppress the functioning of the respiratory center.
Neuromuscular disorders. The main feature of such diseases is muscle weakness. Respiratory failure in cats and dogs can occur against the background of myopathy (chronic progressive neuromuscular diseases), as well as ruptures or unilateral persistent high position of the diaphragm, accompanied by damage to the phrenic nerve in animals.
Damage to the chest and pleural cavity. The causes of respiratory failure in dogs and cats can be pneumothorax (accumulation of air or gases in the pleural cavity), floating rib fractures, neoplasms (malignant and benign tumors), as well as foreign objects trapped in the chest, and even metastatic pleurisy (inflammation of the pleura) .
Airway obstruction. Respiratory failure in dogs and cats can be caused by bronchial asthma, laryngeal edema, as well as narrowing of the lumen of small bronchi and bronchioles (bronchospasm). These diseases impair the animal's airways, which can lead to the development of respiratory failure.

Causes of hypoxemic (pulmonary) respiratory failure, when the oxygen level in an animal's blood becomes too low, include pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary edema, as well as lung injury in cats and dogs, pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary thromboembolism.

Physiological dyspnea

Shortness of breath is almost always a sign of oxygen starvation of the body, which arises for various reasons.

Physiological shortness of breath does not require treatment. It represents the body’s reaction to certain unfavorable factors or extreme conditions. After their action ceases, the cat's breathing gradually becomes calm.

Causes

Physiological shortness of breath is characteristic of:

severe stress;
chest injury;
heavy physical activity;
overheating of the body.

Stressful conditions

During stressful conditions, the hormone adrenaline is automatically released into the blood, which has the ability to stimulate cardiac activity. The body's need for oxygen increases sharply. To compensate for this deficiency, the cat actively breathes with its open mouth.

Chest injury

Shortness of breath during chest injury is a normal physiological response of the body to pain. If the chest is bruised or the ribs are broken, deep breathing becomes impossible, as it can cause pain to the cat. In such situations, rapid shallow breathing through the mouth is observed.

Great physical activity

During fast running, hunting and games, cardiac activity is stimulated. Active blood circulation automatically leads to accelerated burning of oxygen. The animal stimulates gas exchange in the lungs, increasing the number of breathing movements.

But if the cat is overweight, then even a small load will be accompanied by pathological shortness of breath. After all, obesity in a cat is a disease. A heart covered with a layer of fat is unable to cope even with a moderate load. This situation needs to be corrected urgently.

Overheating of the body

During the heat, the cat overheats, which is why “dog” breathing can be observed - rapid, with an open mouth and a protruding tongue. A cat, like a dog, does not have sweat glands on its body. The sticking out tongue helps her to further cool her body.

Symptoms of physiological shortness of breath

Physiological shortness of breath may be accompanied by behavioral characteristics of the animal characteristic of a particular situation:

active games and physical activity, overheating of the body - increased thirst;
prolonged exposure to the sun - lethargy, an attempt to lie on a damp surface, hide in the shade;
stress - fear, dilated pupils, anxiety, tossing.

How to help a cat

In case of physiological shortness of breath, the animal, first of all, is given complete rest, relieved of stress, protected from bright sun, and provided with a sufficient amount of drink.

Symptoms of shortness of breath in cats

With the development of acute pathology, external symptoms appear within several hours. The chronic course of the 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 occurs, contractions of the abdominal muscles to assist the act of breathing, and panic increases over time.

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

Pathological shortness of breath

Pathological shortness of breath is a sign of many quite dangerous ailments. If rapid breathing is not associated with external factors and appears regularly, there is no need to postpone a visit to the doctor.

Symptoms of pathological shortness of breath

The main symptoms of pathological shortness of breath are:

difficulty inhaling, exhaling, breathing too often or too rarely;
the animal adopts a posture of lack of air (the cat sits on half-bent legs with its head down and its mouth open);
hoarse breathing;
cyanosis of the mucous membranes of the lips, tongue, nose (evidence of hypoxia).

Main reasons

Pathological shortness of breath in a cat has various causes. They depend on which body system is affected. Basically, breathing problems can occur due to:

diseases of the respiratory system;
diseases of the cardiovascular system;
diseases of the central nervous system;
diseases of the hematopoietic system.

Respiratory system diseases

They can be divided into two types:

Upper respiratory tract diseases. Shortness of breath occurs when the airways are blocked by mucous secretions due to sinusitis, rhinitis, and allergic reactions. The cause may also be nasal polyps or foreign bodies stuck in the respiratory canals.
Diseases of the lower respiratory tract. Severe forms of pneumonia lead to filling of the alveolar spaces with purulent exudate. In this case, shortness of breath is accompanied by severe intoxication and high fever. Asthma attacks are characterized by their frequency and are caused by exposure to allergens - asthmatic pathogens in the allergic mood of the body.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system

The most common cardiovascular disease is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats. The walls of the myocardium thicken, simultaneously reducing the size of the heart chambers. In this regard, blood flow is disrupted, which causes the development of hypoxia. Due to the mild symptoms, the disease is often diagnosed only at a late, life-threatening stage.

Noting lethargy, blueness of the mucous membranes, and increased drowsiness of the animal, an attentive owner should be wary. Particular concern should be caused by the fact that a cat of normal build breathes with an open mouth after running or playing. This is a clear indication of poor heart function. The animal must be shown to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Diseases of the central nervous system

Shortness of breath may be a symptom of a cat's brain tumor affecting the respiratory center. Such pathologies are usually accompanied by coordination problems, dizziness, and vomiting. Such conditions are characterized by slow breathing - bradypnea.

Disease of the hematopoietic system

Severe anemia in cats—a critically low hemoglobin content in the blood—leads to shortness of breath. This disease is characterized by drowsiness, lethargy, cold extremities, metallic odor of saliva, and muscle weakness.

Diagnosis of the disease

A pet with pathological shortness of breath should definitely be shown to a doctor. The diseases of which it is a symptom are usually classified as severe and cannot be cured with home remedies.

After interviewing the owner and auscultating (listening) to the animal’s breathing and heart sounds, the doctor prescribes a set of diagnostic measures, the main ones being chest x-ray, laboratory blood tests, and echocardiogram. If a brain pathology is suspected, an MRI or CT scan of the head should be done.

Treatment options

Since shortness of breath is not an independent disease, but a symptom, treatment should be aimed at eliminating the cause of dyspnea. The doctor selects his tactics based on the diagnostic results.

In case of actively progressing respiratory failure, preliminary therapy should be carried out to improve the general condition of the pet. He is placed in an oxygen chamber, and in severe cases artificial ventilation is started.

The main treatment measures are as follows:

In case of pathologies of the upper or lower respiratory tract, the following are prescribed according to indications: bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory drugs, broad-spectrum antibiotics. If the reason is the presence of a foreign body in the respiratory tract, then the animal is prepared for surgery to remove it. An asthma attack can be controlled with special medications (glucocorticosteroids, bronchodilators).
For pathologies of the cardiovascular system, treatment is prescribed based on the results of the examination. Cardiomyopathy requires the use of beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics.
Pathologies of the central nervous system. If a diagnosis is made of a brain tumor, then the cat begins to be prepared for surgery, and in the meantime a course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy is administered.
Anemia must be treated with iron supplements and vitamin supplements. In severe cases, a complete blood transfusion is prescribed.

How to help a cat during an attack of tachypnea

The first thing is that there is no need to panic. The owner’s task is to determine whether this condition is physiological or not in order to seek help from a specialist in time.

Remember: if shortness of breath is accompanied by:

lethargy;
any temperature fluctuations, either up or down;
meowing in pain;
heart rhythm disturbance;
vomiting, diarrhea;
violation of movement coordination.

then this is a clear reason to visit the veterinarian! The essence of the danger of breathing fluctuations lies in a change in the composition of the blood, which under certain conditions can lead to the death of the cat if a diagnosis has not been made and the necessary resuscitation and therapeutic measures have not been started. The owner’s best help in this case is to describe the pet’s condition in as much detail as possible, accompanying symptoms, indicate time intervals for deterioration of the condition, etc.

After a change of environment, a ride, a visit to the veterinarian, or taking medications, breathing returns to normal after the animal calms down, wears off the effects of the medications, or gets used to the new environment.

During and after childbirth, frequent breathing is also considered normal. You should wait until the end of the process, when the cat has rested and regained its strength. If your cat begins to breathe frequently long before giving birth, find a way to consult a veterinarian.

Tachypnea after a walk or active games will go away on its own after the animal rests.

If a cat breathes frequently in its sleep, most often there is no need to worry. Cats are emotional creatures; during sleep, there may be some excitement at the moment when they literally dream.

When tachypnea indicates heart failure, it is almost always accompanied by an abnormal heart rhythm. There is no point in trying to help on your own.

Rapid breathing after vaccination can occur in two cases - an allergic reaction to the components of the vaccine (anaphylaxis) or a physiological response of the immune system. In the first case, the condition develops within the first 15-30 minutes after administration of the drug and may be accompanied by convulsions, swelling of the muzzle, and vomiting. Need help from a specialist.

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In the second case, tachypnea may occur after several hours, and then breathing evens out on its own during the day. Sometimes there may be additional diarrhea or a slight rise in temperature. There is no need to provide any assistance, the main thing is that all symptoms go away within 24 hours. If they don’t go away, a visit or call to the veterinarian is required.

Heatstroke or overheating, in addition to rapid, shallow breathing, is accompanied by lethargy, drowsiness, sometimes vomiting, and absent-mindedness.

Owner actions:

place the cat in a cool place:
wet the paw pads and skin around the nipples with cool water or wipe with a damp cloth; you can also direct air jets from a fan at the cat;
give cool drinking water (not cold and if there is no vomiting!);
Call a veterinarian at home or carefully take your pet to a veterinary clinic.

Frequent breathing after anesthesia (often after sterilization) indicates the following:

there is pain;
there was intoxication due to anesthesia (not necessarily from an overdose).

If there is pain, you should give your cat painkillers prescribed by a specialist.

If the level of breathing does not level out during recovery from anesthesia, there is a risk of losing the animal due to exacerbation of post-anesthesia heart failure or pulmonary edema, so you should go to the veterinary clinic as soon as possible.

General preventive recommendations

Since there can be many causes of respiratory problems in cats, preventive measures boil down to maintaining the good physical condition of the animal. If the body has high resistance, the cat gets sick much less often and becomes more resilient. In addition, the cat is less likely to develop any hereditary diseases.

It is necessary to ensure that the animal does not overheat in the summer, do not overload it beyond measure, and do not overfeed it. It is very good if, from childhood, the kitten is surrounded by a calm, friendly environment.