Breathing Difficulties in Cats

Dyspnea, Tachypnea and Panting in Cats

 

The respiratory system has many parts, including the nose, throat (pharynx and larynx), windpipe, and lungs. Air comes in through the nose and is then carried down into the lungs, through a process referred to as inspiration. In the lungs, the oxygen is transferred to the red blood cells. The red blood cells then carry the oxygen to other organs in the body. This is all part of the physical process of a healthy body.

 

While oxygen is being transferred to the red blood cells, carbon dioxide is transferred from the red blood cells into the lungs. It is then carried out through the nose through a process referred to as expiration. This cyclic motion of breathing is controlled by the respiratory center in the brain and nerves in the chest. Diseases that affect the respiratory system, or the respiratory center in the brain, can bring about breathing difficulties. Troubled or labored breathing is medically referred to as dyspnea, and excessively rapid breathing is medically referred to as tachypnea (also, polypnea).

 

Breathing difficulties can affect cats of any breed or age, and the problem can quickly become life threatening. If your cat is having problems with breathing it should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

Difficulty Breathing (dyspnea)

• The belly and chest move when breathing
• Nostrils may flare open when breathing
• Breathing with an open mouth
• Breathing with the elbows sticking out from the body
• Neck and head are held low and out in front of the body (extended)
• Problem may occur when breathing in (inspiratory dyspnea)
• Problem may occur when breathing out (expiratory dyspnea)
• Noisy breathing (stridor)

 

Fast breathing (tachypnea)

• Rate of breathing is faster than normal
• Mouth is usually closed

 

Panting

• Fast breathing
• Usually shallow breaths
• Open mouth

 

Other symptoms, depending on the cause of the breathing problem

• Coughing

 

Causes

 

Dyspnea

• Diseases of the nose
  • Small nostrils
  • Infection with bacteria or viruses
  • Tumors
  • Bleeding

• Diseases of the throat and upper windpipe (trachea)
  • Roof of the mouth is too long (enlongated soft palate)
  • Tumors
  • Foreign object stuck in the throat

• Diseases of the lungs and lower windpipe
  • Infection with bacteria or viruses (pneumonia)
  • Heart failure with fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema)
  • Enlarged heart
  • Infection with heartworms
  • Tumors
  • Bleeding into the lungs

• Diseases of the small airways in the lungs (bronchi and bronchioles)
  • Infection with bacteria or viruses
  • Tumors
  • Allergies
  • Asthma

• Diseases in the space in the chest surrounding the lungs (pleural space)
  • Fluid caused by heart failure
  • Air (pneumothorax)
  • Blood in the chest (hemothorax)
  • Tumors in the chest

• Diseases of the chest wall
  • Injury to the chest wall (trauma)
  • Toxins from tick bites paralyze the chest wall
  • Botulism toxins paralyzes the chest

• Diseases that make the belly enlarged or bloated
  • Enlarged liver
  • Stomach filled with air (bloat)
  • Fluid in the belly (ascites)

 

Tachypnea (fast breathing)

• Low oxygen level in the blood (hypoxemia)
• Low red blood cell level (anemia)
• Asthma
• Fluid in the lungs because of heart failure (pulmonary edema)
• Fluid in the chest space surrounding the lungs (pleural effusion)
• Bleeding into the lungs
• Tumors

 

Panting

• Pain
• Medications
• High body temperature (fever)

 

 

Diagnosis

 

If your cat is having difficulty breathing, this can be a life threatening emergency. It is important to have your cat seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. You will need to give a thorough history of your cat's health, onset of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have preceded this condition. During the examination, the veterinarian will carefully observe how your cat breathes, and will listen to its chest for evidence of a heart murmur or fluid in the lungs. Your cat's gum color will be carefully evaluated as well, since the color of the gums can indicate whether oxygen is being delivered to the organs (hypoxemia) effectively, or if it there is a low red blood cell count (anemia). Your veterinarian may try to get your cat to cough by pressing on its windpipe. If your cat is having extreme difficulty breathing, the veterinarian will give your cat oxygen to help it breathe before doing any more tests.

 

Standard tests include a complete blood count, biochemical profile, and urine analysis. These will help your veterinarian to determine if your cat has an infection or a low red blood cell count. They will also show whether your cat's internal organs are functioning normally. Your veterinarian will also draw a sample of blood to test the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your cat's blood. This will help to determine how severe your cat's breathing difficulty is and whether the problem is in the lungs or somewhere else in the chest. Your veterinarian may also draw blood for a heartworm test. Other diagnostic tools that may be used are X-ray and ultrasound images of the chest, both to examine for an enlarged heart that can lead to heart failure, and to see if the lungs appear normal. The internal structure of the abdomen may also be examined using this method. If there appears to be an accumulation of fluid in the chest, lungs or belly, some of that fluid will be drawn off for analysis.

 

If your cat does appear to have a heart problem, your veterinarian may also order an ECG (electrocardiogram) to measure the rhythm and electrical activity of the heart, both of which determine the heart's ability to operate normally. If your cat's problem is in its nose or airways, a small camera called an endoscope may be used to get a closer look at these areas. These procedures are known as rhinoscopy and bronchoscopy, respectively. While your veterinarian is examining your cat with the endoscope, samples of fluid and cells may be taken for biopsic analysis.

 

Treatment

 

Treatment will depend on the final diagnosis your veterinarian makes for your cat's breathing problems. Most breathing problems require admittance into a hospital until the inability to take in sufficient oxygen has been resolved. Your cat will be given oxygen to help it breathe and to get oxygen to its organs, and medications may be given, either by mouth or intravenously (IV), to help your pet breathe. The prescribed medication will be dependent on the cause of the breathing problem. Your cat's activity will be restricted until the breathing problem is resolved or greatly improved. Cage rest may be an option if you have no other way of restricting your cat's movement, and protecting your cat from other pets or active children is an important part of the recovery process.

 

Living and Management

 

Once your cat is able to return home with you, it will be very important to follow your veterinarian’s instructions closely. Dispense all of the medications as directed, and stay to the scheduled follow-up progress checks with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will repeat many of the tests that were done when your pet was diagnosed: complete blood counts, biochemical profiles, and chest x-rays. All are important in determining how your cat is responding to treatment.

 

Depending on your cat's problem, its activity level may need to be reduced for the rest of its life. Your cat may need to be on medication for the rest of its life, too. If you notice any changes in the way your cat is breathing, it is important to consult with your veterinarian immediately.