The cat is breathing heavily: why and what to do?

When we take a pet to our house, we must understand that this is a big responsibility. The owners must ensure that the pet eats well, create optimal conditions for him to live. And, of course, each owner must monitor the health of the pet. Owners of cats face many problems and situations, and sometimes do not know what this means and how to respond to them. Consider one of these situations.

Sometimes cat owners notice that their pet is breathing heavily. At the same time, his mouth is open. If such a symptom is observed quite often, and with time has not passed, it is necessary to determine its cause. Most likely, this is due to any changes in the body of the animal.

Causes

Normally, the cat inhales and exhales approximately 20-40 times per minute. But sometimes the owners notice that the breathing process goes beyond the norm. For example, a cat does not breathe in the chest, but in the stomach. This symptom suggests that there are violations in the functions of the chest. If the breathing of the animal is all right, a vacuum should appear in its chest cavity, which gives the organs the necessary free space. If the cat’s internal organs are disturbed, not only the air that is necessary for life, but also some blood can get into this cavity.

Why can a cat wheeze while breathing? This may be due to intense physical activity. Such a phenomenon can be observed if the climate is not suitable for him or he is experiencing stress. It can also be caused by various pathological processes in the body.

The cat’s heavy breathing suggests that he may develop some kind of disease. Experts argue that the causes of changes in breathing in cats can be both physiological and pathological. After all, the main function of the respiratory system is that the body receives oxygen in the quantity it needs. If this process is disrupted, then the organ system works poorly. As a result, the body changes the type of breathing in order to get oxygen at least in some way.

Features of the phenomenon

We often see the cat washing itself. At the same time, she sticks out her tongue. This situation is quite common. But sometimes the pet begins to breathe with an open mouth, not only during washing, but also in other situations. This should alert the hosts.

Should this phenomenon always cause concern among owners? Not. There is no need to worry about cat health in such cases.

1. The animal may simply forget to hide its tongue after washing. This is common for all cats.
2. When the cat is sleeping, her muscles are relaxed and her mouth may be slightly ajar.
3. A cat can stick out its tongue when it is hot outside or indoors. There is nothing to worry about either.

It is important to remember that cats, like humans, can suffer from heat stroke. If the pet is in conditions where it is too hot, it is better to transfer it to a cooler place. Make sure he has access to water.

If the cat opens its mouth in the above cases, this should not cause concern. But, if this phenomenon occurs frequently, and you do not see a reason for it, measures must be taken. Indeed, in order for normal gas exchange to occur, and oxygen to be supplied in sufficient quantities, it is necessary that the cat breathes often and deeply. When a cat cannot do this in a normal way, it has to open its mouth. There may be various reasons for this, but they all require a solution.

This phenomenon can occur as a result of serious illness.Among them, experts highlight heart failure, food poisoning and even various disorders in the functioning of the brain. Other symptoms will be signs of poisoning. This is a vomiting reflex, diarrhea, etc. If there are disturbances in the brain, this is more serious. After all, it becomes difficult for an animal to control the movements of its body.

If the panting of a cat with its tongue sticking out and its mouth open is seriously bothering you, and you are observing that this appears for no apparent reason, show the pet to the veterinarian. In this situation, only he can identify the problem. This symptom can be eliminated only if the cause is correctly determined. After all, there can be a lot of them, and one cannot act at random.

Deterioration: symptomatology

Respiratory problems in the animal are characterized by concomitant symptoms.

1. The animal takes strange poses that cause you anxiety.
2. The pet began to drink a little fluid and eats poorly.
3. It can make various strange sounds that you have not heard from him before.
4. The lips of the animal turned blue.
5. Respiration is frequent, heavy, while the mouth remains open.

This may be the result of castration, any kind of heart disease, metabolic disturbance. Bacteria, harmful substances, and even objects can be in the chest cavity. For example, a cat inhaled part of a plant or food.

Diagnostics

Before making a diagnosis, the veterinarian must examine the pet, get acquainted with the medical history. To assess the condition of the lower respiratory tract, an x-ray is usually prescribed.

In order to inspect the upper paths, veterinarians use instruments specially designed for this purpose. If he has suspicions, the trachea is washed, and then the contents are analyzed.

If a lot of accumulated fluid is found in the pleural region, then it must be pumped out immediately with a needle. This liquid is sent for analysis to determine its nature. If a lot of such fluid accumulates, it is most likely caused by a heart condition.

Diseases in cats may begin due to inappropriate climatic conditions. They can get sick if the house is very damp and there are drafts. Often, the disease becomes a consequence of stress.

To avoid many problems, it is necessary to vaccinate in a timely manner. The animal must be well fed, kept clean and under normal conditions.

First aid

How to provide first aid to a cat if the situation becomes critical:

1. First fix the body of the animal so that the neck is straightened. Clean the jaws of animal saliva, close it.
2. After that, take a deep breath, and exhale into the animal’s nose, while placing your hand folded in the shape of a tube to its muzzle. The pet's muzzle can be covered with a piece of cloth.
3. If the pet's heart stopped, it can still be saved. If artificial respiration has not yielded results, a heart massage should be given for 12-15 minutes. After that, the heart rate is restored.
4. Grasp the animal’s chest with your hand so that it is clamped on both sides. At the same time, the thumb should squeeze it on one side, and the rest on the other. The chest area of ​​the pet should be compressed with fingers 5 times, after which we need to blow air into the nose of the cat. These actions are repeated until the heart rate and breathing come back to normal.

If you react in time and do everything right, you will save your pet.

Video: cat pulmonary edema - the main symptoms and causes