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 is well fed, to create optimal conditions for his life. And, of course, every owner must monitor the health of the pet. Owners of cats face many problems and situations, and sometimes do not know what it means and how to react to them. Consider one of these situations.

Sometimes cat owners notice that their pet is breathing heavily. At the same time he has his mouth 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.

The reasons

Normally, a cat inhales and exhales approximately 20-40 times per minute. But sometimes the owners notice that the process of breathing goes beyond the norm.For example, a cat breathes not with a breast, but with a stomach. This sign indicates that there are violations in the functions of the chest. If the animal’s breathing is OK, a vacuum must appear in its chest cavity, which gives the organs the free space they need. If the work of the internal organs of a cat is disturbed, not only the air that is necessary for life, but also a certain amount of blood can get into this cavity.

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

The cat's heavy breathing indicates that it may be developing some kind of disease. Experts say that the causes of changes in respiration in cats can be both physiological and pathological. After all, the main function of the respiratory organs is that the body receives oxygen in the quantity it needs. If this process is disrupted, 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 a cat washing up. In doing so, she sticks out her tongue. This situation is quite normal. But sometimes the pet begins to breathe with an open mouth, not only during washing, but also in other situations. This should alert the owners.

Does this phenomenon always cause concern to the owners? Not. It is not necessary to worry about the health of the cat in such cases.

1. An animal may simply forget to hide its tongue after washing. This is typical for all cats.
2. When a cat is sleeping, its muscles are relaxed, and its mouth may be slightly open.
3. A cat can stick its tongue out when it’s hot outside or indoors. This is also not a big deal.

It is important to remember that cats, like people, can suffer from heat stroke. If the pet is in conditions where it is too hot, it is better to move it to a cooler place. Ensure that 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 often, and you do not see the reason for it, you need to take action. After all, in order for normal gas exchange to occur, and oxygen was supplied in sufficient quantity, it is necessary for the cat to breathe often and deeply.When a cat cannot do this in the normal way, it has to open its mouth. There may be various reasons for this, but they all require a solution.

Such a phenomenon can occur as a result of serious illness. Among them, experts distinguish heart failure, food poisoning and even various disorders in the brain. Signs of poisoning will be other symptoms. This gag reflex, diarrhea, etc. If there is a violation in the brain - this is more serious. After all, it becomes difficult for an animal to control the movements of its body.

If the pant of a cat with its tongue hanging out and its mouth open bothers you seriously, and you see that it manifests for no apparent reason, show the pet to the veterinarian. In this situation, only he can identify the problem. Eliminate this symptom will be possible only if the cause is correctly identified. After all, they can be a lot, and you can not act at random.

Worsening: symptoms

Respiratory problems in an animal are characterized by accompanying symptoms.

1. The animal takes strange poses that cause you concern.
2. Pet began to use little fluid and eats poorly.
3. He can make various strange sounds that you have not heard from him before.
4. The lips of the animal became blue.
5. Breathing is frequent, heavy, while the mouth remains open.

This may be due to castration, any heart disease, metabolic disorders. In the chest cavity can be bacteria, harmful substances and even objects. For example, a cat inhaled part of a plant or food.

Diagnostics

Before making a diagnosis, a veterinarian must examine a pet and become familiar with the history of the disease. To assess the condition of the lower respiratory tract, an x-ray is usually prescribed.

In order to inspect the upper paths, veterinarians use devices specifically designed for this purpose. If he suspects, the trachea is washed, and then the contents are analyzed.

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

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 is the result of stress.

To avoid many problems, it is necessary to conduct timely vaccination. The animal must eat well, be kept clean and in normal conditions.

First aid

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

1. First fix the animal's body so that the neck is straight. Clean the mouth of animal saliva, close it.
2. After that, take a deep breath, and breathe out into the nose of the animal, while placing your hand folded in the form of a tube to its muzzle. Pet's muzzle can be covered with a piece of cloth.
3. If your pet has a heart failure, you can still save it. If artificial respiration did not produce results, a heart massage should be performed within 12-15 minutes. After that, the heart rate is restored.
4. Wrap the animal's chest with your hand so that it is clamped on both sides. At the same time, on the one hand it should be squeezed by the thumb, on the other - all the rest.The pet's chest area should be squeezed 5 times, after which we need to blow air into the cat's nose. These actions are repeated until the heart rate and breathing return to normal.

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

Video: swelling of the lungs in a cat - the main symptoms and causes