Why is cat breathing heavy
Cat Breathing Heavily While Resting? (5 Reasons Why!)
breathing issues are unfortunately very
common in cats this is especially true
for senior cats when these issues arise
they must be met with close monitoring
and professional examination and care
because senior felines naturally lack
the proper immune health to fight off
various forms of infection and illness
they can succumb to breathing
difficulties far more easily than
compared to their younger and healthier
counterparts this is yet another reason
why heavy breathing while resting should
never be ignored or dismissed if there
is a quote unquote rule number one it's
that cat should never have labored
breathing while resting or sleeping it
is critical to note that breathing
issues are a secondary symptom getting
to the root cause of the issue is the
objective this is why professional care
is so important the sooner you get your
cat to event
the sooner proper diagnosis can be
established and the proper treatment
provided never attempt to self diagnose
your cat's medical concerns especially
something as serious as difficulty
breathing once you notice the issue
monitor it and then act accordingly
waiting days to take your cat to the vet
can prove dire in this video we will
detail five of the most common reasons
that cause labored and heavy breathing
as well as the critical symptoms that
you should always look for
before we begin to explore each specific
cause it's important to remember that
every root health concern that has led
to your cats labored breathing is
serious while some are certainly more
critical than others it's vital to treat
all conditions with proper respect
laboured breathing is not normal so
while the conditions may vary in terms
of severity
each ailment must be addressed in a
timely manner in no particular order
the most notable health issues that can
trigger heavy and labored breathing are
as follows airway diseases conditions
such as pulmonary edema feline asthma
and pneumonia can make it difficult for
your cat to breathe with ease limiting
your cat's oxygen supply these diseases
can make it difficult for your cat to
not only breathe but to perform basic
tasks pulmonary edema
for example can cause fluid to build up
within your cat's lungs this condition
can prove dire if not treated
accordingly this is especially true for
senior cats noted as a secondary
condition to a much greater issue
pulmonary edema
is often lead to heart failure cancer or
another disease that has greatly
compromised the health of your cat's
immune system upper respiratory
infection regarded as one of the primary
causes of heavy and labored breathing
most every feline will develop some form
of upper respiratory infection in their
life
however infections of this nature can be
quite difficult for senior cats because
older cats lack the proper immune health
and physical stamina to fight off most
infections eliminating the congestion
caused by an upper respiratory infection
is critical the sooner the better
senior felines are not equipped to
combat infections on their own so they
certainly need our help in addition to
heavy breathing the symptoms associated
with upper respiratory infection may
include sneezing coughing or hacking
discharge from the eyes snorting the
sound of nasal congestion and discharge
from the nose it becomes vital to
monitor your cat closely if these
symptoms are present as things can take
a turn for the worse if your cat is
already in failing health has a
pre-existing condition or is of senior
status if severe lethargy and lack of
food or water consumption develop and
you should take your cat to the vet as
soon as possible
pleural effusion fluid that builds up
outside of the centralized area of the
lungs within what is known as the
pleural space is called pleural effusion
causing the lungs to no longer inflate
properly pleural effusion can cause
shortness of breath which results in
heavy and labored breathing
unfortunately as more fluid accumulates
the more difficulty your cat will have
intense breathing even while resting is
common health conditions and diseases
such as cancer congestive heart failure
and a chest infection can produce
pleural effusion obesity if your cat is
slightly overweight or has been expertly
classified as obese
labored breathing could be a prominent
issue this is notably true for senior
cats because elderly felines often deal
with joint and muzzle discomfort the
days of playing and running around have
long since vanished in fact basic tasks
can even become a thing of yesteryear in
severe cases if your cat has been
grounded due to failing mobility this
can lead to obesity many times obesity
has very little to do with your cats
eating habits but rather a case of your
cat simply doing less inactivity
sometimes due to old age and immobility
is often the root cause behind the
entire condition the best way to deal
with heavy breathing that is a byproduct
of obesity is to adopt dietary changes
with the help of a professional
even if over feeding and lack of
exercise is not the issue certain subtle
changes can still allow your cat to stay
on the right side of nutrition while
also shedding a few pounds it's all
about proper balance and this is where
your vet can help you immensely
physical trauma impacting cats of all
life stages physical trauma from a fall
and altercation or in some cases an
assault from a malicious individual can
cause great harm to your feline
depending on the injuries heavy or
labored breathing can be the result in
respect to senior cats trauma can come
from a lack of mobility moreso a lack of
balance
if you're elderly cat attempts to jump
on your sofa and comes up a bit short
the fall to the floor can be costly no
longer able to contort its body properly
to escape danger your cat could suffer
greatly sadly this is not too much
unlike an elderly person who sustains a
fall in most cases physical trauma that
results in breathing difficulty is the
result of a chest injury if you discover
a flesh wound on the chest or feel
swelling your cat needs immediate
medical attention while heavy breathing
independently and void of other issues
is not a major concern if it's a
one-time experience prolonged heavy
breathing especially when met with other
symptoms can be a sign of a serious
issue some common symptoms of labored
breathing include changes in breathing
pace although heavy breathing can be
worrisome breathing that changes pace is
a sign that your cat is struggling for
oxygen slow fast aggressive no breathing
fast slow fast all of these signs are
troublesome as they indicate that your
cat is trying everything possible to
breathe these symptoms can also be
viewed as forceful breathing if
breathing is not only labored but also
bordering on voluntary then your cat
could be in a dire circumstance
crouching punching down similar to a
person bending over or putting their
hands on their knees or hips is a sign
of trouble especially if this action is
in combination with changes in breathing
pace it is not uncommon for cats to
crowd
down and lean forward with an extended
neck in an attempt to breathe loss of
appetite the consumption of food
requires a momentary blockage of oxygen
at least partially as it relates to
normal breathing if your can is already
struggling to breathe then food in the
mouth can almost act as a form of
suffocation have you ever had a
stopped-up nose and try to consume a
large amount of food between the chewing
and swallowing it can feel like you're
at the bottom of a swimming pool this is
not unlike what your cat experiences if
your cat has stopped eating this is
likely a deliberate act as a means to
conserve as much energy and oxygen as
possible lethargy perpetual lethargy can
often accompany labored breathing this
symptom not only involves a general lack
of activity and interest but in some
cases a failure to acknowledge you or
even respond in any capacity if your cat
is so weak that it fails to move and
engage in any standard of positive
living you should seek medical attention
immediately as this points to a much
larger issue than just labored breathing
alone disease and severe illness can
render your cat virtually lifeless when
things become dire hiding often working
in tandem with lethargy it is common for
your cat to go into hiding when
breathing difficulties and illness are
ruling the day some examples of hiding
can include your cat sleeping and
relaxing in places it has never cared
for in the past your cat comes out of
hiding only to use the bathroom and then
returns to the same hiding location your
cat starts to use the bathroom near or
at the hiding location rather than the
litter box and finally your cat makes a
deliberate attempt not to be found or
seen some examples may include hiding
under the table or under your sofa blue
or purple gums heavy and labored
breathing can also give way to blue and
or purple gums if your cat is struggling
for oxygen discoloration of the gums in
this fashion
is a sign that your cat's minimal oxygen
needs are not being met this symptom is
very serious and it goes far beyond mere
laboured breathing and general heavy
excels if you would like more
information concerning this very serious
topic please click the initial link in
the description box below there you will
find an in-depth article on this subject
that will cover many of the facts noted
in this video as well as a host of
information that was not discussed
questions and concerns regarding
diagnosis and treatment of labored
breathing the normal breathing pace for
a cat
the breathing habits of young healthy
cats the breathing habits of senior cats
and how anxiety and stress can impact
your cat's breathing are each detailed
and discussed we also encourage you to
explore senior cat wellness.com if you
have any other issues that are pending
if you need assistance there's a good
chance you'll find an article that
caters to your needs as a loving cat
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this video has your cat ever dealt with
breathing issues heavy breathing labored
breathing if so what was the diagnosis
and how was it treated leave a comment
below and share your story we'd love to
know about your experiences as they can
potentially serve to help others who are
going through similar situations thank
you so much for watching this video and
we hope you have a wonderful day
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