First Aid for Cats: How to Handle Respiratory Distress
If you live with a cat, there's a good chance that you've experienced respiratory distress at some point. It can be scary to watch your furry friend struggle to breathe, but if you know what signs to look for and where best to get help, it's possible to make sure your cat recovers quickly and safely from this condition. In this article we'll discuss:
The most common cause of respiratory distress
The most common cause of respiratory distress in cats is an upper respiratory infection. Other causes include allergies, asthma, and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). When a cat has respiratory distress, he usually has a moist cough that sounds like a goose honk; he may also sneeze and wheeze. Other signs of respiratory distress include gagging, difficulty breathing, unusual quantities of saliva in the mouth or on the chin, and/or drooling.
If you think your cat might be having trouble breathing because of an upper respiratory infection or another condition related to his lungs and nasal passages--and if so--call your veterinarian right away!
Cats with respiratory distress
- Coughing and sneezing are signs of respiratory distress.
- Other signs include gagging, difficulty breathing, and unusual quantities of saliva in the mouth or on the chin.
- If you suspect that your cat has an upper respiratory infection (URI), it's important to seek treatment as soon as possible because these can be very serious conditions. A vet can confirm this by examining your cat's nose under magnification--even if this is what's causing the problem still needs treatment as quickly as possible!
Other signs of respiratory distress
Other signs of respiratory distress include gagging, difficulty breathing, and unusual quantities of saliva in the mouth or on the chin. Gagging sounds like a choking noise; difficulty breathing can be heard in your cat's breathing or seen in their face; while an increase in drooling could indicate that they're having trouble swallowing. If you notice any of these symptoms, call your vet right away--they will examine your cat's chest by listening with a stethoscope and checking its heart rate (which should be between 140-180 beats per minute).
The first thing to do if you think your cat has respiratory distress
The first thing to do if you think your cat has respiratory distress is to call your veterinarian right away. If you can't get in touch with them, call an emergency clinic and ask for advice. If the situation worsens, take your cat there immediately.
The sooner treatment begins, the better chance of recovery for your pet. Antibiotics and antiviral medications may not be enough on their own; sometimes oxygen therapy or even hospitalization is required until symptoms subside and breathing returns to normal.
Your vet will examine your cat
The veterinarian will examine your cat, listen to its chest, and check its heart rate.
- Check the mucus membranes (the soft tissue inside the mouth). They should be pink or red with no white spots or other signs of inflammation.
- Look in the ears for dirt or wax buildup that might block airways if present.
- Check under the tail for any discharge from anal glands on either side of this area--they secrete fluid when cats defecate or when they're scared or aggressive toward another animal. If you see any discharge from these glands, it's best not to touch them directly because you could get yourself infected by bacteria called Pasteurella multocida that live in these glands but are harmless otherwise; instead, bring it up with your vet so they can treat it appropriately!
If your vet thinks your cat may have an upper respiratory infection
If your vet thinks your cat may have an upper respiratory infection, they'll prescribe some antibiotics or antiviral medication that can be started at home as soon as possible. However, these treatments will not help if they're started too late after exposure to the virus; it's always best to get treatment started right away whenever possible!
A vet will also want to rule out nasal mites as a cause of nasal discharge in cats with similar symptoms--these parasites live in their host's nose and ears and can cause itching around those areas. A thorough examination under magnification will help determine whether this is what's going on with your kitty. If it's not mites but still needs treatment quickly enough because of how contagious viruses are (and because we don't want them spreading!), then go ahead and give him/her some antibiotics or antivirals along with antihistamines if needed (the latter makes people sneeze less).
Sometimes nasal mites can cause nasal discharge
If you think your cat has nasal mites, call your vet right away! Nasal mites are hard to get rid of if they're not treated quickly. Your vet will examine your cat's nose under magnification and prescribe some medication that can be started at home.
The good news is that these parasites tend to live in the upper respiratory tract (the nose) and rarely make their way into the lungs or airways where they would cause serious problems for pets with compromised immune systems (such as kittens). This means if you see any signs of respiratory distress or difficulty breathing in an adult animal who isn't showing any other symptoms such as sneezing or coughing then it may be worth checking out whether there's an underlying cause behind those complaints first before assuming that it's simply just an upper respiratory infection caused by bacteria/virus etc..
Conclusion
If your cat has a respiratory infection, it's important to get treatment started right away! Your vet will examine your cat, listen to its chest and check its heart rate. They will also prescribe some antibiotics or antiviral medication that can be started at home as soon as possible. However, these treatments will not help if they're started too late after exposure; it's always best to get treatment started right away whenever possible!