Urgent: Cat Breathing Rapidly, Open Mouth, Tongue Out -
What is Rapid Breathing?
Rapid breathing, also known as tachypnea, is a serious condition in cats where their breathing pattern becomes extremely rapid yet shallow. This is often an early sign of other health issues. While some cats may exhibit rapid breathing during exercise or when excessively excited, it should slow down after a few minutes. If it doesn't, or if it worsens, it indicates a more severe condition, known as hypoxemia. A cat's normal resting breathing rate is between 20 to 30 breaths per minute, so any breathing rate above this should be taken seriously.
What Are the Symptoms of Rapid Breathing?
Rapid breathing can manifest through various symptoms, but the main ones include: very fast and shallow breathing, open mouth breathing with the tongue sticking out, coughing, wheezing, blue gums (due to oxygen deprivation), and loss of appetite.
The underlying causes of rapid breathing are diverse and often complex. When a cat is struggling to breathe or gasping, it can be quite distressing. Here are some common causes:
The most critical time to be aware of: heatstroke
The most common: respiratory infections
The most complex: chemical substance adaptation reactions
The most terrifying: heart failure
Other potential causes include: cat asthma, pneumonia, rhinitis, and pulmonary edema
What Can Pet Owners Do?
1. Attempt to calm your cat down and keep it still.
2. If you suspect heatstroke, try to cool down your cat and offer water once its breathing has stabilized.
3. If the symptoms persist or worsen, contact your veterinarian immediately or take your cat to the hospital right away.
At the vet's office, the veterinarian will assess your cat's overall health, identify the potential causes of rapid breathing, provide a stable oxygen supply, and determine the best form of treatment. Depending on the severity of the condition, your cat may require oxygen therapy or admission to an intensive care unit. Unfortunately, the process of taking your cat to the hospital can also be quite stressful for them.
In the worstcase scenario, if your cat stops breathing before reaching the hospital, you will need to perform emergency measures such as artificial respiration and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while rushing to the vet.
