Having trouble breathing is,It is especially important not to stress cats with difficulty breathing
What can cause breathing difficulty in dogs and cats? There are lots of different causes of difficulty breathing but most of the time they are due to a problem which affects the airway or the lungs in some way. Some of the disorders which can occur in different parts of the respiratory tract are listed below.
Affected part of airway: nose, throat (pharynx), vocal cord area (larynx)
Brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome
Seen in dogs with short-noses (e.g. Pugs, Bulldogs)
Includes a number of airway abnormalities present from birth
Increased risk on hot days, during exercise or stress
Laryngeal paralysis
Vocal cords fail to move properly during breathing
Especially larger breed dogs (e.g. retrievers)
Increased risk on hot days, during exercise
Masses causing obstruction
May be cancerous but not always (e.g. nasopharyngeal polyps in cats)
Affected part of airway: windpipe (trachea)
Tracheal collapse
Windpipe flattens during breathing hindering airflow
Especially little dogs (e.g. Yorkshire terriers, Chihuahuas)
Often have a characteristic cough (‘goose honk cough’); often gets worse when excited or stressed
Tracheal foreign body
E.g. bone or pebble stuck in windpipe
Affected part of airway: lungs
Bruising (contusion)
After a traumatic episode (e.g. cat hit by car)
‘Water on the lungs’ (pulmonary oedema)
Especially due to heart failure
Infection (pneumonia)
Especially bacterial infections after inhaling stomach contents (aspiration pneumonia)
Also lungworm – especially in dogs
Cancer
May originate in the lungs or spread there from somewhere else in the body
Allergy
Foreign body
E.g. inhaled grass awn or other plant material
Affected part of airway: chest cavity around lungs
Build-up of air (pneumothorax) due to airway rupture
Especially after a traumatic episode (e.g. cat hit by car)
Build-up of fluid (pleural effusion)
Due to e.g. heart failure; infection (pyothorax); bleeding
Diaphragm rupture
Organs such as stomach or liver may move into chest
How will I know that my pet is having difficulty breathing? It may well be obvious to you that your pet is struggling to breathe because you are used to seeing them breathing normally and will notice a change. In many cases there is an increase in both the rate and effort of breathing but one or other may occur. You may notice for example that there is more movement of their chest and tummy area or that there is flaring of the nostrils. Some of the most severely affected animals show ‘postural adaptations’ to help them move air (e.g. sitting upright rather than lying down, standing with their elbows out). In very severe cases, the gums may take on a bluish or purplish appearance rather than their normal salmon pink colour. This is referred to as ‘cyanosis’ and should prompt immediate veterinary attention.
If you are worried about your pet’s breathing you must consult your veterinary practice immediately.
What will my vet do to help my pet? Dogs and especially cats that are struggling to breathe are in a very vulnerable position and it is very important to try and stress them as little as possible or they may deteriorate.
Your vet may want to approach the management of your pet in a slow and steady fashion, taking their time to do the various necessary tests and treatments rather than risking stressing your pet.
Dog with 2 nasal catheters for providing oxygen supplementation
More severe cases receive oxygen therapy and sometimes various drugs straight away to try and make them more stable for further tests and treatments. It may also be necessary, for example, to remove air or fluid from around the lungs using a needle (thoracocentesis). Commonly performed tests include ultrasonography and taking x-rays, and an ECG may be done in some cases where heart failure is suspected to see whether the heart is beating with a normal rhythm. In some cases an endoscope (like a tiny video camera) is passed into the airway under a general anaesthetic and other tests that may be performed include analysing your pet’s faeces and taking blood tests.
Depending on the diagnosis, your pet may need to be on medications, sometimes for the rest of his or her life, or they may need an operation. Their exercise may need to be restricted, sometimes just for a while but sometimes also more long-term. Unfortunately in some cases the cause of the difficulty breathing is one that has a very poor outlook.
As there are many reasons why your pet may be having difficulty breathing, it is not possible to be too specific here and you should consult your vet if you are at all worried about your pet’s breathing.
About Shailen Jasani
Shailen has spent the last 12 years working in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. This has included six years at the Royal Veterinary College, London; 3 years as a primary clinician in first opinion emergency practice; and 3 years as a trainer and mentor to vets and nurses working in primary care Out-of-Hours practice. He is currently working on various projects in an independent capacity. He also founded and runs the Ralph Site, a non-profit pet loss support resource.
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