Cat Gasping For Air And Then Suddenly Dying

It can be distressing to witness a cat struggling to breathe. This condition is known as dyspnea, or respiratory distress, and is often a symptom of an underlying health issue. Cats may exhibit rapid and shallow breathing, noisy panting, and exaggerated abdominal and chest movements. In some cases, cats may also experience coughing, drooling, or seizures. Dyspnea can be caused by various factors, including foreign objects in the nasal passages, congestive heart failure, lung tumors, or other serious health conditions. It is important to seek immediate veterinary assistance if your cat is displaying any signs of respiratory distress, as it can be life-threatening.

Foreign objects in nasal passages

Foreign objects in a cat's nasal passages can cause irritation, inflammation, and difficulty breathing. Cats can accidentally inhale or ingest foreign objects that become lodged in their nasal passages, leading to a condition called respiratory foreign bodies. This can happen during playtime, outdoor explorations, eating or drinking accidents, or unintended inhalation.

• Persistent Sneezing: Sneezing is a natural reflex to try and expel irritants. If your cat is sneezing more than usual, it could be an attempt to dislodge a foreign object.
• Nasal Discharge: Cats with nasal discharge could indicate an obstruction in their nasal cavity.
• Pawing at the Nose or Face: Your cat might try to physically dislodge the foreign object by pawing or rubbing its nose or face.
• Nosebleeds (Epistaxis): A foreign object in the nasal cavity can irritate or injure the nasal passages, leading to nosebleeds, especially in the right nasal cavity.
• Difficulty Breathing: The foreign object may obstruct the nasal passage, making it hard for your cat to breathe normally.
• Loss of Appetite: Discomfort from a nasal obstruction might reduce your cat's appetite.
• Changes in Behavior: Cats might exhibit signs of stress, lethargy, or agitation due to the discomfort caused by the foreign object.

If you suspect your cat has a foreign object stuck in its nasal passages, it is crucial to seek veterinary attention immediately. The veterinarian will perform a thorough physical examination, possibly including rhinoscopy (inserting a thin, flexible tube with a camera into the nasal passages), radiographic examination (X-rays), computed tomography (CT) scan, or nasal flushing technique to locate and remove the foreign object.

To prevent foreign objects from becoming lodged in your cat's nasal passages, it is recommended to keep small objects out of reach, supervise playtime, ensure a safe outdoor environment, maintain regular dental care, encourage adequate hydration, and slow down their eating if they tend to gulp their food.

Congestive heart failure

There are many causes of CHF in cats, but the two most common are mitral valve insufficiency (MVI) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). MVI refers to a leaky mitral valve, which is the valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle. DCM is when the heart chambers enlarge and lose their ability to contract.

Clinical signs of CHF vary depending on whether the cat has left- or right-sided heart failure. Right-sided congestive heart failure occurs when a heart contraction causes some blood to leak into the right atrium from the right ventricle, rather than being pushed through the lungs and becoming oxygenated. This results in fluid accumulation in the abdomen, interfering with adequate organ function. Left-sided congestive heart failure occurs when blood from the left ventricle leaks back into the left atrium through the mitral valve, causing fluid to leak into the tissue of the lungs and making breathing difficult.

A variety of factors can cause congestive heart failure in cats. It is most commonly caused by a condition in which the walls of the heart thicken (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) but can also be caused by thyroid disease, high blood pressure, or birth defects, among other things. Congestive heart failure can occur in cats of any age, breed, or gender but is most common in middle-aged to older cats.

The most common symptom of congestive heart failure in cats is difficulty breathing. Other symptoms can include abdominal bloating due to fluid accumulation, loss of consciousness, blue or gray gums or tongue, and weakness or lethargy.

To diagnose congestive heart failure in cats, veterinarians will listen to the cat's chest and may run diagnostic tests such as blood and urine tests, heartworm antigen tests, chest radiographs (X-rays), and electrocardiograms (ECG).

Treatment for congestive heart failure in cats typically involves placing the cat on several medications, including diuretics to remove excess fluid buildup, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to improve clinical symptoms and increase survival rates, and vasodilators to relax the body's blood vessels. In some cases, positive inotropes may be prescribed to strengthen the force of contractions in the heart and improve blood flow. Oxygen therapy may also be administered if the cat struggles to breathe.

While there is currently no cure for CHF, treatment is aimed at improving the cat's quality of life. Vigilant home care and lifestyle management may help extend survival from months to years, and early identification and treatment can significantly improve the cat's prognosis.

Lung tumours or other pulmonary disorders

Lung tumours or pulmonary disorders can cause cats to gasp for air and suddenly die. There are two types of lung cancer that affect cats: primary lung tumours and metastatic lung tumours. Primary lung tumours, which originate in the lung, are rare in cats but have become more common in recent years. Metastatic lung tumours are a secondary type of lung cancer that originates in another part of the body and spreads to the lungs. Both types of lung cancer primarily affect older cats.

The symptoms of lung cancer in cats may differ depending on the cancer's aggressiveness, origin, and whether the cat has suffered prior lung disease. Surprisingly, breathing problems and coughing are uncommon; less than a third of cats diagnosed with lung cancer experience these symptoms. However, some possible symptoms to look out for include:

• Anorexia or loss of appetite
• Lethargy and weakness
• Labored or rapid breathing

If metastatic cancer has spread to the lungs, other symptoms may accompany it, depending on the cancer's origin, including:

• Change in urination and defecation
• Unexplained bleeding

The primary cause of lung cancer and many other types of cancer is exposure to carcinogenic substances in the environment. Cats living in households with active smokers are twice as likely to develop cancer as those in smoke-free homes.

Diagnosis of lung cancer in cats typically begins with a chest x-ray. However, tumours must grow to a certain size before becoming visible on x-rays. Ultrasounds, CT scans, and fine needle aspiration (FNA) are also used to diagnose lung cancer. Additionally, urine and blood samples may be taken to test for other diseases.

Treatment for lung cancer in cats depends on the cancer's stage. Due to the nature of the disease, treatment is often palliative, aiming to ease the cat's pain rather than cure the underlying cause. For primary lung tumours, surgery is generally required to remove the tumour, followed by chemotherapy or radiation treatment. For metastatic lung tumours, the treatment depends on the location of the other tumours in the body. Unfortunately, by the time cancer spreads to the lungs, it is usually in its aggressive final stages, resulting in a poor prognosis and a high likelihood of tumour recurrence.

Excessive stomach fluid

Ascites can cause discomfort to your cat as the accumulated fluid puts pressure on the diaphragm, stomach, and intestines. This can lead to breathing difficulties, nausea, abdominal discomfort, and low energy. In addition, excessive stomach fluid can be indicative of more serious health conditions, such as heart failure, liver disease, or kidney problems.

If you notice any symptoms of ascites in your cat, it is important to seek veterinary help immediately. The veterinarian will first identify the excessive fluid by feeling the abdomen and then run further tests to determine the underlying cause. These tests may include a urinalysis, chemistry profile, ultrasound, or an abdominal tap to examine the fluid.

The treatment of ascites will depend on the underlying cause. In some cases, a catheter may be placed in the abdomen to drain the fluid. In other instances, such as heart failure or liver disease, medications may be prescribed to reduce fluid accumulation. However, it is important to note that some causes of ascites, such as heart and liver failure, may be untreatable.

To aid in your cat's recovery, the veterinarian may recommend a low-sodium diet to reduce fluid retention and prevent the recurrence of ascites. It is crucial to follow the veterinarian's instructions and schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your cat's progress and ensure a full recovery.

Asthma

The average age of cats diagnosed with asthma is between 4 and 5 years old, and the condition usually develops between the ages of 2 and 8. However, it does not appear that one sex is more susceptible than the other, and while some studies suggest that Siamese cats may be predisposed to asthma, this has not been definitively proven.

Cats suffering from asthma may show signs of difficulty breathing, wheezing, rapid breathing, coughing or hacking, open-mouthed breathing, or vomiting. These signs can vary in intensity, ranging from acute respiratory crises to chronic, low-grade coughing, an elevated respiratory rate, or increased respiratory effort. During an asthma attack, cats often hunch their bodies close to the ground and extend their necks forward.

There is no single test to definitively diagnose feline asthma. Veterinarians rely on information gathering and testing to arrive at a diagnosis, taking into account the cat's health history, imaging studies, microscopic evaluation of the cells in the cat's airway secretions, and sometimes blood and allergy testing. Radiographs (X-rays), computed tomography (CT), and bronchoscopy are used to visualise the inside of a cat's lungs and evaluate their condition.

To treat feline asthma, veterinarians usually prescribe corticosteroids to reduce inflammation in the lungs, with or without bronchodilators to dilate the airways. These drugs come in oral, inhaled, and injectable forms. Inhaled corticosteroids are preferred as they target the airways directly and use smaller amounts of the drug.

While there is no cure for asthma, cats can lead normal and active lives with proper treatment and management of the condition.

Frequently asked questions