Why does a cat breathe with its mouth open like a dog in a car?

Norm

If a cat breathes with its mouth open, this may be a normal physiological process. This happens when there is a lack of oxygen caused by various reasons:

high physical activity, especially in obese animals;
stuffy room;
the cat breathes with its tongue hanging out during the normal course of labor, in between contractions.

An increase in ambient temperature also causes the animal to breathe heavily, sticking out its tongue - thereby increasing the cat's heat transfer.

Language functions

A sufficient volume of water is an important condition for improving the condition of the animal when overheated.
When a cat sticks out its tongue due to a foreign body, it should be carefully removed. The object is pulled out with tweezers. If a foreign object has moved strongly into the trachea, the animal should be turned upside down with its hind legs and shaken a little. If the cat overheats, place it in a cool place and give it plenty of water. In other cases, emergency veterinary care is always required.

To understand why a cat sticks out its tongue, you first need to understand what functions this muscular organ performs. A cat's tongue performs a number of important functions:

helps in the process of swallowing, nutrition;
allows you to recognize the taste of food;
allows for hygiene procedures.

In its normal state, the tongue is located in the mouth. But there are times when the owner complains that the cat constantly sticks his tongue out. But this phenomenon is not always considered pathological. There are also physiological reasons why a cat sticks out the tip of its tongue.

Diagnostics

To understand why an animal opens its mouth when breathing, it is necessary to closely monitor it for several days. This will help your veterinarian determine the exact cause. In this case, you should pay attention:

On the general condition of the cat, appetite, activity, trips to the toilet and stool consistency.
Is this condition accompanied by vomiting or coughing?
After which this phenomenon occurs, perhaps it is preceded by active games or other physical activity.
How often does this happen - constantly or at regular intervals?

In any case, with this symptom, contacting a veterinary institution is mandatory. The doctor will conduct an in-person examination and collect anamnesis, and will prescribe appropriate diagnostic measures, which include:

Blood sampling for general and biochemical analysis.
Chest X-ray.
Electrocardiogram of the heart.
Ultrasonography.
Diagnosis of infectious diseases.
Bronchoscopy and rhinoscopy.
Consultations for the presence of tumor formations of the respiratory system.

Pathology

When, for no apparent reason, a cat breathes with his tongue hanging out, this may be a sign of the following disorders in the body.

Pulmonary pathologies: pneumonia, pulmonary edema, degeneration of lung tissue, lung injury, impaired blood flow in the pulmonary circle.
Diseases of the nervous system: traumatic brain injuries, inflammation in the meninges, tumors, drug poisoning.
Muscle dysfunction: muscle weakness, rupture of the diaphragm due to injury, poisoning with drugs that cause muscle relaxation.
Chest injuries: punctures, foreign objects (rubber bullets).
Heart failure: drop in blood pressure, ischemia, angina. There is a breed predisposition to heart disease. These diseases often affect cats of the Cornish Rex, May Coon, Scottish Fold, Oriental, Sphynx and Abyssinian breeds.
Poisoning. Many toxins cause cardiac and respiratory problems. Nerve poisons attack the muscles, causing weakness and a drooping tongue. As a rule, poisoning is accompanied by vomiting, foam at the mouth, convulsions or loss of coordination of movements.

Respiratory failure occurs instantly, acutely and chronically. It can end tragically - the animal falls into a coma and dies from lack of oxygen.

If your cat's heavy breathing is accompanied by pain, difficulty breathing, irregular breathing rhythm, or cyanosis of the mucous membranes, then immediately take your pet to the clinic for veterinary care.

What is the normal temperature for cats? How to measure the temperature and much more, read the article The cat has a temperature, what to do?

Physiological reasons

Veterinarians identify the reasons why a cat sticks out its tongue:

Relaxation. During rest and sleep, the jaw muscles are maximally relaxed, which leads to prolapse of the muscular organ.
Thermoregulation. If a cat is hot, it sticks out its tongue, thereby trying to normalize the temperature.
Absent-mindedness. A cat may simply forget to retract its tongue after licking fur or active games.
Bite. Due to malocclusion, the tongue simply does not fit in the cat’s mouth. That's why it sticks out. Such pets do not qualify for participation in competitions and exhibitions based on their appearance.
Childbirth. Before the expected birth, the cat's behavior changes. She becomes excited, her breathing quickens, her mouth is slightly open, her tongue sticks out.
Praise. The cat sticks out its tongue in response to praise. If the owner is constantly touched by the sight of a cat with a hanging tongue, then the animal will systematically carry out such an action for the sake of approval.
Hunting. When hunting, cats involuntarily stick out the tip of their tongue. This is due to the fact that in this position of the muscular organ the animal’s sense of smell increases.
Age. A cat who has crossed the age of 8 may have loose teeth and fall out. From the cracks that appear, the tongue freely looks out of the oral cavity.

Interesting fact: scientists were able to prove that a cat’s tongue grows by several millimeters during sleep. Therefore, during rest, the owner may notice the tip of the pet’s tongue sticking out.

Video: pulmonary edema in a cat - main symptoms and causes

Many dog owners sometimes notice that their dog is breathing rapidly. This can be considered a completely normal phenomenon, but it can also indicate serious illness. To determine what this is connected with, it is necessary to take into account some features. The normal breathing rate for dogs is 10-30 breaths per minute. To determine the number of breaths, you need to place your hand on your pet’s chest and time it for one minute.

Your dog's breathing may change frequently throughout the day. If nothing bothers the pet, then he breathes through his nose and calmly. But if the dog does this with his mouth, then this action is not always a cause for concern.

Reasons for changes in respiratory rate in cats

Physical activity. In healthy animals, respiratory rate depends mainly on the level of physical activity. The calmest breathing in cats is during sleep;

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Stress. When nervous, angry, or excited, the cat's breathing quickens. For example, while traveling in a car, when moving to a new place, during various medical procedures. This is a short-term phenomenon and goes away as soon as the source of stress disappears. In pregnant, giving birth, lactating and estrus cats, breathing also often noticeably increases, but this is not a cause for concern, since this is a normal reaction of the body to additional stress;

Overheating or hypothermia. When overheated, a cat breathes through its mouth, often and heavily. He tries to lie flat with his whole body on the coolest surface in the house - tiles, linoleum or under the bathtub. If the temperature in the room is too high, wet a towel with cold water and wrap it around your pet, or simply wet his ears and underbelly, and make sure he drinks enough.

Injuries to the chest, spine and ribs. If your cat sticks out his tongue and breathes frequently, taking small, shallow breaths, then breathing may be causing him pain. He may try to hide away from everyone, walk carefully, as if his movements are constrained, and eat poorly. In this case, the animal must be carefully examined. If there are wounds, torn hair, or some areas of the body are extremely painful when touched, take him to the vet immediately;

Foreign body in the throat or nose. Look into the cat's throat. If you notice an object stuck in your larynx and making it difficult to breathe, try to remove it. If it doesn’t work the first time, go to the clinic immediately, otherwise repeated attempts can only push it deeper. If the cat wheezes when breathing through the nose, or a whistle is heard, then it seems that a foreign body is stuck in the nasal passage;

Deterioration of health due to the development of various diseases and pathologies. In such cases, a change in breathing rate is accompanied by other alarming symptoms - an increase or decrease in the cat’s body temperature, signs of dehydration, vomiting, coughing, discharge from the eyes and nose. Wheezing in the chest is a symptom of stagnation of fluid or mucus, which occurs with pneumonia or heart disease. When a cat breathes with his tongue hanging out, it is possible that the nasopharyngeal mucosa is so inflamed that breathing through the nose is almost impossible.

The mechanism of occurrence of pathological breathing

If you want to correctly answer the question of why a cat breathes with its mouth open, you need to know the mechanism by which this phenomenon occurs.
Typically, this pathological type of breathing is directly related to the occurrence of severe oxygen starvation, or hypoxia, in the pet’s body. As a result, all organs and tissues experience its deficiency, which can lead to death.

Under normal conditions, there should be a vacuum in the chest cavity, located around the lungs, allowing the lungs to work effectively when inhaling. If, as a result of injury or infection, air gets into such a cavity, the lungs will not be able to function normally. As a result, the respiratory organ will receive insufficient air.

Cats can breathe with their mouth open for a very common reason.

To make up for this deficiency, the cat will try to breathe through its mouth. With this type of breathing, the animal’s abdominal muscles will actively move, that is, it will switch to the so-called abdominal type of breathing. If you notice such a symptom, you can answer the question with almost complete certainty about why the cat is breathing heavily and opening its mouth.

It is also worth remembering that cats can breathe with their mouths open for a completely normal reason, not related to a sharp deterioration in their health. The fact is that the mechanism of breathing through the mouth can be activated in cats when the animal is simply tired after active movement while running or playing. By the way, the animal’s tongue may turn a little blue.

In all cases of unusual breathing, you should immediately contact a veterinarian.
If your pet is healthy, usually after resting he returns to his normal state and stops breathing through his mouth. However, even such a relatively harmless condition can serve as a sign of a serious cardiovascular disease. Therefore, in all cases of atypical breathing, it is necessary to immediately contact a veterinarian to avoid death.

This is done in order to exclude various incidental and incorrect diagnoses, as well as to provide assistance to the animal immediately, within 24 hours. Only in this case is there a chance to save him from death, for example, in the event of severe injury to internal organs.

A cat breathing with its mouth open indicates the presence of chronic diseases of the oral cavity or nasopharynx

Stress

The cause may be stress in cats. We will look at the symptoms and treatment below.

If the pet is stressed, the tongue will stick out. For example, when driving a car, if the cat is afraid, then the tongue will hang out the whole way. Fear, nervous shock, negative emotions are the reasons that cause stress in cats. When an animal is nervous, the following symptoms appear:

tongue sticking out;
the cat is shaking;
the pet is trying to hide;
meows constantly.

If the cat is scared, the symptoms may recur. Therefore, the animal requires treatment. He needs to be provided with complete rest. If necessary, the veterinarian will prescribe sedatives.

Reasons for changes in respiratory rate in cats

allergic reactions, asthma (accompanied by coughing, sneezing, swelling of the larynx);

infectious diseases (for example, bronchitis if the cat has a fever and cough);

various pathologies of the internal organs of the chest and abdominal cavity (then the cat breathes with its “stomach”).

There are many accompanying symptoms, and you should carefully monitor the animal to inform the veterinarian of all the details. In such serious cases, only a specialist will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Signs of diseases

If it is not possible to call an ambulance, you have to act independently.

The main thing is to prevent the entry of foreign bodies. If the owner is sure that a foreign object has entered the respiratory tract, or suspects this, then he should take the animal by the hind legs, lower it head down and shake it vigorously 2-3 times. As a rule, this helps to remove the foreign object.

It is possible that a foreign body has stopped in the oral cavity, stuck to the upper palate or teeth; in this case, you need to open the cat’s mouth and conduct a careful examination. To do this, you need to use a flashlight for illumination and someone's help to fix the animal. If a foreign object is found, you should try to remove it.

If the object is visible, but cannot be removed due to the dryness of the shells, pour 1 teaspoon of sunflower oil into the mouth. After a few seconds, deletion will be possible.

If suffocation is not associated with a foreign body, then there can be many reasons. It is difficult to deal with pathology on your own. But measuring the temperature is quite possible. An increase in temperature will indicate an inflammatory process. Bronchitis and pneumonia are not harmless. You cannot prescribe treatment yourself without a comprehensive examination. Contact a veterinary clinic.

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Veterinarians identify a number of symptoms that, together with a protruding tongue, indicate various diseases:

difficulty breathing;
the cat is lethargic and does not play;
the pet becomes aggressive;
the oral mucosa is red, and sometimes a bluish tint appears;
dry mucous membrane;
lack of appetite;
wounds, mouth ulcers.

If your cat develops the above symptoms, you need to immediately take him to the clinic for examination.

The cat is choking and wheezing: what to do

Wheezing is understood as noisy breathing, against the background of which a combination of many wheezing and whistling sounds is heard. Such deviation from normal breathing is a frequent companion to most pathologies of the animal’s respiratory tract.

Wheezing can occur for two reasons:

in the process of narrowing the lumen of the respiratory tract;
due to the accumulation and foaming of fluid in the respiratory system.

Noises and wheezing when breathing do not bode well

In addition, wheezing means a hoarse, strained voice or its complete absence. This pathology occurs due to incomplete closure of the vocal cords due to the accumulation of mucus in the glottis, which is a common symptom of many inflammatory processes.

Reasons that lead to loss of voice:

Respiratory diseases are one of the common causes of wheezing when breathing in a cat. We are talking about various viral and infectious diseases that can be picked up by hypothermia in the cold season. It could be a cold or acute respiratory infection.
Advanced respiratory diseases can lead to the development of pneumonia, viral feline rhinotracheitis, tonsillitis, calcivirosis or bronchial asthma, a common symptom of which is also loss of voice and wheezing.
A foreign body in the larynx mechanically damages the surface of the pharynx due to the inability to swallow or regurgitate. This ultimately leads to the cat wheezing when he breathes. A pet can injure its throat with a thin or broken chicken bone, a tree branch, or choking on a spruce needle. Such damage is dangerous due to the high probability of a foreign object entering further into the digestive tract, injuring the upper respiratory tract and esophagus.
Heart pathology. If the cat begins to show less activity, preferring to lie down instead of playing, walks slowly towards the bowl, as if overcoming obstacles, and upon reaching the goal, chokes, coughs or sneezes, this may be a sign of the development of heart pathologies. Often, owners are not even aware of the onset of heart problems in their cats due to the absence of symptoms. The disease develops, the body reaches a critical point, and after that symptoms appear and increase exponentially. A hoarse cat suffers from severe shortness of breath even after the slightest exertion. She has cold paw pads and ears, pallor of visible mucous membranes (gums, palate, eyes) due to poor blood circulation, in severe advanced cases, audible wheezing in the cat and bubbling in the chest, cold surface of the skin throughout the body.

The cat is trying to vomit a small object stuck in its throat

Blood pathologies with a lack of iron in the body can also cause difficulty breathing with wheezing.
With asthma, a cat wheezes and wheezes, presses to the floor, coughs, stretching its neck. As the disease progresses, severe shortness of breath and wheezing, even suffocation, appear.
Pulmonary edema in a cat is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the lungs, which is a consequence of various diseases of the internal organs and inflammatory processes. In this case, the cat wheezes when breathing with gurgling. He feels lethargic, phlegmatic, and desires to constantly sleep. The pet opens its mouth slightly with its tongue hanging out when breathing, inflating its belly and sides, trying to squeeze out liquid by coughing and swallowing; when coughing up, traces of blood, a bluish tint to the oral mucosa, and mucus from the nose may appear. A common urge of a cat is to expand its chest by standing in a position with its paws spread wide apart. Deterioration of the condition forces the cat to stretch out on its side.
The accumulation of large amounts of fluid can be not only in the lungs, but also in the abdominal cavity. This pathology is called abdominal ascites, or dropsy. The pressure of the accumulated fluid compresses the internal organs, disrupting their activity. If dropsy is not treated in time, it can lead to the death of your pet.

Asthma can cause your cat to suffocate if you don't take action.

The kitten wheezes when breathing with swelling of the larynx or laryngospasm, which appears due to poisoning with household chemicals. Such wheezing may be caused by an allergic reaction to tobacco smoke, dairy products, construction dust or strong odors.
Oncology. From the second stage onwards, cancer is characterized by dysfunction of the respiratory system: the cat breathes heavily with wheezing, shortness of breath.
Injuries due to improper handling by the owner, a fight with other cats, or an unsuccessful fall can cause damage to internal organs, including the respiratory system, so the cat may become hoarse.
Tracheitis occurs due to many reasons: hypothermia, infection with a viral or bacterial pathogen, overdrying of the trachea during sleep during the heating season, evaporation of construction and paint materials. A strong barking cough and sore throat cause pain for the cat and cause loss of voice.

You need to open the mouth and pull the tongue forward, check the throat for foreign objects that should be removed, including mucus or vomit. This will help clear your airways. To do this, hold the cat by its hind legs and raise its head.

Important! If you suspect a spinal injury, you should not lift or move the animal.

If removal of the foreign body does not help, you must begin first aid.

How to give artificial respiration to a cat

Start artificial respiration: lay the cat on its side, pull the tongue forward, cover the mouth with your hand and straighten the neck. Air is inhaled through the cat's nose every 3 seconds. It is important that the chest rises, but does not arch from excess inhaled air.
During artificial respiration, you need to check for a heartbeat. If the heart is beating but there is no breathing, you need to inhale air at a rate of 10 breaths per minute until the cat breathes on its own.
If you are completely sure of cardiac arrest, begin chest massage.
If respiratory arrest is detected and resuscitation begins, it is important that someone call a veterinarian or take the cat and its owner to the clinic.

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Important! Cardiopulmonary resuscitation should not be performed if the cat is conscious.

Instructions on how to perform chest compressions on a cat

Changes in breathing in and of themselves are not considered a disease. This is rather a sign of some serious illness. So, difficulty breathing can develop in a pet for the following reasons:

Foreign object in the respiratory tract - very often, when a cat begins to breathe heavily, the culprit is a pebble, twig or bone that is stuck in the respiratory organs. If something gets into the nasal passages, the cat will begin to sneeze heavily, clear snot will flow from its nose, its eyes will begin to water, and breathing problems may occur. When a foreign object gets into the throat, the cat, in addition to heavy breathing, experiences very strong hypersalivation, the unfortunate animal can gag, has difficulty swallowing, and breathes with its mouth open;
Infectious and non-infectious diseases of the respiratory system - with rhinotracheitis, calcivirosis, pneumonia, bronchitis, laryngitis, rhinitis, tracheitis, asthma and other ailments of the respiratory system, cats breathe heavily with whistling or wheezing, body temperature rises, animals often catch air with their open mouths, sneeze. In case of infectious diseases, a cat may have yellow-green discharge from the nose and eyes, diarrhea and vomiting may develop, and ulcers may appear on the tongue. Almost always, respiratory diseases negatively affect the animal’s appetite and interest in games;
Pulmonary edema is a similar ailment in which a cat’s breathing becomes heavy, and can be caused by many reasons: liver and kidney disease, allergies and anaphylactic shock, trauma, heart disease. With pulmonary edema, a cat may lie indifferently, breathing heavily with its stomach and gasping for air with its open mouth, and if you lean your ear to its chest, you can easily hear noises and gurgling. The purr does not eat, does not respond to the owner’s call, the animal’s mucous membranes become very pale;
Lungworms - if a cat lies and breathes heavily most of the time, refuses food, has a dry cough and severe shortness of breath even with minimal exertion, the culprit may be parasitic worms that have taken a liking to the lungs;
Heart failure - with heart problems, the animal develops severe shortness of breath, the cat breathes heavily with its stomach, coughs, its mucous surfaces turn pale to a slight blue color. In some situations, foam begins to come out of the nose and mouth;
Poisoning - if a purr accidentally swallows, for example, an alkali or an acid, she will probably have breathing problems, hypersalivation, convulsions, diarrhea and vomiting, pulse irregularities, trembling;
Oncology – sometimes cancer of the respiratory system (for example, larynx or lungs, etc.) occurs in animals. With neoplasms, the cat breathes heavily and opens its mouth slightly, often coughs (dry or with purulent-bloody sputum), wheezes, and swallows saliva often and with difficulty. The animal's voice may become distorted as the tumor develops. In addition, the purr eats little, loses weight, and sometimes develops a fever;
Anemia - pallor of the mucous membranes, rapid or decreased pulse, heavy breathing, apathy and refusal to eat can symbolize that there are not enough red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood;
Injuries to the spine, ribs, pectoral muscles, lungs - with such problems, cats try not to use the chest when breathing, breathing from the stomach. Shortness of breath and pain are pronounced. Hematomas and even open wounds and abrasions can be found on the skin. The cat's pulse may be rapid;
Hypoxia – with oxygen deficiency, which can develop, for example, against the background of heart disease or severe fatigue, cats begin to breathe heavily, they may suffer from nausea (even vomiting), and motor coordination is impaired;
Obesity – very often overweight cats breathe heavily even after minimal exercise. The symptoms of obesity, as they say, are obvious: the animal’s body weight is higher than normal, and the figure is more like a ball with legs;
High/low blood pressure – normal blood pressure in cats is 124/80 (almost the same as human blood pressure). With hypertension (when blood pressure is higher than normal), in addition to heavy breathing, cats also experience redness of the eyes, convulsions and unsteadiness of gait, lethargy, and problems with the urinary system if the kidneys are affected. And with hypotension (i.e., low blood pressure), cats become lethargic, drowsy, they may feel nauseous, and purring breathing with such a problem is often noisy and heavy.

Heat

The main physiological reason why a cat sticks out its tongue is temperature regulation. The animal protrudes the organ to reduce discomfort, for example, during heat. This prevents the development of heat stroke. In this case, the owner should take the cat to a cool place and pour water on it.

But a cat's tongue sticking out can also be a signal of high body temperature. To understand whether your pet is suffering from heat or is sick, you need to figure out what temperature is considered normal in cats.

The normal temperature for a cat is 38-39 degrees. But don’t panic right away if the indicator deviates slightly from the norm. Here are the common reasons for the thermometer to shift:

immediately after sleep, the thermometer drops by a couple of divisions;
in the evening the cat’s body temperature will be higher than in the morning;
Kittens have a slightly higher temperature than adult animals.

If the temperature rises due to illness, you should not self-medicate - the animal should be taken to the veterinarian.

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How to give artificial respiration to a cat

1. Place the animal on the floor. The neck and spine should form a straight line.

2. Clean the cat’s mouth from secretions with a napkin and close his mouth.

3. Place your palm in a tube, apply it to the animal’s nose, and exhale air there (you can inhale directly into the nose, covering the mouth with a handkerchief).

Frequency – approximately 20 times per minute for medium-sized cats (the smaller the pet, the more often). Monitor the intensity of exhalation so as not to damage the cat’s lungs (this is especially true for kittens). To do this, hold your hand on the cat's chest - with a suitable volume of air, it will only expand slightly.

4. Feel your pulse every 20 seconds. If it suddenly stops, you need to try to restore the heartbeat with indirect massage. With one hand, take the cat's chest, pinching it between your thumb and the other four fingers, and quickly squeeze and release 5 times. After this, exhale 1 air into the cat’s nose, then squeeze again.

The respiratory system of cats is naturally very vulnerable, so the only right thing to do if a cat is breathing heavily is to immediately take him to a veterinary clinic, where he will receive qualified assistance. Among the many diseases whose symptoms include shortness of breath, there are none that you can cure on your own.

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Questions and answers

As Sigmund Freud said, “Time spent with a cat is never wasted.” A cat is a source of positive emotions, without which no person can live. The cat is our psychotherapist and home clown, an eternal child and a caring doctor, the source of the most beautiful melodies and the creator of the most beautiful living pictures in our home. The choice of breed depends, of course, on our tastes and needs. They are different for everyone. The Maine Coon, as a rule, is chosen by people who do not like artificiality, for whom what is beautiful is what is natural and harmonious, what is reminiscent of wild nature. If a cat is a mustache, paws and tail, then coons are the owners of the longest and fluffiest tails, the longest and most luxurious whiskers and the largest paws among domestic cats. Communication with a Maine Coon will bring pleasure not only to the lover of furry “cutes”, but also to the brutal head of the family. The Maine Coon evokes respect and admiration with all its appearance and behavior; it is characterized by nobility and high intelligence. Earning his friendship and trust is especially pleasant. Perhaps somewhere in our subconscious lives the character of Russian fairy tales, Cat Bayun, a huge cat who lives far away in the thirtieth kingdom and has a magical voice. He charms and lulls travelers with his tales and those of them who are not strong enough to resist his magic, Kot Bayun mercilessly kills. But whoever can defeat and tame a cat will find salvation from all diseases and illnesses. Fortunately, to tame a Maine Coon, you don’t need an iron cap and iron mittens, as was the case in the fairy tale about Cat Bayun; an easy-going character has been embedded in this breed since the beginning of its foundation in the 19th century.

– Beyond the Dark Forest is the White Light. A

This is as true as the fact that people weigh up to 400 kg. But such giants can hardly be called healthy, and I personally have not seen such giants. I had to see and hold cats weighing about 10 kg, which were

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A cat breed whose name resembles some kind of magic spell - the Maine Coon - originates from cats living on the farmland of Maine, located in the northeastern part of the United States.

The literal translation of Maine Coon is Maine (Manx) raccoon. Ask why this name? For the reason that the Maine Coon is similar in color and size to these cute animals. There is information, probably taken from legends, that individual Maine Coons can reach a mass of 15 kilograms. One way or another, today they are the largest domestic cat breed.

New England had harsh winters, so only large, long-haired breeds survived. The very first Maine Coon was named Captain Jenks of the Marine Cavalry. It was shown at exhibitions in Boston and New York in the 19th century, where it attracted the attention of the public, but at the turn of the century they were relegated to secondary roles by furry Persians. And the Maine Coon breed managed to survive only because farmers gave preference to them over smart, but completely useless Persian cats, who did not know how to hunt like the Maine Coon , and were clearly inferior in size to them.

The calling card of Maine Coons is their large, muscular body, which has a rectangular shape and a wide chest. The large head sits firmly on a powerful neck of medium length and has sharp features.

Thanks to their large ears, set very wide, and the characteristic tufts at their tips, Maine Coons are very reminiscent of lynxes. These cats have incredibly beautiful eyes - golden, green or amber and slightly slanted.

We treated a purulent wound on a dog with Levomekol ointment. We bandaged the paw 2 times

Maine Coon paws are very strong, not long and end in round pads. There are tufts of hair between the fingers. Their tail is very long, reaches m

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Do you know everything about your pets? Do you understand what your cat or dog is thinking and wanting? Join us! Together we can get to know the animal world better and achieve harmony in communicating with it.

Cardiovascular diseases

The heart is an important organ. Any disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system are dangerous to the life of the animal. Due to chronic or acute heart disease, oxygen does not reach vital organs in sufficient quantities.

Improper heart function is accompanied by symptoms:

the cat is lethargic, there is practically no movement;
heart rhythm is abnormal;
rapid breathing;
tongue sticking out;
The oral mucosa has a bluish tint.

Any disturbance in breathing or heart rhythm is a signal from the cat’s body about the need to visit a veterinarian. Lack of help can lead to the death of the animal.

Additional symptoms

Whatever the cause, cough and shortness of breath cannot diagnose the disease. In this case, the complex clinical picture should be considered. When collecting information about the disease, not a single symptom should be discarded.

To make a diagnosis, you should pay attention to:

general condition (depression, lethargy, anxiety);
food intake (reduced or the animal refuses it completely);
drinking water (increased thirst may indicate diabetes, and choking is an additional symptom from dry mucous membranes);
temperature indicators (an increase in general temperature may indicate inflammatory processes in the lungs and bronchi);
nasal discharge (mucous, purulent);
discharge from the eyes (viral rhinotracheitis, toxoplasmosis);
diarrhea or constipation (bacterial or viral infection, toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis).

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Wheezing when breathing

Wheezing when breathing can be dry and wet (squelching). To hear better, you need to use a stethoscope or at least put your ear to your chest.

The cause of inflammatory processes can be either hypothermia or overheating of the animal. At this moment, the body’s resistance decreases, and the virulence of microorganisms increases.

Dry wheezing indicates initial inflammatory processes in the bronchi and lungs. At this moment, the mucous membranes are dry, and their friction is expressed by wheezing, and the cough is manifested by barking sounds. After some time, exudate begins to ooze out and the wheezing becomes moist. At this time, expectoration occurs.

The cough becomes softer, in this case they call it a wet cough. The inflammatory process is always accompanied by an increase in body temperature, depression, and refusal to feed. Initially mucous discharge begins to flow from the nasal openings, and then fibrinous and purulent. The nostrils become covered with dried crusts, which make breathing even more difficult.

Difficulty breathing and wheezing can occur with viral rhinotracheitis. In this case, a whole complex of symptoms is recorded. However, all of them may not be typical, so diagnosis should be carried out by a specialist.

The owner, when he sees a cat coughing violently and showing signs of suffocation, is very often at a loss.

A cough and a tongue outstretched in a cat cannot be a diagnostic symptom, it’s just something that makes the animal feel better. This is often how cats cough during an asthmatic attack. Rapid bronchospasm makes breathing difficult, and the animal reacts by coughing. After a few minutes, the spasm gives way to relaxation and the animal calms down.

If this happens for the first time, there is no need to be afraid, but you should consult a doctor.

Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing during sleep has the same causes as all others. However, if the cat sleeps separately from the owner, then monitor how often her exacerbation becomes difficult.

While awake, the cat often licks nasal discharge with its tongue and this makes it impossible for them to dry out. During sleep, crusts block the nasal passages, and this can cause difficulty breathing.

It’s a completely different matter if the shortness of breath is so severe that the cat wakes up the whole family at night. Immediate contact to the clinic for a full examination is the best method of help.

Cough
Labored breathing
Blue gums
Fatigue
Weight loss
Poor appetite
Excessive thirst or frequent urination
Vomit
Diarrhea

When your cat is breathing rapidly and you, not knowing what to do, are looking for advice on this topic on the Internet on forums, we recommend not to self-medicate or experiment on your beloved cat. The fact is that there are many reasons for tachypnea in an animal, and the consequences of your experiment may disappoint you and your family.

How to transport an animal to the clinic?

If you notice that your cat is breathing heavily and incorrectly, is lethargic, does not eat, and is constantly lying down, this may be a sign of an emergency. In order to provide emergency assistance in this case, it will be necessary to first establish the cause of this condition. For this purpose, examine the animal, check it for wounds, fractures and other damage. If the animal vomits, examine the vomit for blood and mucus.

Be sure to look at what the animal ate. Sometimes cats swallow various tablets, granules and other chemical residues that can cause poisoning in them. The sooner you determine what exactly your cat has eaten, the greater the chance of providing her with quality medical care.

Many veterinary clinics provide free consultations over the phone.

In any case, a sick pet should not be disturbed; it should be limited in food and drink and immediately call a veterinarian. Many veterinary clinics provide free consultations over the phone on how to provide emergency care to an animal in a particular case. Use these tips and immediately take the patient to the nearest veterinary clinic, since in most cases only emergency care can save your pet’s life.

If we take specific cases, then one of the most common reasons for a sharp change in breathing in cats is the entry of foreign objects into the nasopharynx. Here you can try to remove them yourself with your fingers or tweezers, while pulling out the animal’s tongue. If a foreign object gets into the trachea, lift the cat by the hind legs and sharply squeeze the stomach slightly behind the diaphragm. Usually this is enough for the foreign object to come out and your pet to be able to breathe normally.

You can pull out a foreign object using tweezers.
When going with your pet to a veterinary clinic, it is worth remembering some rules for transporting it. For example, if a cat does not show signs of life during transportation, it must be placed on its right side, with the animal’s tongue and neck extended.

In the same case, when the cat is breathing and feels relatively well, it must be placed in a dark place, for example, in a cardboard box, with something soft placed at the bottom. It would be best if the person the animal trusts most goes with her. In this case, it will not show aggression towards strangers, and its movements will not aggravate the course of the disease.

When going to the veterinary clinic, place your pet in a dark place, such as a box.

By the way, most modern veterinary clinics have their own emergency services. If you have such an opportunity, use their services. This will give a 100% guarantee of your pet’s further recovery, and help will begin to be provided to him much faster, which is very important in an extreme situation.

Treatment

If possible, the underlying causes (heat, stress, strain) should be identified and eliminated.
Symptomatic therapy
Oxygen therapy if the pet is in serious condition
Antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications for infectious or inflammatory diseases
Fluid therapy is indicated for dehydration or systemic disease (eg, uremia)

Whatever the diagnostic methods, they should be carried out in the clinic. Treatment should be prescribed based on the results of clinical and laboratory tests. It may consist of the following:

antibiotics (for inflammatory processes);
expectorants and mucolytic drugs;
antiviral drugs (for viral infections);
immunomodulator drugs;
surgical intervention (stenting) for tracheal collapse;
anthelmintics when detecting helminthic infestation.

The owner of the animal can independently, at home, give the cat a tablet, syrup, or administer intramuscular medication prescribed by the doctor.

If the treatment involves surgery, the clinic will provide it, as well as care in the postoperative period.

Therapeutic techniques

In the clinic, after clearing the airways, the veterinarian can start breathing using artificial respiration, inserting an endotracheal tube and connecting to a ventilator. An indirect cardiac massage, a defibrillator and injections of drugs (adrenaline, atropine, atipemazole, etc.) help a specialist to start a stopped heart. Depending on the results of resuscitation efforts, studies are prescribed to establish a diagnosis, treatment and further care.

Regular preventive examinations and tests will help identify diseases in the early stages, without leading them to a chronic form. If you have congenital or chronic diseases, you should follow your veterinarian's recommendations for caring for your cat. An attentive and caring owner will always notice suspicious symptoms and seek advice from a specialist, because the life and health of the cat is in his hands.

Functional brain disorders

Veterinarians identify the causes that lead to disruption of the brain and nervous system:

traumatic brain injury;
past infectious diseases;
stroke.

The above reasons lead to a lack of coordination: the cat cannot independently control movements or control muscles. So he sticks out his tongue.

Veterinarians offer a small test that helps make sure that your cat has no neurological problems. If the animal sticks out its tongue, you need to touch it a little. If there are no neurological problems, the cat will quickly hide its tongue. If the actions do not bring results, we can talk about a pathological signal from the body.