Many pet lovers search for respiratory diseases in cats. Respiratory diseases usually occur in cats as a result of exposure to bacterial and viral infections or because of parasites and fungi that may infect them. Inflammation of the respiratory system can occur in the upper part, which includes the nose, throat or The throat, or the lower part that includes the lungs and trachea or both, and we will get to know all the details as follows:
Respiratory diseases in cats
The respiratory system consists of different organs, as we mentioned in the above lines, each of which performs a vital function, as is evident with the lungs, as it plays a role in supplying animals with the oxygen they need to live and move normally, and respiratory diseases in cats are very common and usually have a diagnosis Simple, but many factors can exacerbate it and endanger the life of cats. Respiratory diseases in cats include the following:
1- Inflammation of the nose and throat
The disease affects the respiratory system and some doctors describe it as cat flu. It can be said that viral rhinitis has two causes: the herpes virus and the Calcifer virus, and although the virus is highly contagious, it is easy to eliminate using disinfectants. This has been proven that the virus lives in mucous secretions for a period of time. Up to a week, in the case of infection with the herpes virus, cats remain carriers of the disease and can relapse if their immunity is weak and they can also transmit the infection to other cats, and it can be said that cat flu is also of bacterial origin, and in this case the causative organisms are Bordetella bronchiseptica and Chlamydophila felis and Mycoplasma.
2-Rhinitis
This is known as inflammation of the nasal cavity and it is part of the symptoms of viral rhinitis, so we can say that the reason for this is the presence of fungi such as: hidden microbes, allergy parasites and foreign bodies that enter the nose, the symptoms of rhinitis are closely related to its causes, but they usually include sneezing and runny nose.
3- Pneumonia
If sinusitis is not treated in time, it may get worse and damage the entire respiratory system and then this is called pneumonia. Pneumonia can also occur by inhaling mucus secretions from the contents of the mouth or stomach, which is called inflammation. Aspiration pneumonia. Common symptoms include a fever, coughing, sneezing, difficulty swallowing, a hissing sound when breathing, or rapid breathing.
4-Asthma
What distinguishes asthma is the constriction of the airways, which negatively affects the airway, and it is a progressive disease that, if not treated in a timely manner, can have serious consequences, as the airways narrow without a causative agent and is more like an allergy than the flu. Therefore, the diagnosis can be reached through the correct evaluation of the clinical signs, the history of the disease, and the diseases that the cat was exposed to in the past, and among the most common symptoms of this disease we find difficulty in breathing, especially after playing, playing, and motor activities, and among the symptoms are also agitated and noisy breathing, and coughing Wheezing when inhaling air.
5- Respiratory failure
It is defined as a disease that prevents the body from providing adequate ventilation, a problem that makes it difficult to maintain adequate levels of oxygen throughout areas of the body, and this is something you should avoid if your cat shows any suspicious respiratory signs that could be the result of this disease .
Symptoms of respiratory diseases in cats
There are many symptoms that indicate that a cat has an infection in the respiratory tract, whether it is in the upper or lower respiratory tract, and the symptoms vary according to the type and location of the infection, as follows:
Symptoms of an upper respiratory infection in cats
1-sneeze
2- Runny nose
3-Clogged nose and difficulty breathing
4- Secretions from the eye
5- The cat's voice has changed
6- Difficulty swallowing food
7-Anorexia and weight loss
8- Lethargy and inability to perform normal activities
9- Symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection in cats
10-cough
11-It sounds like heavy breathing
12- Decrease in activity rate
13- Loss of desire to eat
Causes of respiratory diseases in cats
1- Viruses such as the herpes virus are transmitted from one cat to another through contact or droplets resulting from breathing, and thus they cause viral infections that result in inflammation of the respiratory system, and some bacteria, such as Chlamydia felis and Mycoplasma, can infect cats and cause respiratory infections, Especially in cats with a weakened immune system.
2- Fungi found in polluted areas and ponds with stagnant water can cause fungal infections that lead to inflammation of the cat's airways.
3- It is worth noting that parasites, such as fly larvae and lungworms, rarely cause respiratory infections in cats.
How is respiratory disease in cats diagnosed?
1- Your doctor will perform a thorough physical examination of the cat, especially the chest area, looking inside the throat and nose using a tongue depressor.
2- Your doctor may ask you to take a swab from the cat's mouth for analysis; To determine the cause of infection.
3-Your vet may need an x-ray; To confirm inflammation and its cause.
4- An accurate diagnosis in some cases requires blood tests to detect the presence of a fungal infection or not.
5- It is worth mentioning that the first things that veterinarians use in the diagnosis when confronted with respiratory disease in cats is the sick history of the cat, which is the information provided by the breeder, and that the correct collection of the patient’s history must provide the necessary information and link it to other results.
6- Clinical signs, which are similar in nature, but are usually more prominent depending on the etiology causing the disease.
7- This matter must be properly addressed by the veterinarian to suspect and identify the cause of the disease.
8- Finally, laboratory tests are performed to ensure accurate results, as samples taken from blood and secretions from the nose and eyes are sent to the laboratory for analysis, and they reflect important information for diagnosis.
Treatment of respiratory diseases in cats
1- For each case of respiratory diseases in cats, the specialist will prescribe the appropriate treatment, depending on the cause of the infection and the cat’s health and endurance.
2- The cat will be given antibiotics to help reduce inflammation, and the vet may prescribe pain killers for you so that the cat does not suffer.
3- A healthy diet for your cat, including plenty of fluids, is selected to prevent dehydration, which may be caused by a respiratory infection.
4- Severe cases of respiratory infections may require placing the cat under a respirator. To be able to breathe properly.
Here we have come to the conclusion of our article, in which we dealt with respiratory diseases in cats and all the details related to it, including diagnosis, treatment, symptoms and causes as well, because the pet is all our responsibility, as we have provided all pet supplies in the Petaholic store