Coughing, hacking and breathing difficulty are frequently observed. This causes noisy breathing and predisposes them to serious respiratory problems, especially during exercise or heat exposure. Dogs with this condition have lost some of their ability to open and close their larynxes in synch with their breathing. Sometimes a toy or food becomes stuck in the throat or is accidentally inhaled into the trachea or lungs and is positioned in such a way to block airflow. The result: difficulty breathing.įoreign body. In this condition, the heart fails and the lungs often fill with fluid. Some dogs with collapsing trachea also develop abnormal breathing.Ĭongestive heart failure. When this happens, affected dogs may cough or seem like they are choking. Some dogs, particularly certain terrier and toy breeds, develop a softening of the tracheal cartilage that causes the trachea to lose some of its tubular shape. Many cancers of the chest and upper respiratory tract can cause abnormal breathing, especially if they obstruct the airway.Ĭollapsing trachea. Cough (not abnormal breathing), however, is the hallmark of bronchitis.Ĭancer. Many infections of the bronchi and bronchioles can lead to abnormal breathing patterns. Unfortunately, this excess tissue can be accompanied by other upper respiratory tract abnormalities that may predispose them to complete airway obstruction should their tissues become inflamed, which can happen in times of excess heat, stress, exercise and other situations.īronchitis. Flat-faced cats and especially short-headed dogs are predisposed to noisy breathing due to the abnormal length and contour of their soft palates, which can partially obstruct their airways. It typically causes coughing but can also present as difficulty breathing.īrachycephalic syndrome.
This inflammatory disease of the lung tissue is relatively common in cats. Here are some of the more common possibilities:Īsthma. CausesĪbnormal breathing has a variety of causes. When your pet makes any out-of-the-ordinary breathing sounds - whether they’re loud, soft, wheezy, squeaky or something else - take him to the veterinarian to be checked out. If your pet’s tongue and gums take on a blue tinge - a condition called cyanosis - it means he is not getting enough oxygen into his blood. Under normal circumstances (meaning when you’re at home), if your cat is doing open-mouth breathing, it is considered a serious emergency.Ĭyanosis. Shallow, rapid respiration is common in panting dogs but not in cats. If your pet takes longer, exaggerated, deeper breaths than normal, it’s usually a sign of greater effort. But if you ever see that your pet is breathing abnormally, consider it an emergency and contact your veterinarian immediately - especially if he’s having difficult or labored breathing, a condition called dyspnea. Sure, some pets breathe noisily all the time, just as some dogs pant a lot. But sometimes, abnormal breathing comes on so slowly and stealthily that you notice it only after it becomes serious. When your dog starts panting nonstop or your cat is breathing with his mouth open, it’s obvious that something unusual is going on.
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