Why a cat breathes like a dog with its tongue out

A cat's tongue is not only an important organ, but also a "comb" for its fur. There are times when an animal is overzealous in washing and simply forgets to put its tongue back in place. This usually lasts a few minutes, then the cat realizes the problem. You can help her by lightly touching her tongue – this way she will react faster.

When a cat breathes through its mouth like a dog. What does it mean?

Unlike dogs, cats are pretty quiet – they don't snore or pant. So it's no wonder we get anxious when we notice our cat breathing like this. What could be the cause?

A healthy cat breathes through its nose, smoothly and quietly. Any wheezing, wheezing, heavy or rapid breathing and open mouth should get the owner's attention. With the exception of a few situations, it is important to keep in mind that the animal may have a health problem. Below are some of the most common causes of open-mouth breathing.

Severe stress, stress, or. heat.

When we are in a hurry and running somewhere, we often can't catch our breath for some time afterwards. It's the same with cats – after a frantic chase for a teddy mouse, your cat may just. run out of breath. You'll notice that she's breathing with her rum open more often than usual-so her body gives off heat more efficiently and returns to its normal temperature. If it happens during playtime and goes away after a while, you have nothing to worry about.

There are cats that breathe through their mouths when they are very stressed or frightened. This can happen, for example, when transporting a cat in a car. The cat may breathe through its mouth and drool. In this situation you should (if possible) eliminate the source of stress as quickly as possible and wait quietly until the cat calms down. A cat prone to stress in the car should be given a sedative before the trip – consult your veterinarian.

Cats also breathe through their mouths when they are too hot – in this situation you should help them cool down. Put the cat in a cool, ventilated room, or offer it a damp towel on the floor – so it can cool down faster.

Warning: if your cat is having trouble breathing, seems restless or, conversely, falls into apathy during a heat wave, take him to the vet as soon as possible. Such symptoms may indicate a stroke.

Why a cat breathes like a dog, sticking its tongue out

Sometimes owners notice that a cat breathes like a dog by sticking its tongue out. People wonder why this happens. Veterinarians assure that there is not always a reason to worry. There are many situations in which such breathing – the norm. Unfortunately, it often indicates certain health problems in cats, cats or kittens.

A normal cat breathes through its nose and does not stick out its tongue. However, in some cases you may notice the opposite in an animal with no health problems. For example, if:

In the first three situations, the cat can hardly be helped. You can be sure that breathing will soon normalize on its own. If the cat is hot and breathes heavily with its mouth open evaporating moisture from its tongue and thus helping to lower the body temperature, you should take it out of the stuffy room or, conversely, bring it inside from the sultry street. Cats, like people, can get heat stroke, due to severe overheating. It is better not to bring it to this, because the consequences can be unpredictable.

Pathological causes

It happens that owners observe breathing disorders in their cat for quite a long time. At the same time, there are no factors from the above list. Why in this case can the cat breathe heavily, often, sticking its tongue out? Here are the most common dysfunctions that cause this symptom:

• A foreign body that has entered the respiratory tract and blocked the airway;
• Painful lesions of the oral mucosa (mechanical damage, ulcers, rashes, fistulas, inflammation);
• Acute respiratory infections and similar illnesses that cause mucus to accumulate in the nose and other parts of the airways (it is difficult for oxygen to get to the destination and the cat breathes by sticking its tongue out to get more air);
• Lung abnormalities (inflammation, swelling, tumor, lung failure);
• cardiovascular diseases (angina, coronary artery disease, hypotension, hypertension);
• Traumas of the ribs and muscles around the lungs, which squeeze them, their volume decreases, the body lacks oxygen, so the cat breathes, sticking out his tongue;
• Brain dysfunction, namely the part of the brain responsible for breathing;
• poisoning, in which the general condition of the body leaves much to be desired, there are malfunctions in almost all systems.

Cats stick out their tongue like dogs, breathe heavily, often, trying to capture more air, when the body is oxygen starved. The animal instinctively tries to save itself from hypoxia, which is destructive to it. If this condition continues for a long time, the pet may even die.

Therefore, if you notice that the cat is breathing abnormally – opens widely its mouth, sticking out its tongue, you should quickly show it to the doctor. He will appoint an examination and then choose adequate treatment. Amateurism in this case is unacceptable – the risk of losing the pet is too high.

Abnormalities: when the cat's mouth breathing is a sign of illness

1. Something's wrong with the lungs.
2. Something happened to the nasopharynx.
3. Something happened to the cardiovascular system.
4. The cat is in a lot of pain because of an injury.
5. The cat has an allergic reaction, mouth breathing is a sign of Quincke's edema.
6. The cat has been poisoned.

Maine Coons, British and Sphinx cats, obese and non-young cats, animals with chronic diseases should be treated with the utmost care. In these, sudden and unexplained mouth breathing is a reason to go to the vet immediately.

There is no first veterinary care in the case of shortness of breath because it is only a symptom. All you can do is call the vet at home or drive to the clinic. Don't try to give him artificial respiration, don't give him human drugs, don't shake him by the scruff of the neck, and don't try to force-feed him water. Perhaps after examining and diagnosing the animal the doctor will tell you how to stop the seizures.

Gemon
Dry food

How to give first aid to an animal?

In most cases, the best help for a cat with respiratory distress will be to hospitalize it immediately. Trying to do something on their own only prolongs time, which aggravates the situation. If there is the slightest suspicion of heart, lung or other organ abnormalities, they should call a vet or take the cat to one. However, there are exceptions to the rule.:

• For example, if a pet is breathing through its mouth and a foreign body has got into its throat. In such cases, even a person without medical training can provide first aid. You should open the cat's mouth wide, pull the tongue and try to pull the foreign body out with your fingers or tweezers. If it is not too deep, you will most likely be able to do it.
• In cases when a foreign object has got into a trachea you may try to turn a cat upside down, pick it up by its hind legs and squeeze its abdomen in the area of a diaphragm. Usually a foreign body pops out as a result of these manipulations. If this does not happen – the animal should be taken to the doctor immediately.

Sometimes the cause of rapid mouth breathing is poisoning. If you have reason to suspect this factor, you should call a doctor and immediately begin first aid.

First, abundantly water the cat with a weak solution of manganese solution. The more liquid you manage to pour, the better. In case of poisoning, it is important to flush the stomach as quickly as possible before the toxic substances enter the intestines and blood.

Diagnostic measures

If the cat is breathing by mouth, the clinic will definitely ask about all the circumstances. How long ago and under what conditions the symptom appeared, what the animal ate, whether it has not had access to chemicals, whether there are any chronic diseases. Next, the doctor will examine the cat: examine the mucous membrane of the mouth, palpate the abdomen, listen to the heart.

If these measures will not give a clear answer to the question of why the kitty breathes with her mouth open, additional studies will be conducted. In particular, hardware:

In most cases, even if the cause of breathing problems is clear already after the initial examination, the cat is still assigned a general blood test and sometimes a biochemical test. These tests will help not only to confirm the disease, but also to determine the degree of its development, to assess the overall condition of the body, to identify the factors that provoke the pathology.

It turns out that there are many factors when a cat should breathe through the nose and not the mouth. Deviations from the norm always have causes, which are divided into physiological and pathological.

In the first case, certain external factors (for example, heat), as well as stress, fatigue can provoke breathing with the mouth open in cats. The second refers to diseases that are often life-threatening.

If there is reason to suspect pathology, you should definitely consult a doctor. Prolonged hypoxia can have irreversible consequences for the body.

When a protruding tongue should cause concern

However, sometimes sticking out your tongue should be a real concern. It may indicate serious health problems. For example:

• Heart failure. A cat shows its tongue if it has heart problems. At the same time, the animal loses its appetite, and the tongue itself changes color from pink to white or bluish.
• Kidney disease. Problems with breathing and, as a consequence, sticking out the tongue can occur with renal failure. The pet's urine takes on an ammonia odor, and vomiting episodes and impaired stools may occur.
• Injuries. The cat may injure the gum or tongue and experience discomfort when touching the wounds.
• Infectious diseases. If the cat not only walks around with its tongue stuck out, but also coughs, sneezes, and wheezes while breathing in and out, these may be symptoms of an infectious disease.
• Cancer. Possible neoplasm in the mouth, palate, jaw, and larynx. These diseases are more common in cats over 10 years of age.
• A foreign body in the mouth or pharynx. A stuck fish bone or a small toy can be the cause of a protruding tongue.

If a cat's tongue sticks out, it is not in itself a sign of illness. It is usually accompanied by others. If you find more than one of the above symptoms, be sure to see a veterinary professional for a consultation.

Cat breathing with tongue sticking out: causes and what to do

The tongue is a functional muscle with which the cat washes, takes food, and drinks. The animal is characterized by nasal breathing: passing through the nostrils, the air is heated, filtered and enters the body cleaned of dust and germs. Sometimes owners notice that the cat breathes like a dog with its tongue sticking out. What are the causes? When is this behavior considered normal and when is it pathological?

It is normal for a cat to walk around with its tongue out in the heat, when it is under stress, when it is giving birth, in some other situations.

Heat

Pets' bodies are covered with thick fur, and they have significantly fewer sweat glands than humans. Body temperature rises in the heat, especially during periods of activity. It is difficult for the body to maintain it at a comfortable level – the tongue aids in thermoregulation. Moisture from its surface evaporates, the body temperature gradually decreases.

Owners should turn on the air conditioner or move the pet to a cool room, fresh air, to avoid overheating and heat stroke.

Strong Emotions

Worry and strong emotions are a common cause of behavioral changes. An animal under stress licks, opens its mouth, and breathes rapidly. Cats in this state stick out their tongue and drool. Increased salivation is physiologically common in males. Often with cats and cats it happens in the car because of anxiety.

The reaction to stress is considered natural: as soon as the pet calms down, it will hide its tongue. The saliva will also disappear. Owners can speed up the process by taking the animal in their arms and lightly stroking its fur.

Relaxation

There is no reason to worry if the cat sleeps with his tongue out. It is in tone almost around the clock, but in deep sleep the animal relaxes, does not react to what is going on around it, does not hear anything.

The tongue is also relaxed, increasing slightly in length, so the tip protrudes beyond the mouth. This happens more often in breeds with shortened muzzles or malocclusions. There is no threat to health.

Pathological conditions

Does the cat have frequent and heavy breathing, tongue sticking out, greedily grabbing air with its mouth open? The above symptoms are characteristic of oxygen deprivation. To escape it, the animal instinctively gulps down more air. Prolonged hypoxia is detrimental to his health.

There are other pathological conditions with similar symptoms:

• Foreign body. Getting into the respiratory organs with food or during play, it restricts or blocks the access of air to the lungs and internal organs.
• Ulcers, inflammations, and other damage to the laryngeal mucosa.
• Colds, viral infection. During illness, mucus accumulates in the nose and pharynx, making normal breathing difficult.
• Pneumonia, pulmonary edema or trauma, and pulmonary insufficiency make it hard to breathe. Pulmonary abnormalities are dangerous with a rapid course and possible death. There is a high risk that the pet will go into a coma and not come out of it.
• A domestic cat will occasionally sit with its tongue out and breathe through its open mouth if its injured ribs compress its lungs. Due to the compression, the lung volume decreases – the body feels an acute lack of oxygen.
• Brain abnormalities, craniocerebral injuries, intoxication, heart and vascular disease.

Heart failure

Heart failure is a serious pathology that requires urgent consultation and treatment at a veterinary clinic. The group of heart abnormalities includes:

Predisposition to cardiac abnormalities exists in the following breeds:

It is important for their owners not to miss the first symptoms of the disease, among which is a protruding tongue. If to it is added frequent "doggy breathing", lethargy and impotence, there is cause for concern.

Breaths accompanied by pain, a confused rhythm, and lividity of the mucous membranes are symptoms that require immediate medical attention.

Poisonings

Intoxication of the body is often accompanied by respiratory and cardiac malfunctions. Poisonous substances relax the muscles so much that the animal cannot control them. For this reason, the cat's tongue hangs out.

Why does the cat breathe like a dog, sticking his tongue out?

Very often people, owners of furry, have noticed that sometimes their cat breathes very often, sticking his tongue out :). Let's figure out when to worry about this and when not to.

If your pet is breathing heavily after an active run under the ceiling, or something strongly frightened, then you can not worry. Also, frequent breathing in a cat is observed if he is very angry or the cat is in a stressful state. When the cat is going to give birth, it breathes very often. Well, or the cat is just very hot, then you need to take him out into the fresh air, or, if it's hot outside, take him inside.

If all the above reasons are absent and the cat breathes like that for a long time, you should be worried. It is quite possible that he might get something in his airways.

Also, it is possible that the cat will catch cold like a human. His nose becomes clogged with mucus and he has trouble breathing. In general, there are many causes such as mucous membrane lesions, inflammations, ulcers, lung abnormalities, cardiovascular diseases, poisoning (the cat's body is in a very bad condition), rib injuries and so on.

In such a situation, it is better not to speculate for the kitty, and as soon as possible to show him to the veterinarian.

Natural causes

Some conditions provoke oxygen deprivation. The pet's body tries to make up for this shortage by rapid abdominal breathing. This can be caused by:

• Overheating. In the heat, the animal has to regulate heat exchange in a non-standard way – by opening its mouth and sticking out its tongue. In this way, the cat cools the air in its mouth. As soon as the animal cools down, breathing returns to normal. To help your pet, you need to move him to a cooler room and turn on the air conditioner in the car. It is also important to make sure that the cat has cool water.
• Physical fatigue. The furry critter spent hours chasing a ball, catching a toy mouse, jumping for the bow, and mastering the cat gym. No wonder the body decided to get more oxygen. The result is an open mouth and frequent breathing. To help the pet, you need to let it rest and arrange a place to relax. Normal breathing will recover with the pet.
• Childbirth. During the birth of the heirs of the feline family, the mother cat often breathes "doggy-style." This is a natural mechanism to maintain oxygen levels in the blood of kittens. Because of a spasmed uterus, the amount of oxygen to the babies' bodies is reduced. The cat makes up for the shortage with frequent breathing. Most likely, the parturitioner will cope on her own. The owner's job is to watch for the birth to proceed as normal, and if difficulties arise, take the cat to the veterinary clinic.
• Stress. Stress can trigger oxygen deprivation. Situations that seem normal to people can be traumatic for a cat. Guests in the house, moving house, new owners – these are situations the cat needs to survive. You need to give the cat time to settle in and calm down. If the pet wants to be alone, you should not prevent it.
• Overweight. It is difficult for a cat or cat to carry extra pounds. One of the manifestations of obesity can be changes in breathing. A specialist should be consulted to adjust the pet's diet and motor activity. Once the pet loses weight, breathing will get better.
• Sexual issue. Excitement, the release of sex hormones, the active work of the endocrine system – these internal processes can lead to oxygen deprivation. The cat should find a mate or have it neutered or spayed. Unmet needs bring a lot of inconvenience to both the animal and its owner.

Pathological causes

It is necessary to carefully assess the condition of the pet, which suddenly began to breathe with its mouth open. This may have been caused by:

• Trauma, broken ribs or spine;
• Shock;
• Heart problems – acute or chronic;
• lung problems, including swelling;
• worm infestations;
• ingestion of a foreign body into the respiratory organs;
• craniocerebral injuries;
• oncology;
• poisoning;
• allergic reactions;
• viral lesions of the respiratory organs, etc.

Any of these causes requires immediate attention to a veterinary clinic. Some conditions, such as pulmonary edema or a foreign body in the trachea, are so dangerous that sometimes they can literally last for minutes. If you have the slightest doubt it's worth calling your vet: a specialist will call to suggest emergency care options, if necessary, and prepare for an in-person visit.

Read also:

5 reasons why a cat breathes with its mouth open like a dog

A dog that sits with its mouth open and its tongue hanging out is not alarming or surprising.

This is quite a normal state of the animal, which cools itself this way after an active game or in hot weather.

But a cat that does exactly the same, immediately causes concern to its owners.

So why can a cat breathe by opening its mouth and sticking out its tongue?

1. The first reason is, as in the case of the dog, an escape from the heat.

When it is not possible to cool itself in high temperatures by all available means, the cat begins to breathe by sticking its tongue out of its mouth.

Very often this happens if the animal is transported in the car or left in a closed cabin for a while in the sun.

That is why it is highly recommended to protect pets from overheating in order to avoid heatstroke.

2. The cause may also be that the cat has been poisoned by something and poisonous substances have entered its system.

So an attentive and caring owner will definitely not smoke in the presence of his or her pet, because it can cause serious damage to the cat's health.

3. Severe trauma (falling from a height, ribs and head injuries) can also cause "doggy" breathing.

For example, sticking out the tongue in this case may indicate the presence of a large amount of fluid in the pleural area.

And pulmonary edema in a cat is a high probability of death.

Fetuses put a lot of pressure on the diaphragm, so it becomes difficult for the purrfect cat to breathe in the usual way.

5 . Severe stress or fright can also cause the cat's mouth to breathe with the purr's mouth open.

The same routine car ride in a domestic cat can sometimes cause this condition. In addition to breathing with its mouth open, the cat will constantly meow, try to hide, and tremble.

In some cases, it is even necessary to give the animal special sedatives.