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587 results for “breathing difficulty”
Myelitis and Meningomyelitis in Dogs and Cats
Myelitis and meningomyelitis are inflammations of the spinal cord and its surrounding membranes, often secondary to infection or trauma. They cause fever, pain, and progressive weakness or paralysis, and treatment must eliminate the underlying cause while controlling inflammation.
Meningoencephalitis in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Meningoencephalitis is inflammation of the brain and its membranes from infection, toxins, immune disease, trauma, or tumors, producing seizures, behavior change, and stiffness. Treatment targets the cause with infection control, swelling reduction, and seizure management.
Myocarditis in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, usually secondary to infection, parasites, toxins, or metabolic disease. It raises myocardial excitability and weakens contraction, and severe cases can cause collapse or sudden death, so prompt veterinary care is essential.
Cor Pulmonale in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Cor pulmonale (pulmonary heart disease) is right-sided heart failure driven by high pressure in the pulmonary arteries, usually from chronic lung disease, heartworm, or chest-wall disorders. Signs include cough, labored breathing, and fluid buildup, and treatment must target the underlying cause.
Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a frequently inherited heart-muscle disease in which the ventricular walls thicken and filling is impaired. Many cats show no early signs, then suddenly develop breathing distress, weakness, or sudden death from stress or arterial obstruction.
Canine Mitral Valve Insufficiency: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Mitral valve insufficiency is a degenerative heart-valve disease in which blood leaks backward from the left ventricle into the left atrium, accounting for roughly three-quarters of canine heart disease. Older small breeds are most affected and show exercise intolerance, coughing, and night-time breathing distress.
Uremia in Dogs and Cats
Uremia is the severe, body-wide poisoning that results when advanced kidney failure lets metabolic wastes build up in the blood. It affects the nervous, circulatory, digestive, respiratory, and blood systems, and is treated by managing the underlying kidney disease and the individual symptoms.
Pleurisy (Pleuritis) in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura (the lung lining) causing abdominal breathing, a friction sound on auscultation, and a horizontal fluid line on percussion. It is treated with antibiotics, pain and inflammation control, and drainage of fluid when needed.
Pulmonary Emphysema in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Pulmonary emphysema is over-inflation of the lungs from too much air in the tissue, causing labored, wheezy breathing. It may be primary (exertion) or secondary to chronic airway disease, and is managed by treating the underlying condition and supporting breathing.
Aspiration (Inhalation) Pneumonia in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Aspiration pneumonia occurs when material is inhaled into the lungs, causing airway and lung inflammation that can progress to lung gangrene. It is an emergency treated by clearing the airway, oxygen, and antibiotics.