Dogs and cats with heart disease or heart failure may show faster breathing rates and it may seem harder for them to breathe – this is sometimes called dyspnea. This is often due to fluid in or around their lungs. This fluid prevents full lung expansion, and it compromises the ability of the lungs to get oxygen into the bloodstream.

Often this is seen as adopting a standing or sternal position. Usually cats stay in sternal recumbency, with abducted elbows, extended neck and open-mouth breathing. Dogs often remain standing for prolonged periods, being reluctant to lie down as this only exacerbates their dyspnoea. Initial Approach to the Dyspnoeic Case

A dyspnoeic dog with a murmur, tachycardia, dyspnoea, B lines and enlarged left atrium to aorta ratio is highly likely to have congestive heart failure. Early use of frusemide may improve the patient’s condition. Therefore, a frusemide trial of 1-2mg/kg intramuscularly or intravenously can be performed.

Many cats and dogs seen by the Emergency Referral Service at RVC Small Animal Referrals have signs of respiratory distress (dyspnoea). This can be gradually progressive or come on very rapidly with few warning signs.

One of the first things to check in an animal with breathing difficulties is the color of the mucosae. The cyanosis can provide important information about the malfunctioning of the respiratory system, but it only exists in the most severely affected patients.