Everything You Need To Know About Feline Pneumonia
Is your cat wheezing, coughing, and producing a nasty liquid (snot) from her nose? Well, if you want to properly take care of your cat, you need to take her to a vet, and a there are many good animal hospitals, such as the is clinic near North Shore like Gordon Vet.
This might not be the run-of-the-mill cold, as you thought since cats can be quite prone to respiratory problems. If such a thing goes unrecognized and untreated, the result can cause a very bad case of pneumonia.
No matter how weird it sounds, yes cats can get pneumonia, and if you ever had this inflammation in the lungs, you understand just how unpleasant this can actually be. This is just another reason you need to take care of your pet properly.
Pets deserve the same treatment, just like you
The causes of pneumonia
There are several causes that can end with pneumonia when talking about felines. For example, the cause can be because of bacterial, fungal or viral organisms, just like Mycoplasma bacteria, cryptococcal fungi, and calicivirus can all be potential culprits as well.
The protozoal parasite toxoplasmosis is another thing that can cause pneumonia if it makes its way to the lungs of the cat. When these foreign organisms get to the nostrils or trachea, they are able to cause infection or inflammation that will then move to the lungs. Fluid, cellular debris, pus can build up in the lung, which eventually results in pneumonia.
When cats accidentally suck in fluids, vomit or any substances that might irritate their respiratory tract, they can get pneumonia. This can sometimes be something as small, innocent and harmless as a simple seed.
Some of these pneumonia cases can be quite complicated by several invading organisms. A fungus or a virus would usually do the initial damage, which makes the cat a lot weaker and gives an opportunity to the second bacterial infection.
Take your cat to the vet
Recognize the signs
If you catch this early on, then there is a high chance that you can treat it easily. Some of the typical signs include shallow, labored or difficult breathing. Cats can also have fast respiratory rate and a loss of appetite. A hacking, dry cough or even a wetter cough might cause mucus in the blood. Lethargy and green or cloudy yellow discharge from the cat’s nose can also be a sign of pneumonia.
However, these can be a sign of some other illness as well, and the important thing is to take your cat to the vet if she exhibits any of these signs. Your vet will have to perform a physical exam and history, and the diagnostics for pneumonia might include a chest X-ray and a full blood panel.
How to treat it?
When the issues are confirmed, multiple medications will be needed to treat te infection. These drugs can include the ones that help open up nasal decongestant to help break up mucus and the airways, together with some antibiotics.
Final word
The treatment can take up to few weeks, and sometimes the cat will need to be hospitalized, which is another reason you need to have a vet hospital you can trust. For example, find a station such as the best veterinarian in Ku ring gai vet like Gordon Vet, where they will surely take care of your animals.
