Acute respiratory failure is considered one of the most serious problems in emergency veterinary medicine.

The following symptoms reveal respiratory failure:

• Respiration rate is over 30–40 per minute at rest
• Cats breathing with their mouth open
• The animal also uses its abdominal muscles for breathing
• Bluish tongue
• Pale or bright red mucus membranes
• Inability to lie down, collapsing

If the owner is not certain, whether the animal is suffering from respiratory failure or not, it is recommended to contact the animal clinic!

The most common causes of respiratory failure are:

• Respiratory infections
• Cardiac/ Heart and/ or pulmonary/ lung diseases
• A foreign body in the respiratory tract
• Brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome/ upper respiratory tract abnormality
• Trauma
• Heat stroke
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Pathologies of thoracic cavity

As respiratory failure is a serious condition, it is recommended to contact the veterinarian as soon as possible and come to the clinic to perform the necessary diagnostic procedures.

It is essential to try to calm down the animal already at home. If respiratory failure is caused by a heat stroke, the owner or handler may try to cool down the animal using moist towels.  Any secretion coming from the nose has to be carefully removed.

When transporting the animal to the clinic, it is important to ensure the movement of preferably cool air in the vicinity of the animal. One cannot put the animal into a box or bag with limited access of the air. It is not allowed to put the animal into the trunk/ baggage compartment of the car.