My cat is coughing, sleeping, and breathing hard. What tests & cost?

Hi there and thank you for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Unfortunately, I cannot legally advise on medication or the dosages of medications over the internet. If Boo is coughing and having trouble breathing, he may have an upper respiratory infection or his symptoms may be caused by another medical condition such as feline asthma. Foul smelling saliva can be related to an oral infection such as a tooth infection or can be related to an upper respiratory infection. I would recommend Boo see his primary care veterinarian for an exam to help diagnose Boo's condition so he can receive the most appropriate treatment. Best wishes to you and Boo!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear Harry is having problems. Breathing problems are always an emergency so I would advise you seek veterinary help right away. Many reasons may exist for breathing problems including lung and heart/chest problems. Cats also get asthma and that can be life threatening. Also, heartworm disease, lung problems including infection, inflammation, different types of fluid in the lungs or chest cavity, heart problems, etc. Again seek vet help immediately so your vet can evaluate Harry and develop a diagnostic and treatment plan. Oxygen, x-rays, blood work may all be indicated, also ultrasound. I hope Harry does well

Hello and thank you for reaching out about your cat. The most common causes for coughing in a cat of his age are: heart disease and bronchitis/asthma. Other, but less likely causes: infection or parasite. When a cat is coughing it is very important to get him to the vet so a doctor can listen to his heart and lungs and take an xray. This will help to determine which medication(s) would be best to treat his cough. Thank you.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Breathing issues can be a sign of many conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, heart disease, asthma, among many other possibilities. This could certainly be due to asthma which is not treated with antibiotics but rather it is treated with steroids and other medications. Since he has not improved, I recommend that you have Oscar reevaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Likely diagnostics to be performed include thoracic radiographs and bloodwork. Treatment would be dependent on findings. Good luck and have a good night!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Coughing can be a sign of many conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, heart disease, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Wolfgang evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Likely diagnostics to be performed include thoracic radiographs and bloodwork. Treatment would be dependent on findings. Good luck and have a good night!

I'd be concerned that Sock may have feline asthma. It would be worth a trip to the veterinarian to have X-rays done again on Sock to look for asthmatic changes. Asthma in cats is fairly common and can be treated with both inhalant medication and oral medications. An Aerokat inhaler can be ordered to help administer inhalant medications if necessary. Your veterinarian can also ensure that Sock is not experiencing another upper respiratory infection. I'd also recommend eliminating the use of perfumed cleaners, or perfumed or dusty litter types as these things can aggravate airway disease in cats. Try to change air filters regularly and use an air purifier to cut down on allergens. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’m sorry to hear Lil Man isn’t feeling well. Coughing is usually a sign of respiratory disease and that is very concerning in a cat. There could be a problem in the lungs like fluid build up or asthma or a problem with the heart like heartworms or something congenital. There are many different possibilities and without seeing him it’s hard to say what the cause is. I recommend taking Lil Man to a vet right away for an exam and possible xrays and blood work. Try not to stress him out while transporting him because this could make him worse. Put him in a carrier and cover it with a blanket. Good luck and kisses to Lil Man!