Below, you will find links with information on the most common heart diseases
To the right, you will find links with information on the most common heart diseases
Pets with heart disease can be at risk for developing trouble breathing. Often, the first sign of worsening heart disease is an increase in the home breathing rate. Please see below for a guide
When your pet is sleeping or resting comfortably, watch the chest rise and fall. One rise and fall is one breath. Count the number your pet takes in a full minute (or you can do 30 seconds and multiply by 2). This is equal to the respiratory rate.
Every pet has their own normal, but every pet should be less than 40 (ideally less than 30). There is no such thing as too low/slow, we only care about too high/fast. If your pet is breathing faster than 40 breaths per minute, please contact a veterinarian.
Check these videos for examples of counting a cat’s breathing rate.
This cat’s breathing rate is approximately 36 breaths per minute (bpm). His chest barely rises and falls. He is lying with front legs crossed and appears comfortable.
This is the same cat with fluid in his lungs. His breathing rate is approximately 80bpm. His eyes are wide, his belly is moving significantly with each breath, and his arms are stretched out to open his chest. This is a medical emergency.