My cat has hyperinflated lungs. Is it permanent or treatable?

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!

This sounds like he has an enlarged liver. The liver is near the front of the abdomen and if it enlarges it can cause the symptoms you are describing. It can put pressure on the lungs so they aren’t able to expand normally which can cause difficulty breathing, usually when excited. I would continue with the treatments your veterinarian recommends. An X-ray would show if the liver is enlarged, although there may not be much to do about it with his other medical problems. We do give supplements for the liver but rarely do surgery or other treatments. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Abner.

I recommend to check with the rescue organization if Milo has been checked by the veterinarian. Generally a physical exam and radiographs can give you an idea of lung health. I don't think stress will change his sounds. Things to look for include a worsening of the sounds, open mouth breathing, increased respiratory rate, change in respiratory character, shortness of breath or discharge from the eyes or nose. I hope this helps.

Although pulmonary fibrosis can happen in cats it is not as common as some other conditions and is very difficult to diagnose. There is no xray change that is specific for it and there is much overlap with other disease processes based on symptoms and xray findings. Ultimately it is a diagnosis from lung biopsy which is not typically performed due to the risk. It would also be quite unusual in such a young cat. Are you sure they don't mean feline asthma? If your cat is breathing well with intermittent symptoms this is likely not fibrosis. Unfortunately this site can not be used to provide a diagnosis as that would be illegal without an exam. But, what i would recommend is having good quality chest xrays sent to a radiologist for review. There needs to be 3 views taken and a diagnosis of anything should not be based on 1 image and should also take in to account the symptoms of the pet. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Spas! I am so sorry Spas is so sick! Possible causes are congestive heart failure, pleural effusion (from heart failure, infection, cancer, chyle, blood) or cancer. Has your Vet determined the cause. Cats in heart failure can do well once stable but will need to be on life long medications. Only you know what is best for Spas and your family. If he doesn't start improving where he doesn't need oxygen and is breathing normally with in 2-3 days then it is reasonable to think about stopping. If he responds and is back to normal I would treat him until he has another crisis and then consider stopping. I hope this helps and I wish you and Spas the best!

Yes, wheezing could indeed be a sign of asthma. But it is also possible that she has an upper respiratory infection. Either disease is relatively easy to treat once diagnosed. Your vet will want to do xrays if he suspects asthma. URIs are usually treated with antibiotics. Here is some information of feline asthma: https://www.petcoach.co/article/feline-asthma-a-cause-of-coughing-in-cats/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-feline-asthma/ I suggest you make an appointment for Leo with your vet.

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!