Why does my cat have shortness of breath all of a sudden?

Question

I gave him a deworming pill (mixed w/peanut butter). Now he is sluggish, and has shortness of breath, and is breathing very fast. Could the peanut butter have harmed him? He has never acted this way, so I'm scared. It's 1:22 a.m and can't go to vet. Could the worms be hurting him or eating away at him? I gave him a lil Pedialite for nutrients. He is responsive to his name, and still licking, just breathing quickly and sluggish. Please help!!

Answer 1

Get in your phone book and find a after hours vet. That or call your vet, usually they have an answering service or a message that will tell you where to go for an emergency. If that doesn't work, start calling every vet in town. I can garuntee that one has an emergency service. Just get your cat to a vet NOW!

Answer 2

Why are you asking us morons and not taking that cat to an all night ER vet?? Of course something is wrong!! and anytime a pet has shortness of breath, you should suspect heart disease. What the hell is wrong with you people doing all this home-style vet care? Your vet doesn't come over & do your housework, so why are you acting like the expert & medicating your cat?? These so called "deworming" pills sold at grocery &/or pet stores are harmful and often contain arsenic to kill the worms & usually the pet in the process. Call your vet; someone should be on call. Keep calling; you've got a real emergency on your hands.

Answer 3

My cat (as well as a friend's cat) is allergic to many vet medicines. SO I keep her in the house. She is very sensitive and gets sore throats and shortness of breath from time to time. I am certaint she has some form of kitty athsma.

You should contact your vet right away. If you cant get a hold of anyone right away...what I have done is used a child's medicine syringe...a shoot just a little water down her throat...
I have also used this trick to feed her...because she wont eat whens sick...and I use blended soft cat food with water...or baby food.

Answer 4

i'm assuming you gave him a deworming pill you found at a petstore. for one, duh. and two how do you know what kind of worms your cat has? the pill probably shouldn't have been given to a cat anyway. you should be scared, i bet the petstore that sold you this wonderful item won't answer your phone calls either. call a local vet they will have an emergency number or one of them should. call that number and get off of here. your cat has shortness of breath because your cat can't breath. call a vet. unlike petstores who will sell you crap, most vets will get up out of bed and deal with people who can't read and try to be cheap and now have an emergency at 2am. once you get ahold of your vet, thank them, buy them goodies, because no one else would help you.

Answer 5

Cats can be allergic to peanuts to you know. I think you should take him to the vet. Try rubbing the underneath of his neck. This will make him feel like he needs to swollow. Worms shouldnt effect his breathing, only make him go to the toilet, runny and yukki at most. Watch him carefully. But please get help if his condition changes... .good luck xoox

Answer 6

call an emergency vet, your cat is in serious trouble. Cat's have 4 times the lung capacity they need so if they are having trouble breathing, things are very bad.

Answer 7

Your cat sounds like he may be choking. Try hitting him right at the neck slowly and softly. Or open his mouth and check to see if any thing is lodged in his throat.

Answer 8

~Your cat is having an allergic reaction to the pill.~

Answer 9

it happens when they start smoking, I have the same problem