Breathing Rate Apps-Use For Pets or Humans

Someone said they use a breathing app to count breathing rates. I found there are quite a few different apps out there that might help you count and track the rate. You can also use the clock/timer on your phone. I simply watch my second hand on my watch-something anyone over 45ish likely still uses. (Or older??)

One thing I may not have mentioned-when counting the breathing rate you are ALSO looking for the difference between a fast rate and a fast rate that includes a PUSHING out by the chest (and for a cat it's really the entire chest/abdomen area that moves.) A PUSH indicates the body is having a difficult time getting oxygen into the lungs; it's trying to get oxygen and cannot. That indicates there is CHF and the cat needs the vet/ER vet now (although surprisingly when Katharine got sick a few months ago, it wasn't CHF but simply a respiratory infection that caused the PUSH which we had not seen in our non HCM cats before.) You'd want to give a diuretic but also leave for the ER and oxygen.

Here are a few. I'm sure there are more. Find these apps at Apple or Google or wherever you go for apps. I have no information on costs or ease of use but a pet owner said they use SRR and like it.

RRate, SRR Counter for Dogs and Cats, Medtimer, TapRate, Respi-Rate, Breath Counter.

Breathing Rates-How to Count; Why it Matters; Bette Update

Let's talk breathing rate. It's important that you monitor your cat's breathing rate many times a day. An HCM cat may be fine one minute, and then suddenly go into CHF. How do you know? Count the breathing rate. I tell you to count in 15 seconds because it's easier to watch the cat and your watch. But the breathing rate is really counted as a "minute". So, take 15 seconds and times it by four for a minute rate. But 15 seconds is a good way to start. How many up and down chest movements in 15 seconds? One up and down is ONE COUNT. 6 at rest is great. The cat is fine. 8 at rest and the cat may be heading into CHF. 10 or more and the cat likely has CHF and needs another dose of diuretic if you have it, or a trip to the vet or ER vet. What I like to do is count the rate; let the cat sit for a minute; then count again. Is the rate increasing? Slowing? Staying the same? Try again. Then decide.

Normal cats have a fluctuating rate while at rest, watching birds, listening to noise, preparing to eat, etc. But normal cats can have a sustained rate and tolerate it because it will decline. But HCM cats don't have that luxury because it likely indicates CHF. What is CHF? Congestive heart failure-when the heart is too enlarged to take IN all of the blood/fluid circulating and the rest falls into the lungs. This is PULMONARY EDEMA and can only be gotten rid of with a DIURETIC like furosemide. The other issue can be PLEURAL EFFUSION when fluid builds up AROUND the lungs. This can only be gotten rid of with a needle extraction by the vet AND a diuretic.

Both conditions of CHF will also need oxygen from the vet. WHY? Because fluid in the lungs prevents the blood that passes from the heart INTO the lungs from getting oxygen from the lungs and moving on to the brain, organs, body, etc. This leads to a decrease in organ function, a decrease in the body's ability to handle the disease or to properly function.

CHF is also a DROWNING IN THE LUNGS, when a cat cannot breathe, not simply a cold or simple congestion as humans can get. (Humans can die of CHF but often humans think of CHF in cats/dogs as a cold. It is not.)

If you have diuretic on hand, if the cat is on a regular dose (typically it calls for a maintenance dose of 2.5-5mg twice or more a day as needed for example) you should give the cat another dose if you suspect CHF. 2.5-5 is a good start. Wait about 20 minutes for it to kick in and continue to monitor. Don't hesitate to go to the vet/ER vet for oxygen and injected diuretic if the cat does not improve. Time is of the essence.

AND since it's winter and recently severely cold, remember to keep your cats inside; keep them warm, not hot; keep them out of opened windows even if it is warm where you are. Too much cold or humidity (and windows get a lot of cold air blasting through, or the sun overheating them) can bring on CHF. Stress-noise, car rides, visitors, construction noise-can cause stress. Try to keep them calm and remove them from the stress if possible (another room?) or monitor as always.

If your cat is not already on diuretics, ask the vet why and ask for a prescription so that you have them on hand when the time comes. You want to stay AHEAD of the issue, not try to fight it AFTER it has arrived. Katharine-our latest HCM-is not on them yet but I do have new pills on hand just in case.

Good luck!

Bette: tail straight up, jumping up and running around since her post Christmas/January illness. We are titrating down the steroid and will continue to monitor in case it returns.

Katharine is doing better. When she gets her pill, within 15 minutes, she slows down into a trance like state which lasts about 15 minutes. She's aware but is quiet and usually lays down. Then she slowly comes around to a more normal activity level within two hours. That's how it worked last night and this morning.

Her spinal tap is also clear. So, she will have a gastro echo next week, continue phenobarbital, and we'll see how she does.

Yesterday, after coming home from the ER, she was very hyper despite her med and needed me to be with her, to pay attention, to pet her, to reassure her, etc. And she was always vocal. When I moved from room to room, she followed and was very vocal. Once she fell asleep, if I moved, it would disturb her and she would start the crying/pet me process all over. She finally fell asleep around 1. Then I did around 2. When I woke up at 3, she followed me to the other room until she finally settled down. She was also more steady on her feet and could jump up and down more easily. I felt reassured enough to leave the house for a couple hours of shopping. She was in the window seat in the bedroom when I left and was not anxious (I could see her from outside.) She was calm when I returned. And she was calm last night.

I kept her isolated upstairs during the day, although she had the full run of the second floor. I let her downstairs in the evening but only to the living room. This morning I let her downstairs. I wiped her down with a wet wipe so that she wouldn't smell like the ER.

That vet smell doesn't bother her sisters but it bothers Jimmy. He growls, hisses, sniffs the trail like a dog and howls if it's too strong. Those smells have always bothered him. He has in the past, acted like this when I brought Myrna home from the vet (and she went so frequently that it became a huge issue that we had to mitigate when we returned home.) We quickly learned to not go too far into the house with our shoes on and to take them off at the door. Nor could we set down the crate. I would release Myrna into the front hall and set down the crate and close the door. Then I would clean the floor with cleanser where I first came in and wipe off my shoes as well. Then I would clean the crate and wipe down Myrna. She would be isolated for a couple of hours or so until she smelled like home. Jimmy would still sniff and hiss but then he would quickly lose the trail of strange scent. If I was successful, Myrna would smell neutral and he wouldn't bother her. If I wasn't, he would sniff and hiss at her and swipe. This morning, he sniffed Katharine and looked puzzled, then sniffed the floor where she had walked and followed her trail. Then he gave up, and walked away. When I first brought her home Thursday after the MRI, he was in the front hall and sniffed and hissed and growled at the crate (Katharine was inside) and then ran off, so totally upset.

Myrna is Doing Better Despite Growing Heart Disease Issues-and Vet Now Charges Double for Grooming a Cat

Nineteen days since the cardio thought Myrna didn't have long to live; nine days so far since last tap; energy level fine and plays some; still eating well; urinating well; breathing well and needs extra diuretic on occasion. Things could change at any moment and the moment I relax they will. But I felt comfortable enough in the last few days to schedule the vet visit for Elizabeth we had last Wednesday, and grooming visits today for Baby and Katharine (two very fluffy cats), and some doctor appointments for me (that turned out to be scheduled for later in the month), and I even got out to see a movie-albeit after my husband was home.

As for grooming-the vet suddenly doubled the price for shaving. They now charge "per region" they said. $25 for one cat alone-stomach, rear, legs and tail near rear. For two minutes of work (granted Baby can and was a handful) they want $25 when it was $12. I don't know if that's a normal charge now but it's more than I care to spend.

Myrna

Myrna and Jimmy her brother

Cooper Returns to ER with CHF Almost a Week After Leaving Hospital-Turns Out He Has Rare Disease

Myrna and Cooper were to see cardiologist today-a recheck for Cooper after being in the hospital last Friday night for CHF; and a regular checkup for Myrna.   He had slowly bounced back from being in the ER with CHF last Friday.  He came home Saturday looking miserable and slept in the basement.  But Sunday he was more alert and more social, choosing to sleep in our bed.  He continued to be more social, eat more and more often, and take his heart meds as the week went along.  However, his breathing rate ran 10-14 and continued to be around 12-14 by Wednesday night.  By 1 a.m. the breathing rate was 20 in 15 seconds.  He was breathing very fast but not panting, not looking uncomfortable.  I gave him 10mg lasix. By 1:25 a.m. the rate came down to 15 where it remained until morning.  We decided he wasn't getting better because despite 10mg at 1 a.m. and 10mg at 7:30 a.m., he had only urinated once.  So my husband took him to the cardio's office, which is connected to the ER. They put him on oxygen.  When I took Myrna in for the 3 p.m. appointment, I discussed Cooper with the cardiologist.  He unfortunately, has CHF again and will remain overnight in the ER on oxygen and IV lasix.  

Dr. DeSana did a new echo today.  As reported Friday, he has cardiomyopathy but today she was better able to see the heart.  He does NOT have HCM.  He has a rare disease called Moderator Band Cardiomyopathy.  There is NO clot nor thickened section of a valve wall. What he has are bands of muscle tissue that connect themselves to sections in a chamber of the heart.  They don't belong there.  They are restricting blood flow and ability of the valve to work. The connective bands make it look as if the chamber is segmented when it's not.  I need to research this more.  But here are some links:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6211423

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16861023

He's not in danger of having heart failure any time soon. He has NO clot which is great news. He is at risk-as are all cardio patients-of getting clots, arrhythmias, low or high blood pressure, and congestion, which he is battling now. 

She said his lungs are worse with congestion than Myrna's have ever been.  And she fainted and had trouble breathing, and was in pain and lethargic when she had CHF. Cooper has not fainted, grown weak or lethargic, or looked in great pain and discomfort. We don't know why he has congestion.  It could be that his lungs were not that clear when they released him Saturday. They listened to his lungs but did not take new films. LESSON LEARNED:  if fighting congestion, always get new xrays taken when you think the lungs sound clear to make sure they are clear. 

The problem is that he's not responding well to lasix.  His kidneys are perfect. The blood values are fine; he concentrates urine; his specific gravity is normal.  And strangely enough, he's actually dehydrated!  The only fluid in his body is in his lungs.  But for some reason, the lasix isn't causing the body to send fluid to the kidneys to be excreted as quickly as it should, certainly not as quickly as it works for Myrna.  The vet will now be more aggressive.  He will receive IV lasix tonight in the ER.  

His breathing rate at noon was 72; by 4 p.m. it was down to 42-better.  He was able to come out of oxygen to get an echo without collapsing or without an increase in breathing rate which is good news.

At home, we will use higher doses or dose more often of lasix.  We may need to do injections, supplies we still have for Myrna.  

His condition is very odd.  It's also very rare. It's the first case the cardio has ever seen.  She read about it in vet school but has not treated a case. The cause is unknown.  The research mostly believes that the condition is congenital (unless there's new research) because most cases have occurred in cats that had not had heart echos when the hearts were healthy, prior to being diagnosed. So, researchers assumed the condition was always present when it might not have been.  When he ever does pass away (and he's not expected to any time soon) we will donate his heart to research and the vet may write a paper on it.  

Since the condition is rare, treatment with medications and effects or symptoms of the disease are not well known.   Lasix is needed for sure.  For him, right now, an ACE inhibitor or a beta blocker are not recommended because his heart rate is high, blood pressure is low, and contractility is weak.   She does want to put him on Vetmedin a.k.a. Pimobedan to improve heart contractility.  

She also suggested seeing a holistic vet.  He apparently is very good with difficult cases. I'll look into it.

Cooper will hopefully come home in the morning.  She will call after 9 a.m.  By the way, Cooper looks pissed off in the cage today.  And he hisses whenever the vets or techs open the cage for anything.  He only hisses at home at the other cats, never at us or visitors. (But he always hides from visitors.)

 

Cooper

Cooper Tuesday-Recovering from CHF But Breathing Rate is Still High

Cooper is perking up. He's more alert and eating more. He actually looks healthy again. We are giving tuna juice/kitten formula/homemade chicken broth (not mixed together but choosing 1 or 2 of them each time) by mouth 3-6 ml total with every meal and in between meals. He's eating some wet, and tuna, and kitten dry food at each meal. We feed him twice in the morning, at lunch, when my husband comes home, and in the evening, and at bedtime Not sure if the lasix is working enough. We've given extra at times but his breathing rate hasn't improved. It seemed better by Sunday but yesterday, Tuesday, it was about 14 in 15 seconds so around 60 per minute. If this were Myrna, that would be WAY too high. But he's up and about and the breathing isn't labored and it goes down to 12 and up to 14 when he's moving about. We see the cardiologist tomorrow so we'll see what she says then. It could be that he has no congestion but another issue.

Myrna's Breathing at 8 Sunday Afternoon After Extra Lasix; More Lasix Monday Given; Video Available

Myrna received  about 3 mg more of lasix about 11:30 a.m. Sunday because her breathing was at 10 at rest.  By 1 it was down to 8.  That's 8 breathing beats per 15 seconds or 32 breathing rate in a minute.  So it finally came down from 48 Saturday night to 40 Sunday morning, to 32 Sunday afternoon.

It has remained steady since.  She is to receive 3mg more of lasix twice a day all this week to make sure the congestion won't return.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBJepQx1kqs

Check out today's video of Myrna.

How Important Is Breathing Rate for HCM Cats? VERY!

Breathing questions have come up recently. Breathing is one HUGE clue as to how our cats are doing. We must pay close attention to what is their normal daily way of looking and acting so that we know when they are "off". 

To count rate: how many up/downs chest movements (one up/down is one count) in 15 secs. x 4=rate per minute.  6 in 15 secs is normal.  8-10 is not and might warrant a vet visit.

Breathing fast and it never slows down even when they are at rest? You have a problem. Looking uncomfortable while breathing fast? You have a problem. Acting normal one minute then breathing fast for a minute then slowing down and breathing like the rest of the cats? Probably just being a regular cat and there's no problem. Did you take the cat to the vet yesterday or last week and things were fine but today they might not be? YES-I've been there with Myrna and yes you have a problem.

How you solve the problem depends on the cat and your experience with the cat: cat just today or maybe it began yesterday and today is beginning to breathe fast more often? Give a dose or a smaller than regular dose of lasix once and see if cat improves. If a pattern develops that every few days or every day an extra dose is needed, a call to the vet to discuss changing dosing schedule or amount is needed. And a vet visit might be warranted if after two days of dosing (or even just one) the cat keeps breathing fast. An extra dose doesn't help? Off to the vet or ER for sure for a visit.

And remember that if you can find a cardiologist and the person is nearby enough (one hour or less drive perhaps) the cat should always see the cardio before the regular vet. The cat should always see the cardio for heart check-ups as cardios know hearts best. But everyone's situation is different. Not every cardio is local or close enough. We're lucky that Myrna's cardio is 40 min. away. They are connected to an ER and when Myrna's had CHF, I've rushed her there. We have taken her to a local ER when it was very late at night. Then later, she saw the cardio.

Get to know your cat and watch it and when you see changes, they more than likely warrant a vet visit.

Over a Week and Myrna Doesn't Need Extra Lasix So Far

Well, while anything can dramatically change at any time, I'd like to report that it's been over a week since Myrna Loy needed extra lasix last Friday, after spending the previous two weeks needing it every three days. Not sure why or what but I'm sure she did and now I'm sure she doesn't. She's breathing very well-down 28 to 32 instead of around 40 breathing rate; she's engaged, energetic, alert and not exhausted and out of it.   In order to know how our cats feel physically and how they are doing, we must become attuned with their emotions, looks on their faces, actions, physical stamina, etc. in order to gage even the subtle changes from not just day to day but moment to moment.

Of course I love analyzing Myrna's every move which drives my husband crazy: Me-"I don't think the cat (insert cat name here) is feeling well. See how she's sitting/didn't eat all her lunch/see how she furors her brow/she's not playing with her favorite toy today." Husband: THEY'RE NOT SICK!

Myrna Not Feeling Well, Breathing Rate High, Low Energy

Wednesday, Myrna seemed fine and was a little low on energy but still active and breathing well. On Thursday, she was really exhausted after breakfast, had no energy, and was not interested in litter box treat time with waffles.  (She loves waffles and gets tiny bites when we want to encourage her to use the litter box.)  She curled up and slept all morning.  Her breathing rate was up around 8 breaths per 15 seconds and slowly crept up to 9 and then 10.  By 2:30 p.m., she was around 10 and 11 and had no energy, hadn't played, and other than to eat and use the litter box, did not get up from sleeping.  

I gave her extra 1/8 tab of lasix and called the cardiologist.  I wasn't sure if I should bring her in or how long to watch and wait.  The vet said to watch and wait, give more lasix later, and call her in the morning.  We gave extra lasix at bedtime.  By late in the evening (before the bedtime dose) her breathing rate had returned to 9 breaths per 15 seconds.  

This morning, Myrna is still tired but more alert, a bit more energy, and breathing well at around 8 breaths.  I called the vet to give an update and she said that Myrna should from now on be given 1/4 lasix q 6 hrs.  (every six hours.)   So, for now that means giving an extra dose at bedtime which makes dosing lasix almost a perfect six hours.  I might have to actually do on the clock six hours such as 6 a.m., noon, 6 p.m., midnight.  The trick is when we start the med in the morning.  Myrna hates taking meds in the a.m. and always hides.  Getting her to swallow isn't the problem.  Catching her, cajoling her, tricking her into being picked up is the problem.  For as sick as she is, she is also the quickest cat in the house.  

What's Normal in Your Cat-Blood, Temp, etc.

http://www.cat-world.com.au/cat-facts-a-normal-vital-signs


I've posted here before about what breathing rate, temperature, blood panels ranges are normal for cats and that we need to understand and to learn them.  Here's another site (also posted to Facebook) that can help you learn more about your cat.  Take a look.