Breathe Easy: Recognition, Diagnostics, and Treatment of the Respiratory Distress Patient (NYVET2025)

Presented by: Erik Zager

Respiratory distress is one of the most urgent and high-stakes presentations in veterinary emergency medicine. Successful management begins with rapid recognition and safe diagnostics, followed by timely, targeted interventions. This lecture equips clinicians with the skills to identify and localize the source of respiratory distress in dogs and cats through physical exam findings, pattern recognition, diagnostics such as imaging and blood gas analysis—all while minimizing patient stress. We’ll then transition to treatment and oxygen supplementation strategies. Condition-specific therapies for asthma, laryngeal paralysis, pulmonary edema, and pleural effusion will be reviewed, with practical stepwise algorithms to guide decision-making. Attendees will leave with the confidence to move seamlessly from recognition to intervention, ensuring the best chance of survival for their patients.