Dyspneic animals are often as their most fragile immediately following presentation and gentle restraint can prove life threatening.
The stress of life-threatening disease coupled with transport and the unfamiliar surroundings of a noisy emergency clinic should never be underestimated. Consequently, the risks of any manipulation must be carefully weighed against the potential benefits. In a critically dyspneic animal, even a brief major body system evaluation can prove fatal, especially in cats. Successful emergency management of the animal with difficulty breathing demands that the clinician remain acutely aware of the fragility of the dyspneic patient.
