Reply To: Acute dyspnoea and small stature in a domestic shorthair cat

I might give it some butorphanol if anxious.
I would perform a thoracic POCUS examination – looking for pleural effusion, evidence of B-lines and to check cardiac structure and function. You might also be able to see any evidence of herniation.
Check BP
Check an ECG
Bloods inc electrolytes
More imaging if stable enough and nothing obvious on POCUS examination

(the cardiologist’s perspective)