The respiratory system should always be assessed first in any emergency. Avoiding stress in the dyspneic patient is crucial. Oxygen cages can be useful in implementing a phase therapy approach; oxygen masks or nasal oxygen can be more effective in supplying oxygen but patient restraint alone can cause a cat to arrest if also struggling to breathe. Minimal restraint and avoiding head and neck manipulation is critical in respiratory diseases. Venipuncture, rectal temperature, and IV catheterization should not be attempted without first allowing the patient to acclimate to its surroundings and breathe more easily, if time allows.
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