Gut-Lung Axis in Cats

The gut-lung axis is a crucial bidirectional interaction between intestinal and respiratory microbiota, significantly influencing immune homeostasis. Dysbiosis in these microbial communities has been implicated in various respiratory diseases, including feline asthma. While the gut-lung axis has been extensively studied in humans, its role in feline respiratory pathology remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the gut-lung axis in cats by retrospectively analysing cases of feline respiratory disease with the classification of different patterns, assessing the efficacy of probiotic and nutraceutical interventions, and evaluating their impact on clinical outcomes. Case records of 117 cats diagnosed with respiratory distress from 2020 to 2025 were reviewed retrospectively. Respiratory patterns were classified into five groups: inspiratory, restrictive, obstructive, paradoxical, and panting. Diagnostic evaluation included fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement, thoracic ultrasonography, radiography, and bioresonance analysis. Treatment regimens were individualised based on respiratory pattern classification, incorporating targeted probiotics and nutraceuticals. Statistical analyses, including logistic regression and non-parametric tests, were conducted to assess treatment efficacy. Treatment success varied across respiratory patterns, with the highest response observed in the paradoxical (80%) and obstructive (76.47%) groups, whereas restrictive respiratory patterns exhibited the lowest response rate (62.79%). The presence of multiple B-lines on lung ultrasound, indicative of pulmonary pathology, was significantly associated with restrictive and obstructive breathing patterns ( P =0.001). Post-treatment FeNO reduction correlated with clinical improvement, supporting the role of gut microbiota modulation in respiratory disease management. This study provides novel evidence supporting the gut-lung axis in feline respiratory diseases. Tailored probiotic and nutraceutical interventions demonstrated potential therapeutic benefits, particularly in obstructive and paradoxical respiratory distress cases. Future studies should explore microbiome profiling and mechanistic pathways to further elucidate the interplay between gut and lung health in veterinary medicine.