My 9-month kitten: red gums, tired, breathing hard. What's wrong?

Question

I have a 9month old kitten and she formed a red line on the gumline right under the teeth. I got the kitten at about 2-3 months when she ran into my house. I did the shots at 2-3 months for FELV/FIV. About two months ago she had fleas which I got rid off with medicine. She is mostly an indoor cat. She has been more tired lately and starts breathig hard after playing with her for a short time. Could it be hemobartonella(because of flees) and leukemia (weak immune system? Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 8 lbs

Joy Fuhrman, DVM, MBA, CPA · Accepted Answer

While lethargy and heavy breathing after exercise are possible clinical signs of both these diseases, the only way to know for sure if Tesla has one of these diseases is to have your veterinarian test her. Both are a simple blood test that can usually be done in the clinic. Mycoplasma haemofelis (formerly Haemobartonella felis) can cause inflammation of the gums, however it is not commonly transmitted by fleas. There are also many other infectious diseases of cats that can cause heavy breathing as can other diseases including feline asthma, heartworms or even congenital heart defects. A red line on the gums can be due to dental disease (less likely in a young cat) or stomatitis. Your veterinarian will be able to examine Tesla for any additional clinical signs, perform testing to rule out infectious disease processes and prescribe necessary treatment.

My 9-month kitten: red gums, tired, breathing hard. What's wrong?

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