Page 118 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

110 PART 2 CAT WITH LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT OR CARDIAC SIGNS

continued

NEOPLASTIC
● Heart base tumors (p 113)
Muffled heart and lung sounds, pleural effusion and ascites.
INFECTIOUS (PARASITIC)
● Dirofilariasis** (p 112)
Most cats are asymptomatic, others may have non-specific signs of cough, lethargy, anorexia.
Sudden death may occur.
IDIOPATHIC
● Cardiomyopathy*** (p 112)
Dyspnea and tachypnea and cats with arterial thromboembolism may present with posterior paresis.
WHERE? – RESPIRATORY HYPOXIA
ANOMALY
● Diaphragmatic hernia (p 115)
Usually occurs following trauma, but may be congenital. Clinical signs of dyspnea and tachypnea
may be present early in life or may not occur for years. Vomiting, regurgitation or inappetence
may also occur.
MECHANICAL
● Airway obstruction (p 117)
Acute onset of inspiratory dyspnea and cough occur with foreign bodies lodged in airways.
Coughing and wheezing occur when the obstruction is due to bronchoconstriction.
● Pleural effusion/pneumothorax*** (p 114)
Multiple causes of pleural effusion, both cardiac and non-cardiac, result in dyspnea and tachypnea.
Inappetence, weight loss and pyrexia may occur depending on the cause.
● Pulmonary thromboembolism associated with heartworm disease (p 116)
Sudden onset of coughing, dyspnea, pulmonary crackles on ausculation and occasionally hemopt-
ysis. Vomiting may also occur.
NEOPLASTIC
● Cranial mediastinal lymphosarcoma** (p 115)
Dyspnea, tachypnea, regurgitation and reduced compressibility of the cranial thorax may be evi-
dent. Inappetence and weight loss may also occur.
INFLAMMATION (INFECTIOUS)

● Bacterial/viral/fungal/parastitic/protozoal/mycoplasmal
Pneumonia; depression, fever, tachypnea, cough and dyspnea. The cat may also show signs of
upper respiratory tract disease.
INFECTIOUS (IMMUNE)
● Feline bronchopulmonary disease/feline bronchitis complex/feline asthma** (p 114)
Typically, there is wheezing and coughing which may progress to severe dyspnea, open-mouthed
breathing and cyanosis.