Page 122 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

114 PART 2 CAT WITH LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT OR CARDIAC SIGNS

Clinical signs If due to a cranial mediastinal mass it may result in a
non-compressible cranial thorax.
Heart base tumors are rare in cats.
Heart sounds are often muffled associated with a peri- Diagnosis
cardial/pleural effusion.
Thoracic radiograph may show the presence of fluid,
Weakness, dyspnea and tachypnea are often present.
air or a mediastinal or other space-occupying mass.
Ascites is commonly present due to cardiac tamponade.
Thoracocentesis may yield fluid which can be classi-
Edema of the head, neck and forelegs occurs if the fied as transudate, exudate, chylous or hemorrhagic
tumor presses on the cranial vena cava. effusion.
Weight loss may be present. Thoracocentesis may yield air indicative of a pneu-
mothorax.

Diagnosis FELINE BRONCHOPULMONARY
Thoracic radiography may show a rounded cardiac DISEASE/FELINE BRONCHITIS
silhouette and pleural effusion. COMPLEX/FELINE ASTHMA**
Pericardiocentesis, cytological analysis and contrast
Classical signs
pericardiography may help diagnose a heart base tumor.
● Cough.
Echocardiography may enable visualization of the
● Wheeze.
tumor and enable ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspi-
● Severe dyspnea, open-mouthed breathing
rate biopsy of the tumor for histologic analysis.
and cyanosis.
See main reference on page 92 for details (The
RESPIRATORY HYPOXIA
Coughing Cat).
PLEURAL EFFUSION/PNEUMOTHORAX***
Clinical signs
Classical signs Coughing of variable severity is frequently seen as a
result of bronchoconstriction.
● Dyspnea.
● Tachypnea. Dyspnea and tachypnea will appear if there is severe
bronchconstriction or marked cellular infiltration into
See main reference on page 54 for details (The the lung parenchyma.
Dyspneic or Tachypneic Cat).
Dyspnea may be inspiratory or there may be end-
expiratory grunting due to difficulty in expelling air
Clinical signs from the cat’s hyperinflated lungs.
Acute exacerbations may cause severe dyspnea, orthop-
Progressively worsening dyspnea frequently occurs
nea, open-mouth breathing and cyanosis, which may be
with thoracic fluid accumulation.
life-threatening.
Acute dyspnea may occur with traumatic pneumo-
thorax and tension pneumothorax.
Diagnosis
Muffled lung sounds occur due to the presence of tho-
The clinical findings are very supportive of a diagno-
racic fluid.
sis as there are few other clearly recognized causes of
Lung sounds may be inaudible with a pneumothorax. coughing and dyspnea in the cat.