Page 269 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

PART 5

Cat with acute illness

16. The cat with acute depression,

anorexia or dehydration

Anthony Abrams-Ogg

KEY SIGNS
● Acute lethargy, depression or listlessness.
● Acute inappetence or anorexia.
● Dry mucous membranes, skin tenting.

MECHANISM?
● Depression, anorexia and dehydration are non-specific signs that frequently occur together and
accompany most diseases.
● Depression may result from a primary neurologic disorder or be secondary to diseases of
other organs.
● Reduced eating behavior may be due to primary anorexia, secondary anorexia due to an
underlying disorder, pseudoanorexia and physiologic anorexia.
● Dehydration occurs when drinking cannot compensate for water losses.

WHERE?
● Disorders of any organ system may cause acute depression, anorexia or dehydration.

WHAT?
● The most common causes of acute depression, anorexia and dehydration without other more
specific signs are pancreatitis, hepatopathies and poisoning.

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