Page 274 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

266 PART 5 CAT WITH ACUTE ILLNESS

● Anorexia may also be due to pseudoanorexia and
DISEASES CAUSING ACUTE
physiologic anorexia.
DEPRESSION, ANOREXIA OR
– In pseudoanorexia the animal has a normal
DEHYDRATION
appetite but is reluctant to eat because of oral
pain. (If there is a non-painful disorder of pre-
hension, the presenting complaint will be dys- TRAUMA***
phagia not anorexia.)
– In physiologic anorexia the animal is satiated
Classical signs
after eating. This may mimic true anorexia if the
animal has an unknown source of food. ● Shorn nails, dirty haircoat, dyspnea, pale
mucous membranes, weak pulses,
Dehydration refers to a reduction in body water other
lameness or inability to walk.
than that present in the transcellular compartment
● Fractured mandible, broken canine teeth,
(third space, i.e. the gastrointestinal tract, pleural cav-
scleral hemorrhages, neurologic signs
ity and peritoneal cavity). It occurs when the animal
(head trauma).
does not drink and absorb sufficient quantities of
water to replace physiologic or pathologic losses.
Thirst may be reduced by analogous mechanisms that
Clinical signs
reduce appetite.
Cats with generalized trauma may be depressed and
WHERE? anorexic for a number of reasons including shock,
hypovolemia, dyspnea, pain from soft tissue contusions
Disorders of any organ system may cause acute and fractures, herniations and concussion.
depression, anorexia or dehydration. The focus of this
Pseudoanorexia may occur from fractures of the jaw
chapter is diseases where the owner complaint is typi-
and teeth and lacerations to the tongue.
cally that the cat is suddenly quiet and/or refusing to eat
or drink. Specific signs are often not reported and are
not obvious on physical examination. Meticulous and
Diagnosis
repetitive history-taking and physical examinations may
be needed to detect subtle signs and development of new External signs of trauma are not always obvious.
signs as the disease progresses. Laboratory assessment Although shorn nails are usually evident, this sign may
and imaging are often required to establish a diagnosis. be absent. For example, nails may not be shorn on ice
Acute pyrexia and acute anemia as causes of depression, following motor vehicle trauma in the winter. Subtle
anorexia and dehydration are discussed in The Pyrexic signs of trauma include dried blood around the external
Cat (page 364) and The Anemic Cat (page 526). The nares, blood against the tympanic membranes, bite
reader should also refer to The Cat With Stupor or wounds or lacerations to the ventral surface of the
Coma (page 821), The Cat With Seizures, Circling tongue, and pain on palpation of the pelvis of a cat with
and/or Changed Behavior (page 795), and The Cat With normal ambulation.
Generalized Weakness (page 941). In the absence of a
specific diagnosis, treatment should be supportive.
Differential diagnosis
WHAT? Other causes of acute depression.

The focus of this chapter is diseases of acute onset, as
opposed to acute exacerbation of chronic diseases. In
Treatment
most cases the cat will be in good body condition.
Intravenous fluids and transfusions to treat hypov-
The most common causes of acute depression, anorexia
olemia.
and dehydration without other more specific signs are
pancreatitis, hepatopathies and poisoning. Surgical and conservative management of injuries.