Page 38 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

30 PART 1 CAT WITH UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT SIGNS

Clinical signs Stertorous respiration (snoring) or stridor (whistling
noise) may be evident, and results from partial nasal
Chlamydophilia and mycoplasma infection may result in
obstruction. Dyspnea may occur, particularly when the
chronic mucopurulent ocular and nasal discharge.
cat is stressed.
Typically there is chronic conjunctivitis. Follicular
Retching or gagging may occur on eating.
hyperplasia of lymphoid tissue in the conjunctiva and
nictitating membrane is often visible as multiple, small No or minimal nasal discharge is present.
white nodules.
Chronic sneezing may occur.
Diagnosis

Diagnosis With the cat under general anesthesia, visualize the
stenosis with a dental mirror. Pull the soft palate ros-
A presumptive diagnosis is often made based on
trally for an improved view.
signs. A definitive diagnosis is based on identification
● Stenosis is visible as a pin-point opening in the
of the organism.
nasopharynx. The normal opening is approxi-
● Examine a stained (e.g. Diff-Quick) preparation of
mately 5 mm in diameter.
a conjunctival scraping or smear obtained with a
dry cotton bud. Chlamydophila felis infection is Radiographs are generally normal.
associated with inclusion bodies in epithelial cells
but they are difficult to identify in chronic disease. NASOPHARYNGEAL POLYP
Mycoplasma is seen as clusters of coccoid or coc-
cobacillary organisms in the periphery of epithe-
Classical signs
lium cells.
● Stertorous respiration from nasal area, or
Antibody-based detection in conjunctival scrapings
dyspnea.
using ELISA or latex agglutination may be useful for
● ± Nasal discharge.
Chlamydophila felis, but false positives occur with
both tests if many bacteria are present.
See main reference on page 37 for details (The Cat
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and IFA tech- With Stridor).
niques for detection of the organisms are also available
from some laboratories. Clinical signs

Stertorous respiration is audible from the nasal area.
If the obstruction is severe, there may be dyspnea, and
NASOPHARYNGEAL STENOSIS
open mouth breathing may occur with stress.
Classical signs There may be no nasal discharge, or a mucopurulent
discharge may be evident.
● Stertorous respiration from nasal area,
± dyspnea. Discharge from ear and signs of otitis media may also
● No nasal discharge. be present.

See main reference on page 38 for details (The Cat Diagnosis
With Stridor).
With the cat under general anesthesia, visualize the
polyp directly or with a dental mirror. Pull the soft
Clinical signs
palate rostrally for an improved view. The rostral soft
Chronic snuffling is typically present for 3 months to palate may bulge down into the oral cavity with pres-
2 years. sure from the polyp.