Page 233 - Feline diagnostic imaging

236 13 Acquired Heart Disease

(a) (b)

(c)

Figure 13.33 A 12-year-old Maine Coon presented for inability to use his rear limbs since the morning. Thoracic lateral (a) and
ventrodorsal (b) radiographic images show an enlarged cardiac silhouette. There is a diffuse interstitial lung pattern. Increased echoes
are noted within the enlarged left atrium (c).

13.15 Right Heart Compromise leads to signs of right heart failure. In a review of 83 cats,
Secondary to Pericardial Effusion/ pericardial effusion was found secondary to cardiac fail­
Pleural Effusion ure in the majority of cats, with the most frequent cause
(Figures 13.38–13.42) being decompensated HCM. In the 44 cats diagnosed
antemortem, the reported clinical signs were predomi­
Cats with pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade nantly associated with tachypnea, increased respiratory
typically present with clinical signs of respiratory dis­ effort, and cough. Neoplasia due to lymphosarcoma, thy­
ease, not ascites like dogs, although abdominal effusion moma, and mesothelioma were the next most common
has been reported in 30% of cats on necropsy with peri­ diagnoses found antemortem. The last group of cats
cardial effusion. Similar to dogs, cardiac tamponade identified antemortem had pathologies including feline