Page 452 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

444 PART 7 SICK CAT WITH SPECIFIC SIGNS

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● Umbilical or inguinal hernia* (p 478)
Owners may misinterpret a change in abdominal contour due to herniation of abdominal fat or
organs as abdominal distention.

METABOLIC
● Obesity*** (p 452)
A round abdominal contour results from excessive intra-abdominal and abdominal subcutaneous fat.

● Pregnancy*** (p 455)
Abdominal distention is usually apparent by the last 2 weeks of gestation.
● Hepatic lipidosis* (p 472)
Ascites (usually transudate or modified transudate) occasionally occurs with hepatic lipidosis.
Abdominal bleeding may occur secondary to coagulopathy.

● Juvenile abdominal fluid** (p 465)
A mild increase in normal peritoneal fluid compared to a mature animal may be encountered during
laparotomy of an immature animal. Fluid is a transudate.
● Hyperadrenocorticism* (p 470)
A pendulous abdomen results from feeble abdominal musculature and increased abdominal fat.

NEOPLASTIC
● Abdominal lymphoma*** (p 458)
Alimentary lymphoma may cause abdominal distention due to marked intestinal thickening,
mesenteric lymphadenopathy or obstructive effusion. Splenic or hepatic lymphoma may sponta-
neously bleed.

● Visceral mast cell tumor** (p 461)
Marked splenic enlargement with a mast cell tumor may cause abdominal distention. Abdominal
mast cell tumors may spontaneously bleed or cause obstructive ascites. Abdominal fluid often con-
tains mast cells.
● Solid tumors*** (p 460)
Hepatic or splenic hemangiosarcoma and other solid tumors may spontaneously bleed. A tumor
may cause portal hypertension. Carcinomatosis may cause obstructive effusion.

● Neoplasia obstructing or compressing lower urinary tract (p 474)
Tumors obstructing or compressing the trigone region of the bladder or the urethra and causing para-
doxical incontinence may cause abdominal distention secondary to marked enlargement of the bladder.
NUTRITIONAL
● Overeating* (p 471)
An unusually large meal may cause transient abdominal distention.
PHYSICAL
● Aerophagia* (p 471)
Dyspneic or tachypneic cats may swallow sufficient air to cause mild abdominal distention.