Page 47 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

4 – THE CAT WITH STRIDOR OR STERTOR 39

Examine a stained (e.g. Diff-Quick) preparation of a
FOREIGN BODY (GRASS, GRASS SEED,
conjunctival scraping or smear obtained with a dry cot-
AWN)
ton bud. Chlamydophila felis infection is associated
with inclusion bodies in epithelial cells but they are dif-
Classical signs
ficult to identify in chronic disease. Mycoplasma is seen
as clusters of coccoid or coccobacillary organisms in the ● Acute onset of sneezing and rubbing face,
periphery of epithelium cells. progressing to chronic signs.
● Unilateral discharge.
Antibody-based detection in conjunctival scrapings
● Gagging.
using ELISA or latex agglutination may be useful for
Chlamydophila felis, but false positives occur with
See main reference on page 28 for details (The Cat
both tests if many bacteria are present.
With Signs of Chronic Nasal Disease).
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and IFA techniques
Grass or seeds may occasionally enter the nose of cats.
for detection of the organisms are also available from
Other foreign bodies such as gun pellets are less common.
some laboratories.
Clinical signs
Typically there is an acute onset of sneezing and dis-
ORONASAL FISTULA OR NASAL tress, and rubbing at the face.
FRACTURES FOLLOWING TRAUMA
Signs may progress to chronic gagging, or sneezing and
discharge.
Classical signs
A unilateral serosanguineous discharge is typically
● Chronic snuffling, sneezing, stridor or
present.
stertor and nasal discharge .
● Cleft hard palate (lateral or midline).
Diagnosis
See main reference on page 29 for details (The Cat Visualize foreign body using an otoscope, fiber-optic
With Signs of Chronic Nasal Disease). scope, or with a dental mirror in the nasopharynx. Use a
spay hook to retract the soft palate for better visualization.
Flushing the nose using a naso-esophageal feeding
Clinical signs catheter may remove parts or all of the whole foreign
body for diagnosis.
Typically there is chronic snuffling, sneezing, stridor
or stertor, and nasal discharge in a cat that sustained
THE CAT WITH PHARYNGEAL,
facial injuries in a fall or car accident.
LARYNGEAL OR TRACHEAL STRIDOR
Examination may reveal a split hard palate either OR STERTOR
centrally along the platine symphysis, or laterally
adjacent to the teeth along the maxillary symph-
ysis. CONGENITAL ANOMALIES OF THE UPPER
RESPIRATORY TRACT*
Signs often resolve spontaneously with spontaneous
healing of the cleft or nasal fracture.
Classical signs
● Usually inspiratory and expiratory
dyspnea.
Diagnosis ● Inspiratory dyspnea with both stridor and
stertor occurs with the brachycephalic
Diagnosis is based on a history of trauma, signs of nasal
syndrome.
disease, visual evidence of the cleft and radiography.