Chapter 34 - Feline lower airway disease

Question 1

What is the differentials for feline lower airway disease?

Answer 1

• Feline lower airway disease (= asthma, chronic bronchitis)
• Heartworm-associated respiratory disease
• Lungworms
• Toxocara cati infection

Question 2

What are the primary components of initial stabilization?

Answer 2

• Oxygen supplementation
• Sedation
• +/- bronchodilator

Question 3

What are the indicators of bronchoconstriction?

Answer 3

Wheezing, expiratory distress, significant abdominal push

Question 4

What are the bronchodilators?

Answer 4

• Beta-2 adrenergic agonists (ex. albuterol, terbutaline)

- Anticholinergic drugs (ex. ipratropium bromide)

Question 5

What are the radiographic findings in cats with feline asthma?

Answer 5

• Bronchial or bronchointerstitial pattern or no changes

- Possible flattening of the diaphragm which could suggest air trapping and lung collapse

Question 6

What are the findings on BAL cytology in case of asthma? in case of chronic bronchitis? lungworm disease? heartworm disease?

Answer 6

• Asthma: eosinophilic airway inflammation, possibly neutrophilic in case of chronic inflammation
• Chronic bronchitis: non-degenerate neutrophilic airway inflammation, excess mucus production
• Lungworm disease and heartworm disease: eosinophilic inflammation

Question 7

What are the lungworms identified in cats?

Answer 7

• Aelurostrongylus abstrusus
• Capillaria aerophila
• Troglostrongylus brevior

Question 8

What is the diagnostic of choice for lungworm?

Answer 8

Analysis of feces by the Baermann technique (repeated 3 times if the test is negative for optimal sensitivity)

Question 9

What percentage of symptomatic cats with heartworm disease will be seropositive?

Answer 9

13.3 - 44%