Feline Lower Airway Disease Flashcards
Which cats are commonly affected by feline asthma?
Young to middle ages cats but can be any age
If older cat be suspicious for:
* Hyperthyroidism
* Neoplasia
* Cardiac disease
Infectious causes of lower airway disease
Viral
Parasitic
Mycoplasma
Toxoplasma
(Bacterial is relatively uncommon)
Clinical history of feline asthma
Usually low grade chronic disease
* Coughing
* Wheezing
* Exercise intolerance
Can be very acute presentation (emergency)
* Dyspnoea
* Mouth breathing
* Tachypnoea
Episodic respiratory distress (paroxysmal
Why can a chronic disease such as feline asthma have acute presentation (emergency)
Cats are every good at masking clinical signs so don’t see until they are overwhelmed
URT disease physical exam
Laboured slow inspiration
Stridor (high wheezing)
Change in purr/vocalisation
ysphagia +/- salivation
Coughing/gagging
‘head shaking’ - nasal disease?
LRT disease exam
Laboured longer expiration
Expiratory push
Audible expiratory wheeze - due to bronchospasm, mucus, bronchial wall thickening
+/- paroxysmal cough
What is feline asthma?
Acute presentation
Reversible
Inhaled allergen
Airway hyperreactivity
Bronchoconstriction
What is chronic bronchitis
Response to infection or inhaled irritants
Airway damage
Excess mucus
Differences between feline asthma and chronic bronchitis
Aetiology different
Presentation and treatment the same
Pathogenesis of feline lower airway disease
- Hyper-reactivity of bronchial smooth muscle
○ Type I hypersensitivity
○ Autonomic imbalance
○ Mucociliary imbalance - Acute bronchoconstriction in response to trigger
- Inflammation of bronchial mucosal lining
○ Histamine and leukotriene release - Airway obstruction occurs due to:
○ Bronchoconstriction
○ Inflammation
○ Mucus plugs in narrowed bronchioles - Air trapping -> destruction of alveoli
- End result is chronic damage
○ Irreversible situation due to remodelling
○ May see spontaneous rib fractures FROM COUGHING - Extreme acute deterioration
○ Rare cases develop pneumothorax
Differential diagnoses for tachypnoea
○ Stress/pain/fear response
○ CNS disease
○ Anaemia/hypovolaemia
○ Heatstroke
○ Cardiac disease
○ Respiratory disease
Airways or parenchyma
○ Pleural space disease
○ Mediastinal disease
○ Ruptured diaphragm/hernia
Diagnostic methods
Haematology and biochemistry
Thoracic radiography
THoracic ultrasound
CT
Faecal analysis for parasites
Bronchoscopy (CAREFUL)
Which is the most likely parasite in a cat
Aleurostrongylus abstrussis
Why would we not do a trans tracheal wash in a cat?
Tracheas are too narrow
Name some bronchodilators
Terbutaline
Salbutamol
