The Dyspnoeic Cat

Question 1

How can we triage patients with potential respiratory issues?

Answer 1

Assess most life-threatening concerns first e.g. respiratory vs obvious injuries
Respiratory
Cardiovascular - tachycardia, weak pulses?
Neurological - signs of head trauma, abnormal mentation

Question 2

How we can initially examine a dyspnoeic cat?

Answer 2

Observation - rate, effort, pattern
Auscultation
Percussion, cranial rib spring (neoplasia may be palpable)
Assessment of oxygenation

Question 3

What can some observational findings indicate in the dyspnoeic cat?

Answer 3

Inspiratory dyspnoea - dynamic extrathoracic upper airway obstruction
Expiratory dyspnoea - intrathoracic upper airway obstruction, lower airway disease e.g. feline asthma
Rapid shallow/slow laboured breathing - pleural space disease, parenchymal disease
Paradoxical breathing

Question 4

Define adventitious lung sounds.

Answer 4

Abnormal respiratory noises

Question 5

What are some common causes of URT obstruction?

Answer 5

FBs, nasopharyngeal polyps, laryngeal tumours

Question 6

What are some common causes of LRT disease?

Answer 6

Feline asthma
Bronchitis
Bacterial infection/lungworm/FBs/neoplasia

Question 7

What are some common causes of pleural space disease?

Answer 7

Pneumothorax, pleural effusion, haemothorax, diaphragmatic rupture

Question 8

What are some common causes of parenchymal disease?

Answer 8

Pulmonary oedema, haemorrhage, infection, neoplasia, fibrosis

Question 9

Describe feline asthma.

Answer 9

Type 1 hypersensitivity response to allergen
Airway hyper-responsiveness
Reversible bronchoconstriction
Secondary inflammation

Question 10

Describe chronic bronchitis.

Answer 10

Airway inflammation
Excess mucus production
Leads to airway narrowing

Question 11

How can we treat feline lower airway disease?

Answer 11

Minimise stress!
Oxygen supplementation
Bronchodilators e.g. terbutaline/salbutamol (inhaler)

Question 12

Describe the difference substances that can make up pleural effusion.

Answer 12

Pyothorax - septic
Non-septic - neoplasia, FIP
Chyle - CHF, trauma, idiopathic
Blood - trauma, coagulopathy, neoplasia

Question 13

What medications can be used for feline respiratory emergencies?

Answer 13

Bronchodilators e.g. terbutaline/salbutamol
Glucocorticoids e.g. dexamethasone/fluticasone
Furosemide if suspect CHF