What is Your Diagnosis? Dyspnoeic Cat: Dyspnoeic Cat

Abstract

A 4-year-old, 3.5-kg, entire male cat was presented with severe lethargy and increasing dyspnoea and respiratory distress, nasal discharge, excessive salivation, loss of appetite and weight loss, over the past few days. He was an indoor-outdoor cat and was fed a homemade diet.

On physical examination, severe laboured abdominal breathing, nasal discharge and excessive salivation were evident. Mucous membranes were slightly hyperaemic, with no jaundice or cyanosis observed. There was no jugular distension. Gingival capillary refill time was 2 seconds. Body temperature was 39.2 °C. On palpation, the mandibular lymph nodes were mildly enlarged, while no abdominal mass was detected. On thoracic auscultation, bronchial crackles in the right lung lobe and dysphonia in the left lobe were noted. The cat was initially stabilised with oxygen therapy (10 L/min) by oxygen chamber. Venous blood (jugular venepuncture), urine (mid-stream free-flow) and faecal samples (rectal swab) were taken for laboratory analysis. Abdominal ultrasonography, thoracic and abdominal radiography, and thoracic computed tomography (CT) were performed.