The Coughing Cat

Front 1

Is cough a common condition in cats?

Back 1

no; rare

Front 2

Are there cough receptors in the feline alveoli?

Back 2

no in feline airway

Front 3

Is cough more common in airway disease or parenchymal disease in cats?

Back 3

airway disease, this is why cats don't cough with pneumonia as much

Front 4

Are cats more commonly affected with cardiomyopathies or valvular disease?

Back 4

cardiomyopathies

Front 5

Do cats have mitral valve disease that cause the left atrium to compress the bronchi?

Back 5

no they do not have mitral valve disease

Front 6

Do cats get pleural effusion or edema with their cardiomyopathies?

Back 6

pleural effusion, not edema

Front 7

What do you ultimately see in asthma in the cat?

Back 7

lung hyperinflation and atelectasis (right middle lung lobe)

Front 8

What cat do you see asthma in?

Back 8

young-middle aged cats
siamese may be overrepresented

Front 9

What is the history like with asthma?

Back 9

chronic, slowly progressive
-may have an intermittent cough, wheeze, lethargy, they may be thin or obese (exercise intolerance)

Front 10

What clinical signs will you see in a cat with feline asthma?

Back 10

acute exacerbation of bronchoconstriction
-open mouth breathing, dyspnea, cyanosis

Front 11

What type of breathing pattern is seen on physical exam with feline asthma?

Back 11

prolonged expiratory pattern with wheeze
-air trapping - barrel chest with decreased compressibility

Front 12

Should you do a heartworm antigen and antibody serology, fecal examination, and baermann sedimentation in order to help with the diagnosis of asthma?

Back 12

yes

Front 13

When doing a lavage for asthma what are some things you can give that will reduce the risk of complications due to dyspnea?

Back 13

-pretreat with parenteral terbutaline
-pre med with atropine or albuterol inhaler
-have ready if needed (dexamethason SP, terbutaline)

Front 14

What is the emergency management for asthma?

Back 14

oxygen
bronchodilator (terbutaline, albuterol)
corticosteroid (dexamethasone)
continued dyspnea --> induce and intubate

Front 15

What is the therapy for chronic asthma?

Back 15

corticosteroids (pred, inhaled fluticasone or salmeterol, depository infections of depo medrol)
bronchodilators (if steroids insufficient to control symptoms)
-B2 agonist (albuterol salbutamol inhaled , or oral terbutaline)
-methylxanthine (theophylline)
-environmental modification

Front 16

What should you avoid in the therapy or asthma?

Back 16

beta blockers such as atenolol
-cats rely on sympathetic tone for bronchodilation

Front 17

What are the experimental therapies for feline asthma?

Back 17

cyproheptadine
cyclosporine
leukotriene modifiers

Front 18

What is the prognosis for asthma?

Back 18

early is good with appropriate therapy and cat and owner compliance

late is poor with bad compliance and inadequate therapy. There can also be irreversible pathology --> with significant lung dysfunction

Front 19

What are the most common fungal pneumonias in the cat?

Back 19

cryptococcus>histoplasmosis>blasto = coccidiomycosis

Front 20

What do cats with protozoal pneumonia due to toxoplasmosis typically get?

Back 20

self-limiting SI diarrhea

Front 21

What is the treatment for feline parasitic pneumonia?

Back 21

fenbendazole, ivermectin
paragonimus kellicotti --> praziquantel and fenbendazole.