Inspiratory dyspnoea in in-contact cats

Re: Inspiratory dyspnoea in in-contact cats

Karen Eggleton — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:21:47 GMT

Hi Rob,

Many thanks for your post-I really appreciate all the info, especially with regards to emergency treatment. I wish there could have been some medical treatment I could have offered that would have prevented this. Interestingly, the second cat was in close proximity to building work the night he died, despite my protests (there's none as poorly compliant as family clients unfortunately) so I'm sure environmental allergens played a part.

Again, thanks for your thoughts.

Re: Inspiratory dyspnoea in in-contact cats

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:19:09 GMT

The apposition of the false folds suggests that there was spasm of some of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles. I have seen such events following a post-nasal drip that may be associated with an allergic rhinitis. (Some of these cats have lymphoid follicular hyperplasia on the roof of their caudal naso-pharynx.

If you are confronted with laryngeal spasm keep handy a 14 or 16 gauge needle and an endotracheal tube connecting bayonet that fits snug into the hub of the needle. In this way, a quick between tracheal ring penetration by the needle gives an effective airway which may then be connected to your anaesthetic machine. Such a procedure has saved many a cat for me without any long term sequelae.

Tincture of time is often the best therapy for these spasms.

Two cats in the same environment with similar signs suggests that there was a common denominator for both of them. This may well have been an environmental allergen / toxic issue.

Rob

Re: Inspiratory dyspnoea in in-contact cats

Karen Eggleton — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:05:19 GMT

Hi Rob,

Many thanks for your post. I was treating both cats as suspected asthma/bronchitis with CCS/terbutaline but orally rather than inhaler as I would have preferred due to the owner's wishes and cat compliance. If it was possibly some form of allergenic asthma, would you expect 2 cats to react so similarly?

PM the second cat's false vocal folds were completely apposed and it was more than 1/2 hour PM before the entrance into the larynx could be visualised. Would this be normal as is apposition the relaxed state?

Any further thoughts comments greatly appreciated

Re: Inspiratory dyspnoea in in-contact cats

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:02:31 GMT

In general, expiratory dyspnoea is associated with intra-thoracic pathology. Inspiratory dyspnoeas are associated with extra-thoracic pathology. Mixed inspiratory and expiratory dyspnoeas tend to be associated with intra-thoracic lesions.

To progress from an intra-thoracic to an extra-thoracic lesion would be most unlikely.

It is possible that the cats had a form of allergenic asthma, and that the second cat may have subsequently developed a laryngeal allergenic component to the progression.

The cat has two sets of vocal folds. The so called 'false folds' are rostral to the main vocal folds, and are thought to be associated with purring . Visual examination is usually confined to the false folds. Laryngoscopy under general anaesthetic is usually required to effectively evaluate the laryngeal vault.