Unusual case of ascites

Re: Unusual case of ascites

Richard Fox — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:46:00 GMT

I would also go in for a space occupying mass affecting one side - Given the age, occlusion but a tumour would be my best guess?

Re: Unusual case of ascites

Christopher Saul — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:02:41 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]The last ascitic old cat I had turned out to have ascites secondary to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which was secondary to hyperthyroidism. Atenolol and methimazole, with spironolactone for the initial ascites, did her a world of good. (weird case, but happy end, so far…)

[/quote]

I have seen this also.

As goes other causes for the ascites; don't forget you can get FIP in older cats as well as the youngsters. Generally the differentials for ascites will be portal hypertension/increased hydrostatic pressure e.g. right sided CHF, decreased plasma oncotic pressure e.g. hypoproteinaemia, or increased vascular permiability e.g. vasculitis.

I wonder if the one-sided nature of the oedema could be a combination of factors; circulatory failiure resulting in reduced ability of the cat to compensate for recumbancy perhaps?

Re: Unusual case of ascites

David Mills — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:49:49 GMT

Assuming a major cardiac component with tachycardia and such a sudden-onset ascites, surely positional for an extended period (a few hours) enough to cause venous haemostasis in the dependent body side (poss thrombus), with resultant oedema formation peripherally on that side? There is no reason, anatomically, why the right should be affected more than the left as venous drainage is almost identical on both sides.

Re: Unusual case of ascites

Mark Hedberg — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:28:49 GMT

The last ascitic old cat I had turned out to have ascites secondary to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which was secondary to hyperthyroidism. Atenolol and methimazole, with spironolactone for the initial ascites, did her a world of good. (weird case, but happy end, so far…)

Re: Unusual case of ascites

Mark Hedberg — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:25:30 GMT

Mobile, yes, but the same cat that moves around quite sprightly at the vet is resting at home, not moving much. It's all speculation on my part, of course, could just as easily be 2ndary to heart failure.

Re: Unusual case of ascites

Clive Ansell — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:52:28 GMT

The cat had been just about mobile before its PTS, so I don't think it was positional??

Re: Unusual case of ascites

Helen Wallace — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:44:40 GMT

? intrathoracic mass compressing and affecting drainage more on one side than other or may well be positional as Mark suggests

Re: Unusual case of ascites

Mark Hedberg — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:13:25 GMT

Severe proteinuria, for one, can cause ascites. As for the asymmetry, had the cat been lying on one side for a long time? (i get a little suspicious of sudden onsets in cats…)