History of respiratory issues (dyspnea, frequent small breaths).
Physical Exam: Normal, mild gingivitis noted. CBC: neutrophils elevated 24,000.
History of respiratory issues (dyspnea, frequent small breaths).
Physical Exam: Normal, mild gingivitis noted. CBC: neutrophils elevated 24,000.
Rads lateral and VD of thorax and abdomen: The degree of inspiration was moderate on both views.
Osseous structures: The cat was skeletally immature.
Abdominal structures: The liver was mildly beyond the costal arch but within normal limits for an
animal that age. The stomach was moderately distended with soft tissue opaque ingesta and gas. The
small intestine showed mild distension and a mild amount of gas was present in some intestinal
loops, but the intestinal loops were of even diameter. The extrathoracic soft tissue structures were within normal limits.
Intrathoracic structures: The course of the trachea was normal. No mediastinal widening was noted.
No mediastinal lymph node enlargement was present. The cardiac silhouette was small and
moderately obscured by the lung pattern. There was a severe generalized bronchoalveolar pattern
with severe peribronchial cuffing and indistinct areas of pulmonary consolidation. No pleural effusion was seen.
Severe bronchoalveolar pulmonary infiltrate. A parasitic cause such as lungworm infection (Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is most common in cats) is high for potential. Viral infection with bacterial superinfection is a possible differential diagnosis but less common in cats and not typical for the radiographic presentation here. Also an allergic bronchitis cannot be ruled out entirely, but is low for potential here as usually more bronchointerstitial in distribution. There was moderate aerophagia due to dyspnea and/or stress.
There were mild signs of functional small intestinal distension which may be a function of stress or a sign of enteritis.
Further work-up should include lungworm testing. In case of equivocal findings or lack of response to treatment, a bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage would be ideal.
If clinical signs of enteritis are present, further work up with abdominal ultrasound is recommended in this regard.
