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Case 5
Primary clinician: Brad
Gavaghan, DVM
Supervising clinician: Mark D. Kittleson,
DVM, PhD,
DipACVIM (Cardiology)
Signalment
 | Two-year-old FS domestic cat (appears to be a Maine coon cross) weighing 4 kg
("Alice") |
Presenting Complaint
| Breathing Too Fast |
Pertinent History
| Alice has been a normal, healthy cat until last night, when the owner noticed that she was listless and tachypneic. She has been tachypneic all night long and the owner is unclear as to any change in Alice's condition since onset.
|
| She has never exhibited open-mouth breathing. |
| Intake and output since the onset of signs is unknown. |
| The owner reports that Alice will walk normally (at home) since onset of signs.
|
| Alice has not vomited, coughed or sneezed to the owner's knowledge.
|
| Alice is an indoor/outdoor cat, lives with 3 other cats, and is up to date on her vaccinations including FeLV.
|
Physical Examination
| HR >200, RR = 140, T = 100. |
| Cat is responsive but depressed. |
| She is markedly tachypneic with shallow breathing.
|
| EENT - Sclera are slightly blue, mucous membranes are pale pink/slightly blue, CRT = 2 seconds.
|
| Coat is clean, fleas noted. |
| Respiratory effort is exaggerated with prolonged expiration. Auscultation of the thorax revealed high-pitched inspiratory
sounds with squeaks ventrally. |
| There is a left-sided 4/6 murmur with a gallop rhythm. |
| Abdominal palpation was unremarkable. |
| Kidneys are smooth and symmetrical; gut loops are smooth; bladder not
palpated. |
Problems
| Tachypnea / Dyspnea |
| Heart murmur |
| Gallop sound (rhythm) |
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