Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with sudden breathing trouble diagnosed with lung blood clot
By Pouchelon, J L et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·1997·Department of Cardiology, France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism in a cat using echocardiography and pulmonary scintigraphy.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old male cat suddenly had trouble breathing and showed signs of blue-tinged skin. After a thorough examination, the vet found that the cat had a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and a blood clot in the lung. Special imaging tests confirmed the presence of a pulmonary thromboembolism, which is a blockage in the lung's blood vessels. The cat was treated with antibiotics, blood thinners, and a medication to help the heart, along with strict rest. Thankfully, the cat's condition improved with this treatment.
People also search for: cat breathing problems · pulmonary thromboembolism treatment in cats · hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats
Abstract
A 10-year-old male cat was presented with sudden onset of respiratory difficulties. Clinical examination revealed an acute dyspnoea with cyanosis associated with a left systolic heart murmur. Standard thoracic radiographs excluded pulmonary oedema and showed very few pulmonary changes given the intensity of the respiratory compromise. Echocardiographic examination revealed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and a thrombus in the right pulmonary artery. Pulmonary scintigraphy confirmed a pulmonary thromboembolism with hypovascularisation of the left cranial lobe and of the ventral segment of the right lobe. Conservative treatment was instituted using an antibiotic (doxycycline), anticoagulants (heparin, coumadine) and a calcium inhibitor (diltiazem). The cat was given absolute rest. The general condition of the animal improved.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9239634/