ABSTRACT
Case summary: A 10-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat was presented for evaluation of a 3-day history of increased inspiratory effort. The cat had received prednisolone 1 mg/kg PO q24h for 1 year due to chronic diarrhea. On physical examination, the patient exhibited severe stridor, intermittent open-mouth breathing and bilateral mucopurulent nasal discharge. Subcutaneous emphysema was palpated over the dorsal cervical region. Mild hypoventilation (PvCO2 55.1 mmHg; approximate reference interval 35-45 mmHg) was identified. Cervicothoracic radiographs showed marked gas tracking within cervical soft tissues with concurrent laryngeal thickening, pulmonary nodules, a bronchial pulmonary pattern, pneumomediastinum and aerophagia. The cat was hospitalized and treated overnight with oxygen and intravenous fluid therapy before anesthesia the next day. On laryngoscopy, a large tracheal mass was observed arising from the right subglottic region and was removed using biopsy forceps. CT revealed an additional mass at the level of the tracheal bifurcation causing marked luminal narrowing of the trachea and proximal main bronchi. The cat made a good initial recovery, although moderate stridor persisted. Five days later, the cat was re-examined due to recurrence of respiratory distress and orthopnea, and the owner elected euthanasia. Histopathology revealed severe nodular obstructive eosinophilic plasmacytic laryngotracheitis with intranuclear inclusion bodies positive for feline herpesvirus-1 on immunohistochemistry. Relevance and novel information: This report describes the presentation and management of a cat with respiratory distress secondary to intratracheal eosinophilic masses caused by feline herpesvirus-1. Although the outcome was ultimately unsatisfactory, to the authors' knowledge, this clinical presentation has not been previously reported.
ABSTRACT
Disseminated intravascular coagulation following melarsomine therapy for Dirofilaria immitis (D. immitis) is reported in a 9-year-old female intact pit bull-type dog. The dog had been diagnosed with D. immitis (antigen and microfilaria positive) and treated with imidacloprid, moxidectin, doxycycline and 3 doses of melarsomine over a 92-day period. Seven days after the third melarsomine injection, the patient was presented to her family veterinarian due to right pelvic limb swelling. Prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times were prolonged beyond the detectable range. Treatment included vitamin K1 and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) prior to referral to the authors' institution. At this time the patient remained coagulopathic. Further investigations included thoracic radiographs, abdominal ultrasound and an echocardiogram. The patient was administered multiple units of packed red blood cells and FFP, sildenafil, dexamethasone SP, aminocaproic acid and vitamin K1. Repeat CBC approximately 20 h after admission showed persistent anemia and thrombocytopenia. Despite ongoing administration of FFP, a repeat coagulation panel showed worsening of the coagulopathy with prothrombin time of 84.2s [reference interval (RI) 7.0-9.3s], activated partial thromboplastin time >140s (RI 10.4-12.9s) and fibrinogen <50 mg/dL (RI 109-311 mg/dL). Following discussion with the owners, the patient was euthanized. Necropsy was performed and confirmed heartworm infection with severe pulmonary arterial thrombosis, vascular remodeling, and intraluminal degenerate nematodes. Multifocal subcutaneous and organ hemorrhage was apparent. Although coagulopathy has been described in caval syndrome associated with heartworm disease and is listed as a potential side effect of melarsomine administration, this is the first report of documented disseminated intravascular coagulation following melarsomine treatment for D. immitis. Potential mechanisms for the coagulopathy are discussed and the case report highlights a rare, but serious complication of adulticide therapy.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, and outcome for dogs and cats with a confirmed foxtail. DESIGN: Retrospective study utilizing a medical records database over a 10-year period from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2018. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Seven hundred and fifty-four dogs and 37 cats with a diagnosis of foxtail foreign body. Cases with direct visualization by a clinician or on histopathology were included. Information extracted for each case included signalment; anatomical foxtail location; clinicopathological and imaging findings; treatments and interventions provided; and outcome. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The prevalence of foxtail associated disease was 0.25% in dogs and 0.07% in cats over this time period. Most animals were young to middle-aged and presented in the summer months. The most common location in dogs was the aural canal, cutaneous/subcutaneous space, and nasal canal. In cats, ocular foxtails were most common (30/37). Blood work changes were nonspecific. Ultrasound supervised by a boarded radiologist was utilized in 114 cases, mainly for subcutaneous, sublumbar, and intracavitary foxtail locations, with successful location of a foxtail in 72.8% of cases scanned. Computed tomography was performed in 78 dogs with suspected intracavitary foxtail migration, and in all cases, structural changes related to the presence of the foxtail were found. Anerobic bacteria were most commonly isolated when a culture was submitted, with Actinomyces spp. rarely isolated. The most common of the 120 anaerobic isolates were Bacteroides/Prevotella spp. (n = 38), Fusobacterium spp. (n = 32), and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius (n = 30). CONCLUSIONS: The short-term outcome for foxtail-associated lesions is good, and most cases can be managed on an outpatient basis. A minority of cases develop life-threatening disease and may require a multidisciplinary approach of multimodal imaging, endoscopy, or surgery.
Subject(s)
Cat Diseases , Dog Diseases , Foreign Bodies , Animals , Cat Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Cat Diseases/therapy , Cats , Dog Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Dog Diseases/therapy , Dogs , Foreign Bodies/therapy , Foreign Bodies/veterinary , Humans , Retrospective Studies , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe the nonsurgical management of a cat with traumatic pneumoperitoneum. CASE SERIES SUMMARY: A 4-year-old cat was presented following vehicular polytrauma. Thoracic radiographs revealed 4 rib fractures, a scapular fracture, and pneumothorax. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a small volume of free abdominal fluid. Computed tomography showed a mild pneumoretroperitoneum and a pneumoperitoneum in the region of the porta hepatis. The cat was managed conservatively with close monitoring. Exploratory laparotomy was not pursued given patient stability and static serial imaging studies revealing no indications for surgical intervention. After 6 days, the pneumoperitoneum was no longer detectable. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of successful nonsurgical management of traumatic pneumoperitoneum in a cat.
