If you have a pet, then you simply must know about the most dangerous diseases, how to diagnose them and provide first aid. It is very important that you do not get confused at the right time and be able to react correctly. Today we’ll talk about such a serious illness as a cat’s pulmonary edema. This ailment is not independent - it develops against the background of other pathologies. Below we will talk about this in more detail. However, the prognosis in some cases is unfavorable.
Causes
What causes pulmonary edema in a cat? It happens that the owners bring a wheezing and suffocating animal to the doctor, while others come to consult for minor reasons, and as a result, both are given the same diagnosis. So, this is a non-infectious disease that develops because capillaries and veins are overflowing with blood, after which the blood plasma enters the bronchioles, bronchi and the connective tissue of the lungs.
Complications
Further, cat pulmonary edema develops directly . Blood stasis leads to the fact that hyperemia of the mucous membrane of the bronchi and lungs progresses. Most often, the root cause of such a violation is insufficient cardiac activity, physical overload, plague or pneumonia, severe overheating or poisoning with toxic gases.
Complication after sterilization
This procedure is applied today to most of the adult cat population. Most often, cats calmly tolerate it and normally move away from anesthesia. But in some cases, pulmonary edema may develop in cats after sterilization. The animal sticks out its tongue and is immobilized, its mouth turns blue. This condition is a consequence of the fact that before the operation, the doctors did not examine the heart and did not reveal irregularities in its work, which now give similar complications. In this case, oxygen therapy should be applied to the cat, as well as intramuscularly or intravenously administered Furosemide, Prednisolone. Usually, the condition improves slightly after injection, but treatment is required to continue.
Forecasts
Pulmonary edema in a cat is considered a very serious illness. Veterinarians have special methods of treatment and care, but owners should be aware that in some cases this disease is a near-death condition. If the animal is young, with a strong immune system, then recovery is possible. However, in this case, the risk of relapse remains. If repeated edema is observed within a few months, then in almost 100% of cases it leads to death.
How does the disease manifest itself?
How can cat pulmonary edema be determined? Symptoms can be quite different, however, we list everything so that the owners know what to pay attention to.
First of all, alert your breathing and shortness of breath of your pet. Even a slight manifestation of these signs is a sufficient reason to contact a veterinarian.
We have already examined how the development of pulmonary edema in cats. The reasons in each case can be different, which means that the intensity of the development of symptoms will also differ. The host should beware of abdominal breathing, since this is an atypical way for representatives of this species, and it indicates obvious problems.
In the later stages, your pet will suffer more and more. His mucous membranes turn blue, a cat breathes with an open mouth and distinctly wheezing. Still later, a cough with sputum and blood appears, the limbs get colder - it is almost impossible to save the animal at this stage.
Types of edema
A specialist should understand and make a diagnosis, because, depending on the reasons, the disease can be divided into several types. First of all, a cardiogenic and non-cardiogenic form is isolated. Cardiogenic edema develops against the background of a dysfunction of the heart. In this case, first of all, high blood pressure is observed. It is a consequence of a violation of the pumping function of the heart. As a result, fluid begins to penetrate the alveoli.
Non-cardiogenic form
In this case, the doctor needs to deal with the causes that led to such a violation. This may be a consequence of electrical injury and brain damage. If such an event has occurred, then you must definitely go to the clinic. Such edema may not develop immediately - this is the main danger.
Pathology of an infectious nature can also lead to a similar result. In this case, inflammatory edema develops. The reason for the development of this complication may be a violation of the gastrointestinal tract. Another broad category is toxic edema, which is caused by carbon monoxide poisoning or snake venom.
Allergic conditions and anaphylactic shock, septic shock, tumors that block the lymphatic vessels are all variants of events in the presence of which pulmonary edema develops.
First aid
If you observe one or more of the described symptoms in your pet, then remember that the faster you take him to the hospital, the more chances a doctor has to cure pulmonary edema in cats. The treatment is symptomatic, and depending on the severity of the symptoms, the specialist can change its scheme. The animal must be placed in a ventilated area and avoid drafts.
Before you arrive at the hospital, do not try to water the animal or forcibly lay it. In addition, it is very dangerous to independently give the animal medications to stimulate breathing, try to pump out fluid or make artificial respiration. Many owners ask doctors if pulmonary edema in cats is fatal or not? In some cases, this disease can be fatal, however, competent therapy can save if this complication is at an early stage. Edema requires intensive care and constant medical supervision, so in this case, inpatient treatment is the best option.
Diagnostics
If the doctor makes the diagnosis only on the basis of the initial examination, take your pet and go in search of a more competent specialist. An accurate diagnosis cannot be made without a comprehensive examination. Be sure the veterinarian should prescribe an ultrasound scan, take an X-ray and take tests. Only on the basis of the results can a specialist make a final diagnosis. However, you will not be sent home to wait for the tests to be ready: ultrasound and x-rays in most clinics can be done almost instantly. After that, if the suspicion of edema is confirmed, leave the pet in the hospital. The results of the tests will only tell the doctor in which direction to work, or rather, what is the root cause of the edema.
Main treatment
As we already said, it will be symptomatic, that is, the doctor must decide on the condition of the animal which drug is in priority today. It is very important to give expectorant and heart remedies. Here the choice is great, and according to the situation, the veterinarian can prescribe “Cordiamine”, “Sulfocamphocaine”, adrenaline or caffeine. Sometimes it is useful to do a bloodletting. Glucose solution (40%) or calcium chloride solution (10%) is used intravenously. In addition, it is very important to evaluate clinical tests:
- If the cat has symptoms of plague, then antiviral drugs are prescribed.
- If the cat has symptoms of hypostatic pneumonia, then antibiotics are additionally used.
- Diuretic drugs are a prerequisite for optimal treatment. Often prescribed "Lasix" or "Furosemide."
Remember that the decision on the necessary treatment should be made only by the doctor. In the case of self-treatment, the possibility of death increases several times. However, pulmonary edema can be treated. Most importantly, do not waste time and be sure to contact the clinic at the first symptoms.
Prevention
Specific prophylaxis does not exist, because pulmonary edema in cats does not develop by itself. This is a complication, that is, a consequence that is preceded by one of the above diseases. It is impossible to foresee everything, all the more so since our smaller brothers cannot explain that they felt bad and where it hurts. However, prevention can be expressed in regular visits to the doctor. Preventive examinations and monitoring the condition of the body will not allow you to allow a situation where you will only learn about heart failure of a pet only when pulmonary edema develops.