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Approach to the acutely dyspnoeic cat
Author(s) -
Borgeat Kieran,
Pack Matthew
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1002/inpr.15
Subject(s) - presentation (obstetrics) , medicine , psychological intervention , intensive care medicine , distress , balance (ability) , primary care , respiratory distress , physical therapy , surgery , family medicine , nursing , clinical psychology
Background : Dyspnoea, defined as difficult or laboured breathing, is a common feline presentation in primary care practice. Early clinical signs may be difficult for owners to identify at home and often dyspnoeic patients worsen with travel‐associated stress. As such, many cats first present to vets with severe respiratory distress. Acute cases are a diagnostic challenge due to the fragile and unstable nature of the patient. Aim of the article : This article describes how to strike a balance between the interventions that are required to stabilise an individual and achieve a diagnosis, while avoiding further deterioration by not doing too much too soon.