Case 5 — Tachypnea

Alice, a young domestic cat (Maine coon cross)
Alice — 2-year-old female spayed domestic cat (Maine coon cross), 4 kg

Primary clinician: Brad Gavaghan, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)
Supervising clinician: Mark D. Kittleson, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Cardiology)

Signalment

  • Species: Feline
  • Breed: Domestic cat (Maine coon cross)
  • Age: 2 years
  • Sex: Female spayed
  • Weight: 4 kg
  • Name: Alice

Presenting Complaint

  • Breathing too fast (tachypnea)

History

  • Tachypneic since the previous night
  • Listless
  • Never open-mouth breathing
  • Indoor/outdoor cat; 3 other cats in household
  • FeLV vaccinated
  • No vomiting, coughing, or other complaints

Physical Examination

  • HR >200 bpm; RR = 140 breaths/min; T = 100°F
  • Responsive but depressed
  • Markedly tachypneic with shallow breathing
  • Sclera slightly blue; mucous membranes pale pink to slightly blue
  • CRT 2 seconds
  • Fleas present
  • Exaggerated respiratory effort with prolonged expiration
  • High-pitched inspiratory sounds with squeaks heard ventrally
  • Left-sided grade 4/6 systolic murmur with gallop rhythm
  • Abdomen unremarkable

Gallop rhythm (sound) from a different cat (no heart murmur)

Systolic heart murmur from a different cat (no gallop sound)

Problem List

  • Tachypnea/dyspnea
  • Heart murmur
  • Gallop sound
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