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Severe sepsis in cats: 29 cases (1986-1998)
- Source :
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 217(4)
- Publication Year :
- 2000
-
Abstract
- Objective—To document the clinical, clinicopathologic, and pathologic findings in cats with severe sepsis, identify abnormalities unique to this species, and identify criteria that could be used antemortem to diagnose the systemic inflammatory response syndrome in cats. Design—Retrospective study. Animals—29 cats confirmed to have severe sepsis at necropsy. Procedure—Pertinent history, physical examination findings, and results of hematologic and biochemical testing were extracted from medical records. Results—Clinical diagnoses included pyothorax, septic peritonitis, bacteremia secondary to gastrointestinal tract disease, pneumonia, endocarditis, pyelonephritis, osteomyelitis, pyometra, and bite wounds. Physical examination findings included lethargy, pale mucous membranes, poor pulse quality, tachypnea, hypo- or hyperthermia, signs of diffuse pain on abdominal palpation, bradycardia, and icterus. Clinicopathologic abnormalities included anemia, thrombocytopenia, band neutrophilia, hypoalbuminemia, low serum alkaline phosphatase activity, and hyperbilirubinemia. Necropsy findings included multiorgan necrosis or inflammation with intralesional bacteria. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that severe sepsis in cats is characterized by lethargy, pale mucous membranes, signs of diffuse abdominal pain, tachypnea, bradycardia, weak pulses, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypothermia, and icterus. Recognition of this combination of clinical findings should facilitate the diagnosis of severe sepsis in cats. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000;217:531–535)
- Subjects :
- Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Pathology
Physical examination
Cat Diseases
Gastroenterology
Sepsis
Lethargy
Necrosis
Internal medicine
medicine
Animals
Retrospective Studies
Inflammation
Hematologic Tests
General Veterinary
medicine.diagnostic_test
business.industry
Osteomyelitis
Pyometra
medicine.disease
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome
Pneumonia
Bacteremia
Cats
Female
Autopsy
business
Blood Chemical Analysis
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00031488
- Volume :
- 217
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....aec41e73221c7052186c0b5d2a371500