Collection of Fluid in the Lungs (Not Due to Heart Disease) in Cats

Noncardiogenic Pulmonary Edema in Cats

Noncardiogenic edema is caused by an increased permeability (or the ability to pass through, as by osmosis) of the blood vessels of the lungs. This increased permeability results in the leakage of fluid into the lung, causing edema, or swelling. This increased permeability results in the leakage of fluid into the lung, causing edema, or swelling. When this becomes severe, the edema may be accompanied by an inflammatory response and an accumulation of inflammatory cells in the lung.

There are several factors which can cause changes in the permeability of the lung’s blood vessels. Cats that have edema as a result of brain disorder, electric cord bite, or upper airway obstruction might experience a systemic release of catecholamines (neurotransmitters and hormones). This release would lead to a causative effect, with systemic constriction of blood vessels shunting blood into the lungs and overloading the blood vessels of the lung, damaging them, and leading to inflammation and swelling of the lungs.

Manifestation of a generalized inflammatory response in the lungs develops in patients with a bacterial infection of the blood, or with pancreatitis, and will often worsen over the 24 hours following the initial episode. The most seriously affected patients may progress from apparently normal health to a fatal condition only hours after the incident.

Symptoms and Types

• Difficulty breathing
• Increased breathing rate
• Standing in unusual positions to breathe better
• Pale, or bluish gums
• Spitting up pink, frothy saliva, or bubbles of saliva
• Increased rate of heart beat

Causes

• Upper airway obstruction
  • Paralysis of the larynx
  • Mass in the lung
  • Abscess of the lung
• Acute neurologic disease (brain disorders)
  • Head trauma
  • Prolonged seizures
• Systemic inflammatory response syndrome
  • Bacterial infection in the blood (bacteremia)
  • Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• Electric cord bite injury
• Smoke inhalation
• Aspiration pneumonia (sucking fluid back into the lungs)
• Severe allergic reaction

Diagnosis

You will need to give a thorough history of your cat's health, onset of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have precipitated/preceded this condition. The history you provide may give your veterinarian clues as to which organs are causing secondary symptoms.

He or she will perform a complete physical exam on your cat, including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, a urinalysis and an electrolyte panel. Arterial blood gas measurement, and pulse oximetry will also be performed, along with coagulation testing (to determine whether the blood is clotting normally). Radiograph images of the thoracic (chest) cavity are also essential for making a definitive diagnosis. An echocardiogram may also be performed to rule out, or confirm, pulmonary (lung) edema caused by heart disease.

Treatment

If your cat is experiencing severe respiratory dysfunction it will be hospitalized until its breathing has stabilized. If your cat is affected with a moderate to severe form of the disease it will be given oxygen therapy and cage rest in a quiet environment to minimize stress, since anything that can bring on anxiety for the cat will cause the production of stress hormones. If your cat is having too much of a problem breathing on its own it may be put on a mechanical respirator until it is able to breath normally again.

Living and Management

Often, cats with noncardiogenic edema will worsen before improving. Cats that have progressed to a severely form of pulmonary edema tend to have a poor prognosis. However, mild to moderately ill patients stand a good chance of full recovery, and the long-term prognosis is excellent for recovered patients.

One of the ways you can prevent noncardiogenic pulmonary edema in your cat includes preventing it from chewing on electrical wires. Another way is to get immediate veterinary treatment for your cat at the first sign of seizures.