Bacterial Bronchopneumonia in Cats

Bacterial Bronchopneumonia in Cats

By: PetPlace Veterinarians

Section: Information In-depth

It is essential to consider the underlying risk factors and predispositions for pneumonia. This can help eliminate the cause and prevent its reoccurrence. Underlying risk factors may include:

  • Contagious upper respiratory infection

  • Pre-existent lung disease (bronchitis, lungworms, systemic mycoses, lung contusion, heartworm disease, smoke inhalation, thromboembolic disease)

  • A collapsed or airless state of the lung (pulmonary atelectasis)

  • Vomiting or difficulty swallowing associated with inhalation aspiration (inhalation) of pharyngeal or gastric fluid or contents

  • Oro-nasal sources of infection (sinusitis, dental disease)

  • Immunosuppression caused by a virus or disease

  • Immunosuppressive drug therapy (glucocorticoids, chemotherapy)

  • Abnormal respiratory defense mechanisms (Cushing's disease, chronic bronchitis, ciliary dyskinesia, n
    eutrophil dysfunction syndromes)

  • Bronchial foreign body

  • Foreign body aspiration pneumonia from food or mineral oil, for example

  • Debilitation- and hospitalization-related infection (nosocomial)

  • Indwelling intravenous catheter sepsis (hematogenous spread)

  • Contaminated endotracheal tube, tracheostomy tube or bronchoscope

  • Aspiration (inhalation) of liquid foreign material during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures (barium sulfate, medications, mineral oil)

  • History of thoracic surgery or atelectasis

    Other medical problems can lead to symptoms similar to those encountered in bronchopneumonia. Organisms that can cause bronchopneumonia may include:

  • Viruses
  • Rickettsia
  • Bacteria
  • Mycoplasma spp.
  • Fungi
  • Protozoa
  • Nematodes/trematode

    Diseases that can appear similar to those with bronchopneumonia include:

  • Acute bronchitis
  • Aspiration (inhaling)
  • Bronchial foreign body
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Congestive heart failure (pulmonary edema)
  • Electrical cord shock (non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema)
  • Heartworm disease
  • Infectious tracheobronchitis
  • Inflammatory lung disease (noninfectious)
  • Infection within the chest cavity (pyothorax)
  • Viral pneumonia (canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus)
  • Rickettsia pneumonia (ehrlichiosis or Rocky Mountain spotted fever)
  • Protozoal pneumonia (toxoplasmosis)
  • Parasitic pneumonia (capillariasis, paragonimiasis, aelurostrongylus, dirofilariasis)
  • Fungal pneumonia (histoplasmosis, Blastomycosis, coccidiomycosis)
  • Pulmonary abscess (pus in the lungs)
  • Pulmonary embolism (sudden artery blockage in the lungs)
  • Pulmonary fibrosis (development of fibrous tissue in the lungs)
  • Pulmonary hemorrhage (e.g. anticoagulant rodenticide)
  • Pulmonary neoplasia (cancer)
  • Respiratory parasites
  • Rhinitis (nasal inflammation due to fungus or bacteria)
  • Sinusitis/pharyngitis
  • Tonsillitis

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