ABSTRACT
132 A 2-year-old male Siamese cat presents to you with acute onset of severe lethargy. On physical examination, you note that the cat is tachycardic (200 BPM) and tachypneic (>80 breaths/min). The cat’s oral mucus membranes are a pale gray/blue color, with a normal capillary refill time. Blood collected for initial diagnostics is a brownish color. The owner reports that the cat was treated for worms 2 days ago, and they believe that the cat had spat up the tablet, as one was found near the cat’s food bowl. This tablet was administered to the cat.
i. What is your diagnosis?
ii. Why are the mucus membranes a bluish/gray color?
iii. Why are cats particularly susceptible to this intoxication?
iv. Are there others drugs that can cause the same effects in cats?
v. How would you plan to treat this cat?
