A cat presents to a clinic with difficulty breathing , lethargy , and cyanosis . The veterinarian auscultated the thoracic cavity and politely asked to have a radiograph taken of the thorax. Dx: pleural effusion. A thoracocentesis was performed and 300 cc of fluid was aspirated. Rx: Bronchodilator BID . Cyanosis is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cyanosis is a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes that is caused by insufficient oxygen in the blood. In this case, the pleural effusion was likely causing difficulty breathing and reducing the amount of oxygen the cat was able to get into its lungs.

A Cat Presents to a Clinic with Difficulty Breathing