Smoke exposure in cats: 22 cases (1986-1997)

Objective-To review clinical findings and clinical course for cats exposed to smoke in residential fires and to determine clinical variables that may have prognostic importance. Design-Retrospective study. Animals-22 cats admitted to our veterinary teaching hospital between 1986 a nd 1997 with a history of smoke exposure during a residential fire. Procedure-Medical records were reviewed for history, clinical signs, physic al examination findings, changes in respiratory tract signs, initial hemato logic analysis, treatment, results of thoracic radiography, and outcome. Results-Fifteen of 22 (68%) cats were categorized in the uncomplicated grou p, 5 (23%) in the complicated group, and 2 (9%) were discharged after a sho rt period because of financial considerations. Twenty (91%) cats survived, but 2 (9%) were euthanatized because of severe respiratory compromise or ne urologic changes. Predominant thoracic radiographic changes were diffuse in terstitial pattern (6 cats) and focal alveolar pattern (5). The majority (8 /13) of cats that were stable or had improved by the day after admission ha d an uncomplicated clinical course while hospitalized, whereas cats that we re worse on the day after admission tended to have a complicated clinical c ourse. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Cats that survive a residential fire and are admitted to a hospital have a good chance to be discharged. Cats that do not have signs of respiratory tract dysfunction at admission probably wi ll not develop severe respiratory complications. For cats with signs of res piratory dysfunction at admission, better prognostic information will be de termined by monitoring progression of the respiratory condition on the day after admission.