A Rare Case of Acute Obstructive Laryngitis in a Cat with Severe Respiratory Distress

Abstract

A 5-year-old neutered male domestic short-haired cat presented with acute dyspnea characterized by open-mouth breathing and stridor for 2 days. Direct visualization via laryngoscopy revealed diffuse laryngeal swelling and severe thickening of the vocal folds bilaterally; thus, the upper respiratory tract was obstructed owing to severe edema. Neutrophil infiltration was found on fine needle aspiration of the larynx cytology, and no discrete mass with polyp or neo-plasia was identified on diagnostic imaging. The cat was diagnosed with acute obstructive laryngitis, and a tracheostomy tube was immediately installed. After 17 days of treatment with steroids, doxycycline and azithromycin, the swollen larynx gradually improved, and there was no recurrence of laryngitis or respiratory obstruction. A feline upper respiratory polymerase chain reaction panel revealed Mycoplasma felis infection; however, it could not be determined whether it was pathogenic or opportunistic. Herein, we report a case of obstructive laryngitis in a cat. When respiratory obstruction due to acute laryngitis is identified, a good prognosis is expected with rapid and appropriate treatment. © The Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics.