This is Rizhko — a charming ginger tomcat who was found by some very kind people. They brought him to our clinic because they had noticed he had not been eating for a day and was breathing very rapidly.
The examination established a deteriorated general condition, normal conjunctivae and an elevated body temperature. His breathing was rapid and shallow, with a slight wheeze on auscultation.
Full blood tests and an X-ray were ordered; the X-ray showed a clearly intensified lung pattern.
Rizhko was hospitalised, and additional larvoscopic and coproscopic examinations of his faeces were performed to look for parasites and larvae that could produce such a clinical picture.
The larvoscopic examination found larvae of a lungworm called Aelurostrongylus abstrusus.
Standard deworming does not kill this type of parasite, so special antiparasitic medication was prescribed.
After 3 days of treatment with us, Rizhko was discharged in excellent general condition, with a big appetite and normal breathing.