FELINE PLEURAL DISEASE Diagnosis and Treatment

INTRODUCTION Diseases of the pleural space, including pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and space occupying mass lesions (tumor, diaphragmatic hernia) are relatively common disorders in small animal clinical practice. The abnormal presence of air, fluid and/or tissue within the pleural cavity does not generally reflect disease of the pleura per se; but instead represents a disorder of the airways and/or lung parenchyma, or the development of a primary systemic illness. Regardless of the cause(s), a significant collection of air or fluid within the pleural cavity can represent a potentially life threatening condition and this must be the first priority of the clinician. This manuscript will discuss common causes of the most frequently seen pleural space disorders, and outline general treatment plans that can be used as guidelines when treating actual clinical cases.