title: Pulmonary function in obese vs non-obese cats.
abstract: Obesity is a risk factor in the development of several respiratory diseases. Lung volumes tend to be decreased, especially expiratory reserve volume, increasing expiratory flow limitation during tidal breathing. Barometric whole-body plethysmography is a non-invasive pulmonary function test that allows a dynamic study of breathing patterns. The objective of this study was to compare pulmonary function variables between obese and non-obese cats through the use of barometric whole-body plethysmography. Nine normal-weight and six obese cats were placed in the plethysmograph chamber, and different respiratory variables were measured. There was a significant decrease in tidal volume per kilogram (P = 0.003), minute volume per kilogram (P = 0.001) and peak inspiratory and expiratory flows per kilogram (P = 0.001) in obese cats compared with non-obese cats. Obesity failed to demonstrate a significant increase in bronchoconstriction index variable enhanced pause (Penh), as previously reported in humans and dogs. The results show that feline obesity impairs pulmonary function in cats, although a significant increase in bronchoconstriction indexes was not observed. Non-invasive barometric whole-body plethysmography can help characterise mechanical dysfunction of the airways in obese cats.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Service, Hospital Veterinari Molins, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Laín
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: García-Guasch
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caro-Vadillo
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Service, Hospital Veterinari Molins, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manubens-Grau
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arucas (Las Palmas), Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carretón
authors.affiliation: Animal Surgery and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (FCAV), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aparecido A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Camacho
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arucas (Las Palmas), Spain alberto.montoya@ulpgc.es.
authors.forename: José Alberto
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Montoya-Alonso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D010993:Plethysmography, Whole Body / Q000662:veterinary*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*