Aim: Detailed information regarding the causes and treatment of acute collapse in the cat can be difficult to locate in a single published source. This two-part review aims to provide a logical approach to the clinical assessment and stabilisation of the critically ill collapsed cat.
Practical relevance: Laboratory evaluation, in the form of an emergency database, is an important part of the initial assessment of a collapsed patient and should be considered in conjunction with physical abnormalities.
Clinical challenges: Rapid identification and correction of life-threatening metabolic abnormalities, including hypoglycaemia, hypocalcaemia and hyperkalaemia, is essential in stabilising this group of patients. Clinicians often lack confidence if they are not dealing with these problems regularly.
Audience: The information provided in this article will be of use to any veterinarian working with feline patients and particularly those dealing with emergencies on a regular basis.
Evidence base: There is an extensive body of published literature, both original studies and textbook chapters, pertaining to the causes and treatment of the important metabolic abnormalities covered in this article. The authors draw on information from original articles, reviews and their clinical experience to provide simple but detailed practical information to guide interpretation of the emergency database and its application to therapy in the emergency setting.