Clinicopathologic abnormalities associated with increased animal triage trauma score in cats with bite wound injuries: 43 cases (1998-2009).

OBJECTIVE

To document the clinical and clinicopathologic changes in cats presenting with trauma from bite wounds, identify common abnormalities associated with bite wounds, and to determine whether the calculated animal trauma triage (ATT) score is related to any clinicopathologic abnormalities.

DESIGN

Retrospective descriptive study.

SETTING

University veterinary teaching hospital.

ANIMALS

Forty-three client-owned cats that presented for bite wounds to a large, urban, veterinary hospital between 1998 and 2009.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Pertinent history, physical examination findings, results of biochemical testing, and outcome were extracted from medical records. Animal triage trauma score was calculated based on the physical examination at presentation in cats with adequate available information. Patients were classified as having either a low (<5) ATT (n = 20) or a high (≥5) ATT (n = 23) score. Male cats were overrepresented (65.1%), and a majority of cats had outdoor access (53.4%). Low venous blood pH (P = 0.047), high plasma lactate concentration (P = 0.018), and low ionized calcium concentration (P = 0.004) were associated with higher ATT scores.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a significant association between low venous blood pH, high plasma lactate concentration, and low ionized calcium concentration and higher ATT scores at presentation in cats suffering from bite wounds. Early recognition of these abnormalities may help to identify more severely injured patients.