Emergency Medicine and Critical CareDifficulty 3/5
A blocked male cat presents collapsed, bradycardic and hypothermic. What does this presentation indicate?
- ACompensated shock, which will improve once the obstruction is relieved
- BDecompensated shock with likely hyperkalaemia requiring stabilisation first
- CA vasovagal response to pain that resolves with analgesia alone
- DHypothermia from environmental exposure during transport to the clinic
Show answer and rationale
Correct: B. Cats decompensate with bradycardia and hypothermia rather than tachycardia. In urethral obstruction this pattern signals hyperkalaemia, and stabilisation precedes relieving the obstruction.
- A — Bradycardia with collapse is decompensation, not compensation.
- C — Attributing collapse to pain alone misses a life-threatening electrolyte problem.
- D — Hypothermia here reflects shock rather than ambient temperature.