What is Fibrotic Hardening of the Lungs in Cats? Fibrotic hardening of the lungs, also known as pulmonary fibrosis, is a form of pneumonia that causes inflammation and scarring in the alveoli, tiny air sacs in the lungs. Over time, the inflammation and fibrous scarring cause the lung tissues to thicken and harden. This thickening affects both the flow of oxygen and the ability of the lungs to contract normally, decreasing the amount of oxygen that the rest of the cat 's body receives. Pulmonary fibrosis often goes unnoticed until it is in an advanced stage, making it extremely difficult to treat. Not every cat who has pneumonia will develop pulmonary fibrosis, but it is more likely to develop in cats who are older or who are overweight. …show more content…
Next, the veterinarian will examine the cat, looking at the mucous membranes in the mouth for signs of discoloration, listening to the lungs and heart with a stethoscope and taking its respiratory rate. A complete blood count, urinalysis and biochemical profile will be done. These tests will look for other conditions that could be causing the breathing difficulties in the cat. A chest x-ray will be taken of the cat 's lungs. The x-ray will look for thickened tissue that is characteristic of fibrotic hardening of the lungs. An echocardiogram may be done to view the heart and look for enlargement or any other abnormalities. A computed tomography (CT) scan may also be done if the chest x-ray is inconclusive in order to get a three-dimensional view of the lungs. In some cases, a biopsy may be taken of the tissue. The veterinarian will put the cat under general anesthesia during this test. A tube will be placed down the cat 's lungs with an attached camera. A small sample of the tissue will be removed and then sent to an outside lab for