Diseases of the trachea in dogs and cats

Question 1

Diagnostic test for trachea

Answer 1

Radiography (LL, DV, VD), trachea-bronchoscopy, blood test (ø informative usually), flotation test (lung worm)

Question 2

Causes: prolonged barking, tracheal prolapse, chronic cardiac disease, allergic lower air way disease

Answer 2

Non-infectious tracheitis. Treatment: Antitussive (codein), Bronchodilator (terbutaline, theophylline), Anti-inflammatory (gcc: prednisone)

Question 3

CS: acute onset of dry, hacking and paroxysmal cough, often followed by retching and cough can stimulated by palpation of trachea

Answer 3

Infectious tracheitis = Kennel cough complex (bordetella bronchiseptica + canine adenovirus-2 + canine parainfluenza), distemper or others (reovirus, mycoplasma). Treatment: ISOLATION, AB (cephalosporins, doxycycline, amox-clav), Antitussive (codeine, OBS Ø if suspected bronchopneumonia), Bronchodilator (terbutaline, theophylline)

Question 4

CS: long history of coughing, from mild to intermitted to paroxysmal “goose-honk” cough, +/- cyanosis, cough can be elicited by palpation, eating/drinking, excitement. Inspiratory noises heard on auscultation

Answer 4

Tracheal collapse. Most common affecting toy or miniature breeds. Often aquired and in extrathoracic region (inspiratory noise), if intrathoracic (expiratory noise). Fluroscopy is best to diagnose, or radiograpy and bronchoscopy. Treatment: Respiratory emergency patients: stabilization with sedation (butorphanol), 02, gcc (first dexamethasone then prednisolone long term). Treatment of ø emergency: antitussive, antiinf, bronchodilator. Surgery last resort.

Question 5

CS: dyspnea, productive cough, fever if bronchopneumonia

Answer 5

Tracheal hypoplasia in bulldogs and boston terrier mostly. Congenital. Tracheal edema in tracheitis can mimic hypoplasia on radiographs. Prevention= Ø breed them

Question 6

CS: chronic dyspnea, dry cough, inspiratory wheezing sounds

Answer 6

Lung worm (Oslerus Osleri). Diagnostic: fecal flotation