Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

Question 1

Incidence, clinical signs, and videofluoroscopic swallow study abnormalities associated with airway penetration and aspiration in 100 dogs - Grobman 2022

Answer 1

• Penetration: cranial to vocal folds; aspiration: caudal (1-7 scale, PA > 3 = pathologic)
• Overall clinical signs: 41% GI, 30% respiratory, 27% combo, 2% neurologic
• 39% incidence PA (36% GI signs only, 28% normal CXR)
• Can’t rule out aspiration with clinical signs and CXR alone
• Pharyngeal phase (pharyngeal weakness) and esophageal phase (dysmotility and esophageal-oropharyngeal reflux) significantly associated with aspiration

Question 2

Prospective evaluation of the efficacy of inhaled steroids administered via the AeroDawg spacing chamber in management of dogs with chronic cough - Chan and Johnson 2023

Answer 2

• Prospective placebo-controlled crossover study (36 client-owned dogs) - received placebo or fluticasone for 2 weeks then crossed over to fluticasone; QOL survey at 0 and 6 weeks, visual-analog cough survey at 0, 2, 4, and 6 weeks
• QOL score at study end was significantly lower compared to entry (median change 69%) indicating improved QOL; cough frequency, duration, and severity significantly decreased at study end
• Feasibility of aerosolized delivery improved with continued use with high owner satisfaction(only 1 dog unable to accept); 50% reported steroid SFX
• Chihuahua and CKCS over-represented (older, smaller, overweight)
• Efficacy achieved within ~ 2 weeks (unlikely to show further benefit if not improved by this point)
• Empiric treatment reasonable in which GA is risky and there is high suspicion for airway collapse as cause of chronic non-cardiogenic cough (likely concurrent inflammatory component)