Questions for respiratory diseases Flashcards
List 5 clinical signs that migh be seen in a patient with upper respiratory disease
Sneezing, stertor, nasal discharge, face rubbing, stridor, coughing
Explain the pathophysiology of laryngeal paralysis
Damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve that supplies the muscles of the larynx (1) leading to failure of the vocal folds to fully open on inspiration (1)
Inspiration then becomes difficult as the folds do not move and can lead to dyspnoea
Explain why the following three clinical signs occur in dogs with laryngeal paralysis
Change in voice –
Acute respiratory disease with cyanosis –
Exercise intolerance –
Change in voice – due to paralysis of vocal cfolds
Acute respiratory disease with cyanosis – due to acute obstruction/decreased oxygen availability
Exercise intolerance – due to difficulty in inspiration leading to poor oxygenation of tissues
Explain what circumstances may result in the patient presenting in an acute respiratory crisis?
Hot day, excrssive exercise
Referring to your notes on infectious disease explain the aetiology of feline upper respiratory tract disease
Various agents implicated, primarily Feline Herpes Virus, Feline Calicivirus, Bordetella Bronchiseptica, Clamdophilla Felis
Explain the following clinical signs that may be associated with FURD
pyrexia–
sneezing –
Intermittent lameness –
pyrexia– could be due to immune response to presence of virus
sneezing – organisms replicating in the nasal cavity epithelium leads to irratation of mucosa and inflammation
Intermittent lameness – calici virus replicates in the joints
Explain the pathophysiology of Canine Contagious Respiratory Disease
Pathogens attach to the ciliated epithelium of the respiratory tract and multiply in the respiratoey tract and lymphiod tissue, they may lead to tracheobronchitis or pneumonia if it is a very severe infection
What is the treatment for CCRD?
Nothing, cough suppressants, possibly antibiotics if if the animal is pyrexic or nasal discharge present
Explain the pathophysiology of tracheal collapse
Incomplete formation or weakening of the tracheal cartilages leading to reduced patency of trachea, this leads to obstruction of the cervical trachea during inspiration and the thoracic portion during expiration.
Describe the characteristic cough associated with tracheal collapse
Goose honk type cough during exertion/excitement
Describe following 2 techniques for diagnosing tracheal collapse in dogs and explain the rationale for their selection
Xray –
Fluoroscopy –
Xray – plain radiography, may be difficult to visualise narrowing of the trachea on a single picture
Fluoroscopy – use of ‘real time’ xray beam to visualise movement, allowing more accurate dianosis however will often require referral and is more expensive
List 3 key structural abnormalities that may be found to varying degrees in cases of Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome
Stenotic nares, elongated soft palate, tracheal hypoplasia
Describe the pathophysiology of feline asthma
Irritant/allergen cause inflammation in the small airways of the lungs leading to increased mucus production, the small bronchioles also constrict which all contributes towards dyspnoea
Explain how bronchoalveolar lavage can be used to diagnose lower airway disease
Few ml of sterile saline is flushed into alveolar region and then aspirated .
aspirate is then examined and/or cultured for presence of parasites, bacteria, inflammatory, neoplastic cells
Explain the treatment options available to owners with cats who have feline asthma
Avoidance/removal of allergens, drug therapy including bronchodilators, antibiotics, diuretics, cough suppressants, may be delivered by aerosol inhaler if the cat will tolerate
