Resp disease Flashcards
Categories of resp disease
Infectious
Allergic
Mechanical
Traumatic
Aspiration
Toxic
Neoplasia
Secondary to another process
Infectious causes of resp disease
Bacterial
Viral
Fungal
Parasitic
Clinical signs include: fever, nasal discharge and a cough
Upper and lower resp tract can be affected
Bacterial Pneumonia: bacterial infection of the lungs
Interstitial pneumonia or viral pneumonia: viral infection of the lower resp tract
Pneumonitis: inflammation of the lungs, may be referring specifically to non-infectious causes
Viral infections of resp tract
Most virus affect the upper resp tract (URT) but some also invade the lower resp tract (LRT)
Can involve the globe, conjunctiva, lacrimal ducts, eyelids and oral mucous membranes
Predisposes the animal to secondary bacterial infections
Diffuse lung damage can occur when the LRT is involved
Signs of a viral resp tract infection
Conjunctivitis
Ocular discharge
Rhinitis
Sneezing
Nasal discharge - serous purulent
Inappetence
Lethargy
+/- fever
+/- coughing
Signs of lower resp tract infection
Fever
Lethargy
Anorexia
Cough (dry)
Possible serous to mucopurulent nasal discharge
Abnormal lung sounds
Often accompanied by URT disease
Bacterial resp infections can affect
Can also affect the upper and lower resp tract
Often a sequela to a viral infection
Signs of bacterial URTI
Sneezing
Coughing
Mucopurulent to purulent nasal discharge
Lethargy
+/- inappetence
+/- fever
The animal may be able to clear the infection on their own WITHOUT antibiotics
Atrophic rhinitis is caused by and c/s
Toxigenic Pasteurella multocida and Bordetella bronchiseptica
C/S: coughing, sneezing, inflammation of the lacrimal duct, epistaxis, lateral deviation, shortening of the upper jaw and atrophy of the nasal turbinates
Prevention: vaccination of sows prior to farrowing
Bacterial LRTI c/s
Fever
Lethargy
Anorexia
Coughing (productive)
Purulent nasal discharge
Abnormal lung sounds, usually inspiratory
Require antibiotics, may be life threatening
Fungal resp disease is present where
Not common in Saskatchewan, though Blastomycosis is diagnosed occasionally
Can present with clinical signs affecting many different organs
Respiratory disease is common
Parasitic lung disease can be caused by
Visceral larval migrans- roundworms
Lung worms- Oslerus osleri, Eucleus aerophilus, Dictyocaulus spp.
managing infectious resp disease
Infectious diseases can be highly contagious!
Decontamination protocols
Management of hospitalized cases
Management of outpatients
Prevention- vaccination, isolation, environmental management
Allergic lung disease is common in
cats and horse
equine heaves
feline asthma
Allergic lung disease c/s
Allergic rhinitis is rare in animals
Patients are BAR, no fever, eating normally
Signs vary from occasional coughing to increased resp rate, expiratory wheezes and severe dyspnea
Equine heaves are and the three components
recurrent airway obstruction (ROA)
Horses >6 years of age
An allergic reaction to airborne particles
Three components to the allergic reaction
Thickening of the walls of the airways- the mucosal layer in particular
Bronchospasm
Accumulation of mucous within the lower airways
Clinical signs of ROA
Coughing
Exercise intolerance
Nasal discharge
Flaring of the nostrils
Wheezing
Increased resp rate
Heave line with chronic disease
Can lead to emphysema
Treatment of ROA
Minimizing exposure to allergens
Medications- anti-inflammatories and bronchodilators
Feline asthma is
Common condition in cats- often diagnosed when the animal is 4-5 years of age
Chronic, progressive disease
Flare ups can be mild to life threatening
Allergic reaction to inhaled allergens
Limited airway conditions are
Limited to upper resp tract
Brachycephalic syndrome
Collapsing trachea
Laryngeal paralysis
4 common components to brachycephalic syndrome
Stenotic nares or nasal obstruction
Excessive soft tissue
Elongated soft palate, thick tongue and a shortened snout
Hypoplastic trachea
Everted laryngeal saccules
What to do with brachycephalic syndrome under anesthesia
Affected animals are prone to overheating
May be present in resp distress
Challenging anesthetic patients
Difficult to intubate
Consider pre-oxygenation
Don’t mask down
Extubate only when they will no longer tolerate the endotracheal tube
Monitor closely after sedation and during recovery!!!!!
Laryngeal paralysis is and c/s
An inherited or acquired condition
Occurs in dogs and cats
Dogs- large breeds are overrepresented
Abductor muscles of larynx are affected
Clinical signs
Voice change
Exercise intolerance
Resp distress
Coughing
Treatment for laryngeal paralysis
Restrict activity
Avoid overheating
Anti-anxiety medications
Surgical repair- laryngeal tieback is the most common
25% will develop aspiration pneumonia as the larynx can no longer close properly
Left laryngeal hemiplegia in horses is and treatment
Similar pathology to laryngeal paralysis in dogs and cats
Likely heritable
Usually affects the left side
Loss of control of abductor muscles in larynx → collapse of arytenoid cartilage and vocal fold → reduced air flow
Increased effort with inhalation → causes further collapse of the structures of larynx
Clinical Signs: increased inspiratory noise and exercise intolerance
Diagnosed via endoscopy
Treatment: Laryngoplasty
Pulmonary contusions are, c/s, and treatment
Blunt trauma causes damage to blood vessels
Edema and blood accumulation within the pulmonary tissue
Clinical and radiographic signs may not be fully apparent until 12 - 24 hours after the trauma has occurred
Clinical Signs: tachypnea, dyspnea, increased respiratory effort and crackles
Treatment: supportive
Hemothorax c/s and treatment
Two important causes of c/s:
Blood loss
Fluid accumulation within the thoracic cavity
Treatment depends on severity of c/s
Supportive care
Blood transfusion
Therapeutic thoracocentesis
Thoracotomy
Pneumothorax is
Free air is present within the pleural space
This may be due to a wound extending from the outside of the body into the thoracic cavity, due to laceration/rupture of internal tissues or due to an iatrogenic cause
Diagnosis and treatment of pheumothorax
Diagnosis
Radiographs
Treatment depends on severity of clinical signs as well as underlying causes
Supportive care
Surgical repair of wounds
Therapeutic thoracocentesis
Thoracotomy
Aspiration pneumonia is and risk factors
Food or medications
Animals are at a higher risk of developing aspiration pneumonia when the normal swallowing or protective reflexes are lost
Risk factors:
Anesthesia
Laryngeal paralysis
Megaesophagus
Cleft palate
Force feeding
Inappropriate oro-esophageal or naso-esophageal tube placement
Neurological conditions
Aspiration pneumonia can be seen by and can cause
Radiographic changes are usually located in the cranioventral thorax
Inflammation can be severe
Bacterial and chemical contamination of airways
Can be lead to toxemia (fever, increased HR, depression)
Can be a fatal condition
Prevention of aspiration pneumonia
Aesthesia: fasting, appropriate timing with respect to removal of endotracheal tube, notify DVM if the patient shows any signs of vomiting/regurgitation
Stomach tube: ensure proper tube placement prior to delivery of food or medication
How to do a stomach tube
Ensure proper tube placement prior to delivery of food or medication
Pre- measure the tube –mark it with tape or a marker
Advance the tube when the patient swallows
If the patient is coughing, withdraw the tube and replace it
If in question, take a radiograph to ensure proper tube placement
Administer a small volume of water first – if coughing, withdraw the tube
Administer food/medication slowly
Flush the tube before withdrawal
Pinch the tube before you begin to withdraw it
Inhaled toxins c/s
Fine particles cause inflammation of all parts of the lungs
Clinical signs:
Similar to allergic lung disease → coughing and generalized wheezing
Systemically patients are depressed and lethargic due to toxins inhaled with the smoke
Secondary infections with a fever are common
Ingested toxins in cattle
a sudden diet change
Lush pasture has high levels of tryptophan
Rumen bacteria convert tryptophan to 3-methylindole which is toxic cells within the lungs
C/S of ingested toxins
Generalized severe lung disease
Abnormal lung sounds throughout lungs
Neoplasia is
Neoplasia of the respiratory tract is common
The lungs are a common site for metastatic neoplasia
At least 3 views critical!
Resp disease secondary to another process examples
Congestive heart failure
Electrocution
Strangulation
Near drowning
Fluid overload
