Respiratory Tract Symptoms Flashcards
Short of breath
Important to distinguish between panting and increased respiratory rate
Dogs may pant when stressed , excited, painful
Cats do not pant normally
Watch abdominal movements; if deeper, more labored.
Watch rate; fast? shallow? Does breathing change with position?
Careful with X-rays
Dyspnea
Difficulty breathing , always handle an animal dyspnea very carefully
These pets can suddenly die.
May need oxygen (mask)
If pet not doing well, alert STAT and return pet to comfortable position
Trauma may lead to diaphragmatic hernia. Always check if there is a HBC
Heart failure, brachycephalic, lung disease can all lead to major problems
Apnea
Not breathing, may be temporary or may be respiratory arrest
Common during anesthesia induction
“Sleep apnea” person stops breathing during sleep
If respiratory rest, pet won’t start breathing again without resistance (common cause of pet death;more common than cardiac arrest, reason defibrillator less useful)
Can see with anesthetic drugs, may need to “breath” for pet , give pet breath
If prolonged, tissues get less oxygen and waste products build up in tissues
What is stridor?
Raspy sound when larynx partially blocked
Stridor and laryngeal paralysis
Recurrent nerve not innervating properly (trauma , idiopathic , suspect genetic predisposition , congenital or acquired
Larynx collapses in when moving
May see harder to eat/drink , change in voice, lower endurance, breathing noises, stridor , distress
Usually slowly progressive
What can you get when you have laryngeal paralysis
Aspiration pneumonia
How to diagnose laryngeal paralysis
Visual exam of larynx during light anesthetic
What can you do when you have stridor to fix it
Do surgery to open folds (risk of aspiration)
Permanent tracheotomy
What is wheezing?
Narrowing of airways, note if heard inhaling or exhaling
What diseases is wheezing common in?
Asthma (more common in cats) Heartworm Airway tumors Lungworms Can be seen with coughing (may be confused with hairball or gagging)
Is wheezing more common with inspiration or expiration?
Expiration (higher intrathoracic pressure)
Usually more severe if seen in inspiration and expiration
What is shallow breathing?
Very little movement of chest
May be rapid
When do you often see shallow breathing?
Broken ribs
Concern with any HBC
Concern for internal injury (hit by car)
Coughing
Productive vs none productive
Worse at night or when exercising
What does coughing sound like?
Honking , gagging , harsh
Questions to ask when an animal has been coughing
Worse at night? Worse after exercise? Any respiratory distress, increased effort? Just started? How long? Bringing up foam, discharge?
What disease can it indicate when coughing starts after collar is pulled on or pet is excited
Collapsing trachea
Mouth breathing
Dogs and cats normally are nose breathers
Watch at rest, hard to assess when panting
What can breathing through mouth indicate?
Inadequate oxygen intake
What to look for when animal is mouth breathing
Abdominal effort
RR
MM
Any distress?
What to ask when animal is breathing through mouth?
After exercise?
Randomly ?
Any triggers?
Is panting normal in cats?
No
Is panting normal in dogs and what can it indicate?
Yes
Overheating
Over excited
Nervousness
Epistaxis Nasal discharge
Blood
Serous nasal discharge
Clear
Purulent nasal discharge
Put
What to check for when there is nasal discharge
If it is contributing to dyspnea
Sneezing
Can be sign of excitement , irritation or just sniffed
What to check for when sneezing
Check if dog is rubbing face- could indicate allergies
Or pawing at face - foreign bodies
If persistent sneezing
FB
Mites
Allergies
Viral or bacterial infection
Questions to ask when sneezing
Are there any other signs ?
Reverse sneezing
Abnormal snorting/gagging sound
Owners often confuse with cough/gag
When can reverse sneezing be normal?
Brachycephalics (clears airways) Small dogs (small throats) More common in dogs
When do you see reverse sneezing ?
Allergies Irritants (perfume, smoke) Fb Mites Excitement
What treatments when reverse sneezing
Usually no treatments are needed
If suspect underlying cause, blood work, rhinoscopy, biopsy
Choking
Coughing, pawing at mouth, respiratory distress
Medical emergency
What to ask when choking?
Full blockage or partial
Is pet breathing
What to do when airway actually blocked
Clear airway to allow oxygen flow
What to do when not breathing while choking
Heimlech
Hands by last rib, sharp thrust to abdomen
Puns back if needed
Pull tongue, check mouth for object (caution with biting)
Pull out or use table if able
Questions to ask when choking
Is pet pawing in mouth ?
FB but not full obstruction?
Check mouth, bring to vet
What can choking be confused with
Kennel cough
If it is kennel cough then the cough is more continuous and the pet can still breathe
What objects can usually get stuck and cause problems?
Rawhides
Bones
PPQ
Gagging
Looks like early stages of vomiting , may bring up mucus then swallow it
Removes irritants from larynx
Can confuse with cough (from airways) or vomit
Weakness
Non specific sign, related to lack of oxygen
Pet weak, reluctant to move, tired
Lethargy
Related to lack of oxygen
Reduced exercise tolerance
Similar to weakness
No energy, not feeling well
Anaphylactic shock
Allergic reaction characterized by dyspnea , stridor , agitation , foaming around nostrils , v/d
When does anyphylactic shock need treatment?
Asap
How is anaphylactic shock treated?
Antihistamines
Steroids
Dental disease
Can cause abscess, congestion, nasal discharge
Signs of dental disease
May have swelling on muzzle
May sneeze more
May have discharge
Irritation / rubbing
Treatment of dental disease
Remove abscessed tooth
May feel hole at dental or see bleeding through nose extraction
What breeds are more at risk for dental disease
Dachshunds
Cyanosis
Mucous membranes become blue in colour due to decreased oxygen
Blue/red
What does cyanosis indicate?
Severe respiratory problems/distress
Poor prognosis if unable to fix underlying problem
What can cause cyanosis?
Heart failure (congestive, hypertrophic) Respiratory failure (cancer, collapse, torsion Diaphragmatic hernia
Reduced exercise tolerance
Related to lack of oxygen
Pet may tire more easily , may breathe heavier after exercise
Possible collapse after exercise
