Respiratory Tract Symptoms

Question 1

Short of breath

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Dyspnea

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Apnea

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What is stridor?

Answer 4

Raspy sound when larynx partially blocked

Question 5

Stridor and laryngeal paralysis

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What can you get when you have laryngeal paralysis

Answer 6

Aspiration pneumonia

Question 7

How to diagnose laryngeal paralysis

Answer 7

Visual exam of larynx during light anesthetic

Question 8

What can you do when you have stridor to fix it

Answer 8

Do surgery to open folds (risk of aspiration)

Permanent tracheotomy

Question 9

What is wheezing?

Answer 9

Narrowing of airways, note if heard inhaling or exhaling

Question 10

What diseases is wheezing common in?

Answer 10

Asthma (more common in cats) 
Heartworm
Airway tumors 
Lungworms 
Can be seen with coughing (may be confused with hairball or gagging)

Question 11

Is wheezing more common with inspiration or expiration?

Answer 11

Expiration (higher intrathoracic pressure)

Usually more severe if seen in inspiration and expiration

Question 12

What is shallow breathing?

Answer 12

Very little movement of chest

May be rapid

Question 13

When do you often see shallow breathing?

Answer 13

Broken ribs
Concern with any HBC
Concern for internal injury (hit by car)

Question 14

Coughing

Answer 14

Productive vs none productive

Worse at night or when exercising

Question 15

What does coughing sound like?

Answer 15

Honking , gagging , harsh

Question 16

Questions to ask when an animal has been coughing

Answer 16

Worse at night? 
Worse after exercise?
Any respiratory distress, increased effort? 
Just started? 
How long?
Bringing up foam, discharge?

Question 17

What disease can it indicate when coughing starts after collar is pulled on or pet is excited

Answer 17

Collapsing trachea

Question 18

Mouth breathing

Answer 18

Dogs and cats normally are nose breathers

Watch at rest, hard to assess when panting

Question 19

What can breathing through mouth indicate?

Answer 19

Inadequate oxygen intake

Question 20

What to look for when animal is mouth breathing

Answer 20

Abdominal effort
RR
MM
Any distress?

Question 21

What to ask when animal is breathing through mouth?

Answer 21

After exercise?
Randomly ?
Any triggers?

Question 22

Is panting normal in cats?

Answer 22

No

Question 23

Is panting normal in dogs and what can it indicate?

Answer 23

Yes
Overheating
Over excited
Nervousness

Question 24

Epistaxis Nasal discharge

Answer 24

Blood

Question 25

Serous nasal discharge

Answer 25

Clear

Question 26

Purulent nasal discharge

Answer 26

Put

Question 27

What to check for when there is nasal discharge

Answer 27

If it is contributing to dyspnea

Question 28

Sneezing

Answer 28

Can be sign of excitement , irritation or just sniffed

Question 29

What to check for when sneezing

Answer 29

Check if dog is rubbing face- could indicate allergies | Or pawing at face - foreign bodies

Question 30

If persistent sneezing

Answer 30

FB Mites Allergies Viral or bacterial infection

Question 31

Questions to ask when sneezing

Answer 31

Are there any other signs ?

Question 32

Reverse sneezing

Answer 32

Abnormal snorting/gagging sound | Owners often confuse with cough/gag

Question 33

When can reverse sneezing be normal?

Answer 33

``` Brachycephalics (clears airways) Small dogs (small throats) More common in dogs ```

Question 34

When do you see reverse sneezing ?

Answer 34

``` Allergies Irritants (perfume, smoke) Fb Mites Excitement ```

Question 35

What treatments when reverse sneezing

Answer 35

Usually no treatments are needed | If suspect underlying cause, blood work, rhinoscopy, biopsy

Question 36

Choking

Answer 36

Coughing, pawing at mouth, respiratory distress | Medical emergency

Question 37

What to ask when choking?

Answer 37

Full blockage or partial | Is pet breathing

Question 38

What to do when airway actually blocked

Answer 38

Clear airway to allow oxygen flow

Question 39

What to do when not breathing while choking

Answer 39

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

Question 40

Questions to ask when choking

Answer 40

Is pet pawing in mouth ? FB but not full obstruction? Check mouth, bring to vet

Question 41

What can choking be confused with

Answer 41

Kennel cough | If it is kennel cough then the cough is more continuous and the pet can still breathe

Question 42

What objects can usually get stuck and cause problems?

Answer 42

Rawhides Bones PPQ

Question 43

Gagging

Answer 43

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

Question 44

Weakness

Answer 44

Non specific sign, related to lack of oxygen | Pet weak, reluctant to move, tired

Question 45

Lethargy

Answer 45

Related to lack of oxygen Reduced exercise tolerance Similar to weakness No energy, not feeling well

Question 46

Anaphylactic shock

Answer 46

Allergic reaction characterized by dyspnea , stridor , agitation , foaming around nostrils , v/d

Question 47

When does anyphylactic shock need treatment?

Answer 47

Asap

Question 48

How is anaphylactic shock treated?

Answer 48

Antihistamines | Steroids

Question 49

Dental disease

Answer 49

Can cause abscess, congestion, nasal discharge

Question 50

Signs of dental disease

Answer 50

May have swelling on muzzle May sneeze more May have discharge Irritation / rubbing

Question 51

Treatment of dental disease

Answer 51

Remove abscessed tooth | May feel hole at dental or see bleeding through nose extraction

Question 52

What breeds are more at risk for dental disease

Answer 52

Dachshunds

Question 53

Cyanosis

Answer 53

Mucous membranes become blue in colour due to decreased oxygen Blue/red

Question 54

What does cyanosis indicate?

Answer 54

Severe respiratory problems/distress | Poor prognosis if unable to fix underlying problem

Question 55

What can cause cyanosis?

Answer 55

``` Heart failure (congestive, hypertrophic) Respiratory failure (cancer, collapse, torsion Diaphragmatic hernia ```

Question 56

Reduced exercise tolerance

Answer 56

Related to lack of oxygen Pet may tire more easily , may breathe heavier after exercise Possible collapse after exercise