SA Upper Respiratory Diseases

Question 1

conditions characterized by signs of cough in SA

Answer 1

• canine infectious respiratory dz/canine influenza
• collapsing trachea

Question 2

canine infectious respiratory disease

Answer 2

• aka Kennel Cough, infectious tracheobronchitis
• highly contagious
• multiple potential infectious agents
• multiple “hit” theory
  
  • viruses
  • bacteria (Bordatella bronchiseptica)
  • other 2˚ bacterial infectious may be involved

Question 3

clinical signs of canine infectious respiratory dz

Answer 3

• sudden onset of severe cough
• gagging, retching, nasal d/c can also occur
• often recent hx of exposure
• generally no signs of systemic illness!
• sometimes more severe/lung involvement

Question 4

diagnosis of canine infectious respiratory dz

Answer 4

• presumptive: based on hx, clinical signs, PE
• in dogs with progressive signs or systemic signs: CBC, TTW, TXR may be indicated
• definitive diagnosis: PCR, culture

Question 5

treatment of canine infectious respiratory dz

Answer 5

• typically self-limiting (often resolves w/in 5-7 days)
• avoid exercise, tracheal irritation
• most cases don’t require abx
• +/- cough suppressants
• corticosteroids not indicated

Question 6

prognosis for canine infectious respiratory dz

Answer 6

• excellent with uncomplicated infections

Question 7

canine influenza

Answer 7

• usually included with canine respiratory infectious disease
• prognosis: generally good
• tx: supportive care most important
• prevention:
  
  • awareness is key
  • standard sanitation and husbandry protocols

Question 8

prevention of canine infectious respiratory dz

Answer 8

• risk awareness
• exposure prevention
  
  • sanitation and husbandry protocols
• boost immunity
  
  • SQ and IN vax

Question 9

collapsing trachea

Answer 9

• dynamic narrowing of tracheal lumen
  
  • intra-thoracic, extra-thoracic trachea or both
  • most common at thoracic inlet
• due to:
  
  • flattening of the cartilaginous rings
  • and/or redundancy of dorsal tracheal membrane

Question 10

clinical features of collapsing trachea

Answer 10

• middle age to older toy and miniature breed dogs
• often overweight
• primary complaint is a worsening, loud, non-productive cough
  
  • “goose honk”
  • worse during exercise/excitement or w/ pressure on neck
• be aware of concurrent dz in these patients

Question 11

dx of collapsing trachea

Question 12

medical managment of collapsing trachea

Answer 12

• weight reduction!! (fat is metabolically active, O2 consumption)
• replace collar with harness
• minimize exercise
• reduction of inhaled irritants
• lomotil
• +/- antitussives
• +/- glucocorticoids
• +/- bronchodilators (could be harmful)

Question 13

tx of collapsing trachea

Answer 13

• emergency airway mgmt as needed
  
  • oxygen, anxiolytics, anti-inflammatory meds, intubation or tracheostomy
• interventional mgmt
  
  • salvage procedures
  • placement of external prostheses
  • stents

Question 14

prognosis of collapsing trachea

Answer 14

• depends upon severity of dz
• often progressive

Question 15

conditions characterized by signs of respiratory distress

Answer 15

• laryngeal paralysis
• brachycephalic syndrome

Question 16

laryngeal paralysis

Answer 16

• failure of arytenoid cartilage to abduct during inspiration
• often large breed dogs

Question 17

clinical signs of laryngeal paralysis

Answer 17

• respiratory distress, stritor, bark change, cyanosis, syncope
• signs exacerbated by increased respiratory effort
• most commonly idiopathic
  
  • occasionally associated w/ trauma, tumors…

Question 18

dx of laryngeal paralysis

Answer 18

• laryngoscopy to confirm dx
• sedation

Question 19

tx of laryngeal paralysis

Answer 19

• emergency airway mgmt
• address underlying dzs
  
  • laryngeal function may not return following successful tx of underlying dz
• address obesity
• address environmental factors
• surgical intervention
  
  • unilateral arytenoid lateralization

Question 20

prognosis of laryngeal paralysis

Answer 20

• depends on underlying cause and if there are any complications (pneumonia)
• fair to good with surgical correction
  
  • predisposition to aspiration pneumonia

Question 21

brachycephalic syndrome

Answer 21

• complex of anatomic abnormalities that are commonly found in brachycephalic dogs (and cats to lesser extent)
• components include:
  
  • stenotic nares
  • elongated soft palate
  • everted laryngeal saccules
  • hypoplastic trachea
  • +/- laryngeal collapse (consequence)

Question 22

clinical signs of brachycephalic syndrome

Answer 22

• upper airway obstruction
• signs exacerbated by excitement, exercise and high environmental temperature

Question 23

diangosis of brachycephalic syndrome

Answer 23

• may be presumptive (breed, hx, and clinical signs)
• laryngoscopy and radiography help with definitive characterization of condition

Question 24

tx of brachycephalic syndrome

Answer 24

• emergency airway mgmt as needed
• surgical correction of elongated soft palate, stenotic nares, and/or everted laryngeal saccules
• long-term mgmt includes minimizing factors that exacerbate signs (weight)

Question 25

prognosis of brachycephalic syndrome

Answer 25

* depends upon severity of abnormalities * surgically corrected defects often cause no further clinical signs in the animal