Upper respiratory tract disease in small animals Flashcards
What is stertor?
snoring noise
indicates excessive or redudant soft tissue
indicates revererant airflow in upper airway
Describe the primary disorder of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome
elongated soft palate stenotic nares excess pharyngela mucosa narrowed nasal passages reduced airflow
Describe the secondary disorders of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome
soft palate thickening laryngeal saccule eversion laryngeal collapse tonsillar prolapse inflammation swelling of soft tissues
What can cause regurgitation in bradycephalic breeds?
pressure effects
hiatal hernia
What components are amenable to simple surgery?
Primary- elongated soft palate and stenotic nares
Secondary- laryngeal saccule eversion and tonsillar prolapse
Laryngeal collapse and hiatal hernia
How can a chronic case be managed?
Weight loss
Modify lifestyle- stress, exercise, heat
Harness not lead
Surgery- early intervention may prevent progression
How can BOAS be managed in emergency cases?
Cage rest Keep cool Oxygen therapy Sedation to calm down but too much sedation and cause loss of pharyngeal tone and reflexes Butorphanol is therefore used
How is BOAS diagnosed?
stenotic nares
occurs after birth
cartilage collapse causing loss of comma shape
How are stenotic nares surgically corrected?
surgically corrected via vertical wedge resection - a wedge of tissue is removed, and the remaining is stitched back up open
How is largyneal collapse treated?
first line treatment is to correct other BOAS issues and start lifestyle modification
glottis widening procedures can be undertaken
tracheostomy can also be considered
Why are BOAS cases prone to regurgitation?
Sliding hiatal hernia
Increased intrathoracic pressure due to dyspnoea
Gastritis
Saliva/food gets trapped in pharyngeal folds
These all lead to increased risk of aspiration pneumonia
What is stridor and what causes it?
hard noise heard on inspiration
caused by vocal cords reverberating due to laryngeal paralysis
What breed is idiopathic acquired laryngeal paralysis common in?
labradors
What breeds is congenital laryngeal paralysis common in?
rottweilers
bouvier des flandres
dalmatian
white german shepherds
What are typical signs of secondary laryngeal paralysis?
inspiratory stridor at exercise excerise intolernace dyspnoea at rest, cyanosis pyrexia productive cough
How can laryngeal paralysis be diagnosed?
loss of active abduction on inspiration
How can laryngeal paralysis be treated in an emergency situation?
Aspiration pneumonia- systemic antibiotics
Dyspnoeic crisis- sedate, cool oxygen and temporary tracheostomy or refer for surgery
What are common upper respiratory diseases in cats?
Nasopharyngeal polyps
Neoplasia- squamous cell carcinoma: tonsil, larynx
Lymphoma
BOAS rare: (Persian cats)
Laryngeal paralysis uncommon: lactogenic (thyroidectomy, 50% of cases) and idiopathic (50% of cases)
Describe feline nasopharyngeal polyps
Common
Typically seen in cats under 2 years old
Association with respiratory viruses
Originate in tympanic bulla: aural masses (grow out of ear canal) and nasopharyngeal masses grow down Eustachian tube
Swelling above soft palate, stertor, swallowing issues
Treatment= traction and steroids and middle ear surgery to curette base.
