Chapter 160 Clinicopathologic abnormalities typically are absent, even in dogs with infectious bronchitis. Thoracic radiography is an important part of the diagnostic workup, and a generalized increase in interstitial or bronchial infiltrates can be found in dogs with airway inflammation. However, radiography is relatively insensitive for chronic bronchitis, and in a case-controlled evaluation only increased thickness of airway walls and increased numbers of visible airway walls differentiated dogs with bronchitis from normal dogs (Mantis et al, 1998). Dogs with long-standing disease can develop irreversible bronchiectasis, which, when severe, will be visible radiographically (Figure 160-1). Normal-appearing chest radiographs are found relatively often in dogs with chronic bronchitis. Radiographs are also highly insensitive for documentation of airway collapse (Johnson and Pollard, 2010; Macready et al, 2007). Fluoroscopy might be considered the gold standard for identification of tracheal and bronchial collapse, although bronchoscopy is often required to document more subtle degrees of bronchomalacia or small airway collapse. Figure 160-1 Right lateral radiograph for a 9-year-old male castrated chow-chow with a 5-year history of cough. The lobar bronchi to the left cranial lung lobe (both cranial and caudal segments) are obviously dilated with loss of normal tapering, airway walls are thickened, and a distal alveolar infiltrate is noted. Figure 160-2 Bronchoscopic image demonstrating bronchomalacia, with 100% collapse of the left cranial lobar bronchus at the top of the image.
Chronic Bronchial Disorders in Dogs
Diagnosis
Chronic Bronchial Disorders in Dogs
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