Diseases of the Respiratory Tract and the Skin

• history
• physical exam
• CBC and blood chemistries
• thoracic radiographs - 2 or 3 views
• viral tests
• cytology of exudates
• transtracheal wash/bronchial lavage with culture and sensitivities
• bronchoscopy

• inflammation of the bronchi and bronchioles
• siamese  are overrepresented

• coughing, 
• sneezing,
• labored breathing,
• wheezing,
• can be episodic

• cigarette smoke,
• dusty cat litter,
• hair sprays,
• air fresheners

• eosinophilia, 
• bronchial wall thickening (radiographs),
• transoral tracheal wash
• bronchoalveolar lavage

• oxygen if an emergency,
• bronchodilators,
• corticosteroids

Feline Asthma and Bronchitis

partial upper airway obstruction

• stenotic nares
• elongated soft palate
• everted laryngeal saccules
• laryngeal collapse
• +/- hypoplastic trachea

• english bulldogs
• french bulldogs
• pug
• boston terrier
• persian cats
• himalayan cats

• noisy breathing,
• panting,
• coughing,
• gagging,
• difficulty eating and swallowing,
• ptyalism,
• regurgitation and vomiting

• obesity
• excitement +/- warm or humid weather
• exercise
• sedation
• respiratory infections

• physical signs
• radiographs

• diet
• avoidance of risk factors
• correction of stenotic nares
• resection of elongated soft palate
• sacculectomy

inflammation in the lungs

• inhalation of regurgitated ingesta or vomitus, 
• bacterial or fungal
• allergic,
• interstitial

• cough, 
• labored breathing,
• tachypnea,
• nasal discharge,
• exercise intolerance,
• anorexia, weight loss,
• lethargy,
• fever,
• increased bronchial sounds,
• crackles and wheezes

• pharyngeal or esophageal abnormalities,
• force feeding,
• syringe feeding,
• any disease or drugs that suppress the immune system,
• young, aged animals

• thoracic radiographs 2-3 views,
• inflammatory leukogram (neutrophilic leukocytosis),
• transtracheal/endotracheal washing 
• bronchoalveolar lavage with cytology and culture with sensitivities

• oxygen if needed,
• IV fluids,
• antibiotics,
• saline nebulization 
• coupage (rhythmic beating of the chest)

Aspiration penumonia

fungal pneumonia

Dynamic reduction in the luminal diameter – cervical trachea, intrathoracic trachea or both

• Middle-aged to elderly dogs –
• Miniature poodles,
• Yorkshire terriers,
• Chihuahuas,
• Pomeranians,
• toy breeds

• unknown; 
• congenital,
• nutritional,
• familial defects of chondrogenesis of tracheal rings suspected

• obesity, 
• airway infection or inflammation,
• endotracheal intubation,
• worsened by heat, humidity, excitement

• dry honking cough,
• retching,
• tachypnea,
• exercise intolerance,
• respiratory distress, 
• tracheal sensitivity

may see collapse on radiographs, fluoroscopy

• oxygen if needed,
• sedation and cough suppression,
• WEIGHT LOSS,
• bronchodilators, 
• corticosteroids,
• Diphenoxylate (Lomotil)

Inflammation of the nasal epithelium and/or paranasal sinuses

chronic rhinosinusitis common in brachycephalic breeds

• neoplasia, 
• inflammatory rhinitis,
• fungal infection (Aspergillosis),
• dolichocephalic breeds

• fungal, viral, or bacterial,
• foreign body,
• tumor,
• tooth root infection,
• pneumonia, 
• nasopharyngeal polyps,
• cleft palate

• skull radiographs,
• dental radiographs,
• CT/MRI,
• nasal swabs (Cryptococcus),
• culture exudate, 
• endoscopy with biopsy

• depends on etiology,
• antibiotics,
• antifungals,
• anti-inflammatories,
• steroids,
• antihistamines,
• L-lysine

Air accumulated in the pleural space – traumatic or spontaneous

• history of recent trauma,
• anesthesia and intubation,
• overinflation of entdotracheal cuff,
• thoracocentesis,
• jugular venipuncture,
• pulmonary disease,
• migrating grass awn,
• bullae

thoracic radiographs (lateral view)

• oxygen until stabilized
• thoracocentesis to remove air
• place chest
• tube if indicated
• pain medication if traumatic
• strict rest

• Physical – characteristic lesions
• Skin scraping – parasites
• Cytology
• Wood’s light – Microsporum canis
• Fungal culture – DTM media
• Culture and sensitivity
• Fine needle aspirate - cells
• Biopsy - tissue
• Immunohistology – uses
• special stains and techniques
• Test for systemic disease
• Elimination diet
• Immune system evaluation

A circumscribed, flat spot up to 1 cm. in size, characterized by a change in color

A macule over 1 cm. in size

A small, solid elevation of the skin up to 1 cm. in diameter

A larger, flat-topped elevation formed by the extension or coalition of papules

A type of macule caused by bleeding into the skin (reddish color)

A small, circumscribed, solid elevation greater than 1 cm. in diameter that usually extends into the deeper layers of the skin

A neoplastic enlargement that may involve any structure of the skin or subcutaneous tissue

An epithelium-lined cavity containing fluid or a solid material, smooth, well-circumscribed fluctuant-to-solid mass

A small circumscribed elevation of the skin filled with purulent exudate that is usually intraepidermal or follicular in location

A demarcated fluctuant lesion resulting from dermal or subcutaneous accumulation of purulent exudate

A sharply circumscribed, raised, flat-topped lesion consisting of edema that appears and disappears within minutes or hours, lesion of urticaria (hives)

A similar condition to wheals except the edema is deeper resulting in diffuse swelling

A sharply circumscribed elevation of the skin filled with clear fluid, up to 1 cm. in diameter and are usually intraepidermal or subepidermal in location

A vesicle greater than 1 cm. in diameter

dried exudate, scab

dry, thin flake of skin

superficial destruction of skin

sore on skin

rim around a lesion on the skin

itchiness of the skin

skin is worn off

leathery skin

black heads

is the loss of skin color

increase in skin color

hives

bacterial infection of the skin

• characterized by depth:
• superficial
• deep
• furunculosis

• Staph. pseudointermedius
• Pasturella multocida
• E. coli
• Proteus spp.
• Pseudomonas spp.

• pustules
• erythema
• some crusting
• commonly on the ventral abdomen and axilla

• antibacterial shampoos
• +/- systemic antibiotics
• antibacterial cream
• most are secondary to other conditions

"hot spot"

• self-induced trauma
• secondary bacterial infection

• antibiotics
• clip hair and clean with antiseptic
• topical medication
• e-collar
• corticosteroids

• overgrowth of bacteria in skin folds
• occurs in breeds with redundant tissue that creates a moist envrionment for bacteria
• can be chronic

• lips
• nasal folds
• vulvar folds (obesity, infantile vulva)
• tail (corkscrew tail)

• same as superficial pyoderma:
• Antibacterial shampoos
• +/- Systemic antibiotics
• Antibacterial cream
• Most are secondary to other conditions
• in addition to:
• +/- surgery to remove skin folds

• comedones and pustules
• painful
• may be febrile

• antibiotics
• antiseptic cream - benzoyl perioxide, mupirocin
• corticosteroids
• cyclosporine (atopica)
• change food dish and keep clean
• change diet - canned?

• secondary disease
• usually has an allergic component
• flea allergy dermatitis in cats

• treat allergic compnent: food, atopic dermatitis
• antibiotics
• corticosteroids
• cyclosporine (atopica)
• flea control

infections of the subcutaneous tissues that spreads along the planes of the tissues.

• febrile
• pruritis
• may be anorexic

long term antibiotics

• not an infection
• immune disease seen in puppies 3wks - 4 months
• pet may die if unresolved

• submandibular lymph node swelling
• alopecia
• +/- secondary pyoderma

• corticosteroids
• +/- antibiotics for secondary problems