This 9 year old MN Bassett Hound has a history of a productive cough of 1-2 weeks duration. Exam shows mild wheezing and very mild and intermittent crackles.
This 9 year old MN Bassett Hound has a history of a productive cough of 1-2 weeks duration. Exam shows mild wheezing and very mild and intermittent crackles.
Rads of the thorax – The esophagus contains a mild amount of gas level in the thoracic inlet. The lung presents a moderate generalized bronchointerstitial pattern with peribronchial cuffing (doughnuts and tram lines) and mild cylindrical bronchiectasis. The visibility of the 2nd and 3rd order lung vessels is reduced. A redundant tracheal membrane is visible at the dorsal aspect of the trachea which reduces the diameter of the trachea to 1.7 cm at the thoracic inlet (incidental finding). The cranial mediastinum presents mild focal widening with a fat opacity cranial to theheart (fat deposition).
The increased visibility of the bronchial walls (bronchial pattern) can be secondary to a
true bronchial wall thickening, mucosal thickening, peri-bronchial infiltration or a
combination of the aforementionedInfectious bronchitis – especially viral and/or bacterial – and allergic airway disease are
possible differential diagnoses. Parasitic, fungal and mycobacterial infections are low
for potential with the current radiographic presentation.
The aerophagia is most likely due to respiratory distress, discomfort, or pain
The clinical history of rather acute onset of the clinical signs does not parallel the
radiographic findings. Hence, other underlying causes of cough such as, upper airway
inflammation (laryngitis/tracheitis) should be considered as well.
An endoscopic examination with BAL, bloodwork and a fecal examination (rule out
lung worm infection) would be ideal for further definition. A clinical trial with
empirical antimicrobial treatment, theophylline, asthma spray and inhalation may be
considered as an alternative option if the aforementioned is not available.
