Case Study

RAD – Expected geriatric and postpneumonic changes in a 8 year old MN Dachshund dog

The patient is a 8 year old MN Dachshund dog with a 2 year history of recurrent cough with nasal discharge

DX

Expected geriatric and postpneumonic changes

Image Interpretation

right lateral, left lateral and VD thorax – Osseous structures:
Mild degenerative changes were associated with the axial skeleton including a
mineralized disc and narrow disc space T10/11.
Both shoulder joints and elbow joints revealed moderate and mild osteoarthritic
changes respectively. No changes of the chest wall were noted.
Intrathoracic structures:
The mediastinum and pleural space were within normal limits. The lung revealed a
mild generalized increase in interstitial opacity emphhasizing the caudal lobes.
Multifocal bronchial wall mineralization was noted. No interstitial nodular changes
were seen. The lung was only mildly inflated on the lateral views.
The cardiac silhouette was within normal limits for size and shape. The major vessels
and pulmonary vasculature were within normal limits. There was no sign of vascular
congestion.
Intraabdominal structures:
The serosal detail was within normal limits. The liver extended beyond the costal arch
but the liver margins were pointed.

Outcome

There is no sign of congestive heart failure, pneumonia or
metastatic spread to the lung or mediastinum.
The mild hepatomegaly is likely to be incidental and unrelated to the clinical
presentation. Further diagnostic work up to rule out vacuolar, inflammatory or
neoplastic hepatopathy such as ultrasound and parenchymal sampling is only indicated
in case of liver enzyme and/or bilirubin elevation or other signs of relevant
hepatopathy.