Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

RE: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

dachsie_4 — Tue, 10 May 2016 12:07:42 GMT

thank you very much for the interesting input, I shall have a word with the owners and go from there!

RE: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Julian Earl — Tue, 10 May 2016 09:41:19 GMT

Azothioprine can help these dogs

RE: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Anthony Dennison — Tue, 10 May 2016 09:13:18 GMT

I think Jenny has covered things pretty well there! I had a coughing Westie that we managed to get thoracic rads but the anaesthetic was so bad we didn't want to risk a bronchoscopy. Very suggestive of IPF, so I started with fluticasone inhalers (flixotide evohaler through NVS), 250mcg BID, but increased to TID towards the end.

Dog lasted about 10 months before becoming markedly dyspnoeic and died despite intervention. Owner did notice a difference; dog didn't stop coughing completely, would cough when he got excited but stopped constantly wheezing and coughing.

RE: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

David Mills — Mon, 09 May 2016 21:52:42 GMT

If it's got true PF then its only got weeks to live so sod the PUPD and give it oral preds rather than stressing it with an expensive inhaler for the rest of its life (given the dog's resp compromise it's unlikely to reach the bits it needs to anyway).

Pimobendan is an arteriodilator (PDE-III and V) so potentially helps in cases where pulmonary hypertension exists. Sildenafil is thought to be more potent and reliable in this respect but pricier. Pimo has the advantage of anti-cytokine activity so might make the dog feel happier.

RE: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Joyce Whitehead — Mon, 09 May 2016 21:47:21 GMT

N=1 but I used a steroid inhaler on our own old Border Terrier some years ago who had IPF. She tolerated it very well but it made no difference at all.

At a recent BSAVA CPD Pimobendan was recommended to try. I've only tried it on one dog and it didn't help that one but may try again at some point.

RE: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Jenny Boyd — Mon, 09 May 2016 21:35:24 GMT

Hi Monika

I would say that inhaled steroids are unlikely to work but I suppose you could give it a try. I have tried this once with no success personally. I think most people trial 2-3weeks pred at 0.5mg/kg systemic first. Did you manage bronchoscopy/BAL in this dog? I say that as the major differential for this breed is likely to be chronic bronchitis in which case steroids may be helpful and BAL would help differentiate. I think that in a 'crackling westie' around 40% have IPF alone and if the signs are caused exclusively by fibrosis steroids won't help. Around 40% may have a mixture of IPF and CB and around 20% CB on its own. Many of the IPF dogs- again I think around 40% have pulmonary hypertension, and some people have tried sildenafil in these dogs with anecdotally some effect(though I must admit I haven't read the papers). Combination therapy with sildenafil and pimobendan has been reported in human patients in Japan - I think some vets may be trying this- however I have not personally looked at these papers so am not advocating you trying that out without looking into it more!

Jenny