Puppy with asthma? Any advice?

RE: Puppy with asthma? Any advice?

Marianne Thomas — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 11:27:32 GMT

Sorry, missed your email.

She's had monthly milbemax since 8wo & a course of panacur following the 2nd attack but we didn't have snap tests in at the time.

She's had no further attacks & a progressive improvement in lung sounds.

Following advice here, we're going to scan heart & mediastinum when she comes in for pre-op for spaying. Sadly referral is out of reach financially, I'm hoping if it was airway collapse that she might have grown out of it?

RE: Puppy with asthma? Any advice?

Anthony Dennison — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 16:51:42 GMT

Hi,

Still increased sternal contact with the heart, would be worth checking with a scan. Have you done a lungworm snap test?

RE: Puppy with asthma? Any advice?

Marianne Thomas — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 18:02:33 GMT

RE: Puppy with asthma? Any advice?

Marianne Thomas — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 18:02:10 GMT

Yep, she definitely sent me the conscious x-rays!

Apologies for gap in posting. The usual madness. Puppy remains stable & no new events. Here are the better x-rays

RE: Puppy with asthma? Any advice?

Marianne Thomas — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 18:52:48 GMT

Will have another look - I think the nurse might have sent me the conscious x-rays instead of the most recent ones. Thanks for the advice. Hadn't considered upper airway as the lungs sound so harsh

RE: Puppy with asthma? Any advice?

Mayank Seth — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 11:02:56 GMT

I agree with the other comments that Asthma would be very unliikely IMO. I don't look at many juvenile radiographs and agree the last sternebrae looks odd but I struggle to relate this to the clincal signs (particularly as it sounds unlikely that trauma caused the 2nd episode).

Based on the description it seems you have something sudden, severe and with possible spontaneous resolution (assuming that it wasn't the meds). Likely explanations would include dynamic upper airway issues and/or aspiration events. I can't tell much from the radiographs but I agree there is possibly a bronchial pattern going on in some areas. In a young pup like this it could be that this is bordatella or similar (that possibly exaserbated an upper airway issue?) or that oculd be secondary to low grade recurrent aspiration. I would be really interested to know if there are any signs of dyspahgia. Beyond that I would ideally get some better radiographs, an airway exam and possibly a BAL under a short GA. Ultimately, I think the pup could benefit from some antibiotics, but I am hesitant to recomend this without knowing if we are treating aspiration/kennel cough and not having much conviction in my answer without more info (different antibiotic choices and not wanting to recomend antibiotics at all in a puppy if I don't have to).

Do let us know if you get more info :-)

RE: Puppy with asthma? Any advice?

Alasdair Hotston Moore — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 21:06:05 GMT

[quote userid="8991" url="~/f/clinical-questions/31055/puppy-with-asthma-any-advice/245682#245682"]Think asthma unlikely - v rare in dogs IME[/quote]

Agreed. Asthma unlikely. Sadly the X-rays aren’t of great diagnostic quality

RE: Puppy with asthma? Any advice?

David Mills — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 19:24:37 GMT

Heart fairly large esp cranially/mediastinal. The trachea is narrow caudal scapula.

Lung pattern is difficult to see but not classic asthma pattern (BI pattern on RHS on DV but not present LHS)

I would be looking at a heart scan and assess cranial mediastinum. Could be dynamic tracheal collapse esp given breed. Think asthma unlikely - v rare in dogs IME.