[Retropharyngeal manifestation of T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma in a 7-year-old Icelandic gelding]. / Retropharyngeale Manifestation eines T-Zell-reichen B-Zell-Lymphoms bei einem 7-jährigen Isländerwallach.

A 7-year-old Icelandic gelding was presented with acute severe dyspnea of one day duration and purulent nasal discharge that had been present for 6 weeks. Clinically, the initial examination focused on severe enlargement of the mandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes as well as a mixed dyspnea.The diagnosis of a malignant lymphoma was evident following laboratory diagnostics, endoscopy, and cytological examination of a fine needle aspiration of a mandibular lymph node. The gelding was euthanized due to the poor prognosis and a significantly disturbed general condition. Pathohistological examination revealed a multicentric T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma.

Lung lobe torsion associated with chest wall defects in a dog.

An 8-year-old, spayed, female poodle presented with exercise intolerance, lethargy, respiratory distress, retching, hyporexia and diarrhoea. Thoracic radiographs revealed increased opacity in the left cranial thoracic region. The fifth and sixth ribs appeared to be bulging cranially to caudally, and CT and surgical exploration confirmed the presence of a thoracic wall defect in that area. CT showed abrupt occlusion of the bronchus that branches into the left cranial lobe and consolidation of the caudal segment of left cranial lung lobe, which led to the diagnosis of lung lobe torsion. A thoracotomy was performed, the twisted lung lobe was surgically excised, and the defect in the thoracic wall was repaired. Respiratory distress gradually improved after the surgery, and there were no identified complications within the 2-year period following the procedure. Based on our literature search, this is the first reported case of lung lobe torsion caused by a thoracic wall defect in a dog.

Treatment of recurrent hunting-associated respiratory distress episodes in 2 dogs.

Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema (NCPE) in hunting dogs is an uncommon and poorly described condition for which no preventive treatment is available. Two dogs were presented for recurrent respiratory distress strictly associated with hunting activities. Diagnosis was based on bilateral, symmetrical, interstitial-to-alveolar pattern in the caudodorsal lung fields on thoracic radiographs, exclusion of other causes, and spontaneous clinical and radiographic improvement. Considering that the pathogenesis of exercise-induced NCPE likely involves α- and ß-adrenergic overstimulation, treatment with sympathetic blockers was used in both dogs. The first dog no longer showed respiratory signs during hunting activities. However, treatment failed to prevent respiratory distress in the other dog. Based on the large number of red blood cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the second dog, exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage was suspected, as described in racing horses. The loop diuretic furosemide successfully prevented further hunting-associated respiratory distress episodes in this dog.

The successful use of a subcutaneous catheter in the management of severe subcutaneous emphysema in a dog with laryngeal crush injury and tracheostomy tube placement.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the placement of a subcutaneous catheter in a dog for the management of severe subcutaneous emphysema secondary to severe laryngeal crushing injury and temporary tracheostomy tube placement. CASE SUMMARY: A 6-year-old male neutered Kelpie suffered a severe laryngeal crushing injury following a dog attack. Case management included the placement of a temporary tracheostomy tube due to severe respiratory compromise and inspiratory dyspnea associated with the crush injury. During hospitalization, the patient developed severe subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and a pneumothorax as a complication of the laryngeal crushing injury and temporary tracheostomy. A subcutaneous catheter was placed to manage the recurrent subcutaneous emphysema while the tracheostomy stoma healed. Five months posttrauma, the dog returned to normal with mild stridor during excitement and while panting. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: This is the first report in veterinary medicine describing the use of a subcutaneous catheter for the management of subcutaneous emphysema secondary to laryngeal crush injury and temporary tracheostomy tube placement.

Role of echocardiographic views adapted for lung evaluation in diagnosis of cardiogenic pulmonary edema in Dogs.

The objective of this study was to determine whether echocardiographic views adapted for lung evaluation may aid in diagnosis of dyspnea in dogs. Fifteen chronic valvular heart disease (CVHD) dogs without cardiac remodeling, 30 CVHD dogs with cardiac remodeling, 15 CVHD dogs with cardiogenic pulmonary edema and 15 dogs with pulmonary disease were prospectively enrolled. Loop recordings of pericardial-lung ultrasound were gathered during echocardiographic evaluation, and four videos of 4 different adapted views were recorded for each dog. Chest X-rays were used as reference-standard for pulmonary edema and/or disease. The videos were classified based on the number of B- lines as NEGATIVE (0, 1, 2 or 3) or POSITIVE (> 3 or confluent). Accuracy of a POSITIVE classification in identifying pulmonary edema and/or disease was calculated. Multivariate analyses were performed using echocardiographic variables that reflect increased left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) to distinguish pulmonary edema from disease. Results showed that a POSITIVE classification distinguished dogs with pulmonary edema or disease from asymptomatic CVHD dogs in all four views. The best views were right parasternal short axis at papillary muscle level and long axis 4- chamber view, both with the same sensitivity (86.7%) and a specificity of 95.6% and 82.2%, respectively. Multivariate analyses showed that adding cutoff values of peak E wave > 130, E/IVRT > 2.5 or LA/Ao > 2.0 distinguished pulmonary edema from disease with 100% specificity. In conclusion, echocardiographic views adapted for lung evaluation, in addition to conventional echocardiography, may help identify the cause of dyspnea in dogs.

The clinical presentation and management of a naturally occuring Bluetongue virus infection in a pregnant Rottweiler dog.

Few reports of clinical Bluetongue virus (BTV) infections have been described in dogs. Most cases were linked to inoculation with a BTV-contaminated canine modified live vaccine. In dogs, cases have only been described in pregnant females with clinical signs of fever and abortion followed by severe dyspnoea and death. A pregnant Rottweiler dog was presented with a three-day history of progressive lethargy and anorexia. The patient was a guard dog living in an enclosure where sheep were kept at night. High mortalities had been experienced in the sheep but had not been investigated. On presentation, the major clinical findings were dyspnoea and hypoxia. Clinicopathological tests showed hypoxia and systemic inflammation. Radiological findings were consistent with non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. The patient was treated symptomatically and recovered but did not retain the pregnancy. Bluetongue virus was identified in the patient's blood using BTV RT-PCR (Ct value 24.7). At a follow-up farm visit, an ongoing BTV outbreak in the sheep was diagnosed with affected sheep testing positive for BTV on RT-PCR. This report describes the clinical presentation, diagnostic investigations and successful treatment of a dog with BTV infection. This is the first case report of a naturally occurring clinical BTV infection in a dog. Possible routes of infection were direct contact, midgeborne, or ingestion of infected afterbirth or abortus from sheep.

REMOVAL OF PSEUDO-ODONTOMAS VIA LATERAL MAXILLOTOMY IN THREE RICHARDSON'S GROUND SQUIRRELS (UROCITELLUS RICHARDSONII).

Pseudo-odontoma can occur in some species with elodont teeth. Pseudo-odontomas affecting maxillary dentition may result in obstruction of the nasal cavities and lead to dyspnea. Effective treatments for the disease in Richardson's ground squirrels (Urocitellus richardsonii) have not yet been established. Three Richardson's ground squirrels exhibiting dyspnea and with maxillary pseudo-odontomas, based on diagnostic imaging, were surgically treated. The animals were placed under general anesthesia, and following excision of skin and subcutaneous tissue at the midpoint of the line connecting the medial canthus and ipsilateral nasal opening, maxillotomy of the incisive bone was performed. The reserve crown of the maxillary incisor tooth was exposed via the maxillotomy site and was sectioned into labial and palatal fragments, and the diseased tooth was completely extracted. In all three cases, dyspnea improved immediately after surgery. In one case, no recurrence was observed 600 d following surgery. These results suggest that the procedure used provides a practical approach for treating maxillary pseudo-odontomas in Richardson's ground squirrels.

Cervical tracheal rupture with persistence of a pseudotrachea in a dog.

A dog was examined because of acute onset of respiratory distress following a cervical dog bite. Physical examination revealed a deep ventral cervical bite wound associated with localized mild subcutaneous emphysema. Thoracic radiographs showed moderate pneumomediastinum. Medical management consisting of oxygen therapy, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatories was initiated. After 2 days, respiratory distress suddenly worsened. Tracheoscopy showed a discontinuity between the tracheal rings of the cervical trachea; however, the inner tracheal wall appeared intact. Computed tomography scan revealed a ~3-cm complete rupture of all layers of the trachea. Surgical resection and anastomosis of the trachea were performed successfully. Follow-up 15 days after surgery showed complete resolution of respiratory signs, as well as subcutaneous emphysema. A mild ventral angulation of the trachea at the surgical site was noticed on thoracic radiographs. This is the first case report of a pseudotrachea in a dog. Persistence of a pseudotrachea may initially result in only minor clinical signs responsive to medical therapy despite tracheal rupture. In the presence of a pseudotrachea, tracheal rupture may be difficult to identify with tracheoscopy alone. Therefore, CT scan should be proposed in every patient with suspected tracheal trauma. Key clinical message: This case report highlights the importance of including a tracheal rupture in the differential diagnosis of cervical subcutaneous emphysema, even if the amount is small and not associated with significant respiratory signs. The presence of a pseudotrachea may result in less severe clinical signs than expected based on the actual degree of tracheal injury; however, the clinical status may rapidly deteriorate and become life-threatening. This case report also underlines the importance of a CT scan as a complement to tracheoscopy, which may not be sufficient to identify a tracheal rupture in the presence of a pseudotrachea.

Rupture trachéale cervicale avec persistance d'une pseudotrachée chez un chien. Un chien a été présenté pour une dyspnée aiguë modérée consécutive à des morsures cervicales par un autre chien. L'examen clinique révéla une plaie cervicale ventrale profonde associée à un emphysème sous-cutané localisé léger. Les radiographies thoraciques ont montré un pneumomédiastin modéré. Un traitement médical consistant en une oxygénothérapie, des antibiotiques et des anti-inflammatoires a été initié. Après deux jours, la dyspnée s'aggrava brutalement. Une trachéoscopie révéla une discontinuité entre les anneaux trachéaux malgré la persistance d'une paroi trachéale interne intègre. L'examen par tomodensitométrie montra une rupture trachéale cervicale complète dans toute son épaisseur, sur 3 cm de long. Une chirurgie de résection-anastomose de la trachée a été réalisée avec succès.Il s'agit de la première description de pseudotrachée chez un chien. La persistance d'une pseudotrachée peut initialement ne provoquer que des signes cliniques mineurs, notamment un emphysème sous-cutané léger et une dyspnée répondant au traitement médical, malgré une lésion trachéale en réalité importante. Par conséquent, un examen par tomodensitométrie de la trachée doit être envisagé chez tous les patients pour lesquels un traumatisme trachéal est suspecté.Message clinique clé :Ce cas souligne l'importance d'inclure une rupture trachéale dans le diagnostic différentiel de l'emphysème souscutané cervical, et cela même s'il n'est présent qu'en petite quantité et associé à faibles signes cliniques respiratoires. La persistance d'une pseudotrachée peut entraîner des signes cliniques moins importants qu'une rupture trachéale complète, cependant l'état respiratoire de l'animal peut rapidement s'aggraver et devenir une urgence vitale.Ce cas souligne de plus l'importance de l'examen par tomodensitométrie en complément de la trachéoscopie, qui peut parfois s'avérer insuffisante pour le diagnostic des ruptures trachéales, en particulier en présence d'une pseudotrachée.(Traduit par les auteurs).

Integrated basic lung and heart ultrasound with X-ray (TUSX) for the diagnosis of asthma, chronic bronchitis and laryngeal paralysis, and treatment with inhaled fluticasone using home-made mask in dogs and cats.

Basic lung and heart ultrasound examination combined with chest X-ray (TUSX) is currently considered to be very useful for differentiation of asthma, chronic bronchitis and laryngeal paralysis from other diseases with dyspnea/coughing. Among 252 client-owned animals with persistent dyspnea/cough/noisy breathing, in 197 of them: pulmonary edema, pneumonia, lung cancer, free pleural fluid, pneumothorax, lung contusion or heart disease were diagnosed. The remaining 55 animals (42 dogs and 13 cats) were diagnosed with asthma (in 13 cats), chronic bronchitis (in 37 dogs) and laryngeal paralysis (in 5 dogs) using TUSX. These animals were qualified for inhaled fluticasone treatment using 3 types of spacers - two commercial and a home- -made mask. 36 animals (65.5%) completed the trail. In 26 of them (72.2%) the owners observed complete, long lasting relief of the symptoms, and the owners of 7 animals (19.5%) declared a considerable clinical improvement, regardless of the type of spacer used. The owners of 3 animals (8.3%) did not see any improvement. The proposed diagnostic and therapeutic management improved long-term clinical status of the vast majority (91.7%) of animals. Therefore, it seems justified to include the TUSX diagnostic protocol in daily veterinary practice and to encourage owners to prepare home-made face masks for inhaled fluticasone treatment.

Metastatic osteosarcoma tumor thrombus in a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel presenting with dyspnea.

A six-year-seven-month-old female neutered Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was referred for the investigation of progressive dyspnea and hyphema in the right eye with secondary glaucoma. Previous medical history included a high-grade soft tissue spindle cell sarcoma removed from the cranial sternal region one year before. On presentation at the referral hospital, the dog was tachypneic and dyspneic. The heart rhythm was regular and there was a soft left-sided systolic murmur. Echocardiography identified the presence of a mass significantly occluding left heart inflow, with no other lesions identified. Thoracic radiographs documented a localized alveolar pattern within the left caudal lung lobe. The size of the heart and pulmonary vessels were within normal limits, indicating a non-cardiogenic alveolar pattern. Given the clinical presentation of dyspnea and high index of suspicion of intra-cardiac neoplasia, the dog was considered to have a grave prognosis and therefore euthanized. Post-mortem gross and histopathologic examination revealed the presence of a metastatic osteosarcoma tumor thrombus in the left atrium and pulmonary vein, metastatic osteosarcoma infiltrating the myocardium, lungs, the uveal tract of the right eye, and both adrenal glands. Whitney grade II myxomatous changes were noted on the mitral and tricuspid valve leaflets. This report describes an unusual intra-cardiac tumor thrombus in a dog presenting with dyspnea. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels presenting with dyspnea often raise suspicion for myxomatous mitral valve disease. However, as demonstrated in this case, other more unusual causes of dyspnea should also be considered in the absence of classic clinical findings.

Self-expanding tracheal stent placement in a cat with primary tracheal collapse.

A 12-year-old mixed-breed spayed female cat presented with dyspnoea, open-mouthed breathing, and cyanosis that was difficult to control with medical pharmacotherapy; the cat was diagnosed with the primary tracheal collapse of the neck and chest regions. The diagnosis was confirmed by dynamic chest radiography, tracheal endoscopy, and computed tomography (CT). Tracheal endoscopy and CT showed dropsy of the dorsal membranous wall over most of the trachea. A self-expanding Nitinol cross-and-hook braided stent was placed along the entire tracheal lumen using surgical X-ray fluoroscopy. Bacterial cultures in the trachea were negative. Dyspnoea disappeared immediately after the endotracheal stent was implanted. Although the long-term prognosis remains under observation, the short- to medium-term prognosis was very good. These results suggest that stenting may be useful in the treatment of primary tracheal collapse in cats.

Use of a customized 3D-printed external splint for the correction of a severe pectus excavatum in a 3-month-old kitten.

Background: Pectus excavatum is a rare congenital or developmental deformity of the chest wall that has been reported in both dogs and cats. The clinical symptoms vary in severity and are correlated with the grade of the deformity. The most severe cases are at a very high risk of intra- and post-operative complications that could be fatal. Case Description: A 3-month-old kitten was presented for severe dyspnea and exercise intolerance. After the radiographic diagnosis of severe pectus excavatum, a splint was designed based on the computed tomography scan of the kitten. A locking mechanism was applied on a dedicated pocket on the splint and secured with commercial glue. Five sutures were placed, the most caudal three with a surgical approach to the corresponding sternebra. The three caudal traction sutures were progressively tensioned during the first 2 weeks, and then tied. The splint was removed 1 month postoperatively; neither surgical nor splint-associated complications were observed. The kitten well tolerated the splint and the owner reported no further episodes of dyspnea or exercise intolerance. Vertebral and frontosagittal indexes were 3.2 and 9.1 at presentation, respectively, and 10.2 and 2.0 at 4 months postoperatively. Conclusion: The use of a patient-specific 3D-printed external splint associated with a progressive correction of the pectus excavatum can be a better solution for the treatment of severe cases of pectus excavatum, where a sudden distension of the rib cage could cause re-expansion injuries.

Respiratory distress in small animals: Pathophysiology and clinical approach.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory distress is a common reason for animals to present to the emergency room. An understanding of respiratory physiology is helpful to facilitate accurate localization of the patient's source of respiratory distress. This knowledge will aid implementation of more appropriate therapies. PHYSIOLOGY/PATHOPHYSIOLOGY SUMMARY: Respiratory distress can occur secondary to lesions at any location of the respiratory system. Diseases affecting different portions of the respiratory track (eg, upper airway, lower airways, parenchymal, or the pleural space) lead to distinguishing clinical signs as the patient's respiratory physiology is affected differently. CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Respiratory distress can be life-threatening if it is not recognized and addressed in a timely matter. Prompt recognition of unique clinical signs may aid the clinician's ability to localize the disease process and implement targeted therapies. KEY POINTS: Diseases affecting different portions of the respiratory track (eg, upper airway, lower airways, parenchymal, or the pleural space) lead to distinguishing clinical signs as the patient's respiratory physiology is affected differently. Recognition of respiratory patterns allows clinicians to correlate clinical signs to the most likely affected region of the respiratory tract. Ideally, alveolar gas (ventilation) and blood flow (perfusion) are equally matched. However, even a normal lung does not have ideal ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) matching. There are a variety of conditions that lead to decreased lung compliance, from pathology of the pulmonary parenchyma (eg, pulmonary edema, alveolar infiltrates such as pneumonia or contusions, or pulmonary fibrosis), pleural space disease (eg, pneumothorax or pleural effusion), abdominal distension, or the inability to expand the rib cage (eg, pain, thoracic wall injury, constricting thoracic bandages). The five classic causes of hypoxemia include low FiO2 , diffusion impairment, hypoventilation, shunt, and V/Q mismatch. Being prepared to rapidly induce anesthesia and intubate dyspneic animals with upper airway obstruction may be required alleviate the risk of respiratory arrest.

Performing an upper airway examination in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Increased airway resistance due to upper airway obstruction is a common cause of respiratory distress. An upper airway exam is an inexpensive and quick diagnostic procedure that can serve to localize a disease process, confirm a definitive diagnosis, and offer therapeutic benefits. DESCRIPTION: The upper airway examination consists of an external evaluation of the head and neck as well as a sedated examination of the oral cavity, the pharyngeal cavity, larynx, and nasal passages. SUMMARY: An upper airway examination should be performed in patients with increased inspiratory effort or increased upper respiratory noise (eg, stertor or stridor). A complete, sedated upper airway examination should be considered for patients with clinical signs of upper airway disease for which a cause is not obvious from the physical examination. KEY POINTS: Indications for an upper airway examination include sneezing, nasal discharge or epistaxis, reduced or absent nasal airflow, change in phonation, inspiratory difficulty, and audible respiratory sounds. Upper airway examination helps localize pathological processes and allows the clinician to confirm or exclude several differential diagnoses. Pre-oxygenation of the patient for 3-5 minutes prior to sedation will help increase the amount of time available before hypoxemia occurs, should complications arise. Upon completion of the upper airway examination, it is important to monitor the patient carefully and ensure a safe recovery. Careful planning to ensure the availability of necessary equipment and preparation of the team to react during and after the airway examination will minimize the risks of examination to patients with upper airway disease.

Evaluation of temporary palatopexy to manage brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome in dogs in respiratory distress.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of temporary palatopexy procedure as a treatment for brachycephalic dogs in severe respiratory distress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective pilot study, seven client-owned brachycephalic dogs in severe respiratory distress, requiring emergent intubation or failing extubation, had a temporary palatopexy placed using a novel suture pattern. RESULTS: Six out of seven dogs were successfully extubated less than 2 hours post palatopexy and survived to discharge. One dog failed extubation secondary to worsening lower airway disease and laryngeal collapse. That patient was euthanased. The only noted complication was regurgitation in two dogs; however, one had pre-existing gastrointestinal signs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Temporary palatopexy is a relatively simple procedure that may be a useful method for managing brachycephalic dogs in an upper airway crisis. This could avoid the need for prolonged intubation, emergency tracheostomy, re-intubation or euthanasia in dogs where costs, access to specialists and availability of referral centres are limited.

Influenza D virus in respiratory disease in Canadian, province of Québec, cattle: Relative importance and evidence of new reassortment between different clades.

BACKGROUND: Influenza D virus (IDV), a segmented single-stranded negative-sense ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus, belongs to the new Delta influenza virus genus of the Orthomyxoviridae family. Cattle were proposed as the natural reservoir of IDV in which infection was associated with mild-to-moderate respiratory clinical signs (i.e. cough, nasal discharge and dyspnoea). METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In order to investigate the role of IDV in bovine respiratory disease, during the period 2017-2020, 883 nasal or naso-pharyngeal swabs from Canadian cattle with respiratory signs (cough and/or dyspnoea) were tested by (RT-)qPCR for IDV and other major bovine viral (bovine herpesvirus 1, bovine viral diarrhoea virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, bovine parainfluenza virus 3 and bovine coronavirus) and bacterial (Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni and Mycoplasma bovis) respiratory pathogens. In addition, whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses were carried out on five IDV-positive samples. The prevalence of IDV RT-qPCR (with cut-off: Cq < 38) at animal level was estimated at 5.32% (95% confidence interval: 3.94-7.02). Positive result of IDV was significantly associated with (RT-)qPCR-positive results for bovine respiratory syncytial virus and Mycoplasma bovis. While phylogenetic analyses indicate that most segments belonged to clade D/660, reassortment between clades D/660 and D/OK were evidenced in four samples collected in 2018-2020. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Relative importance of influenza D virus and associated pathogens in bovine respiratory disease of Canadian dairy cattle was established. Whole-genome sequencing demonstrated evidence of reassortment between clades D/660 and D/OK. Both these new pieces of information claim for more surveillance of IDV in cattle production worldwide.