Help, my dog cannot breathe

Question 1

What elements of a physical exam allow you to localise disease to a particular region of the resp. tract?

Answer 1

1. Look at expansion of the rib cage (indicates resp. effort)
2. Asucultation and percussion
3. Any nasal discharge and its characteristics: unilat? bilateral? etc.
4. If have tachypnoea or dyspnoea = LRT or cardiac
5. Ocular or nasal discharge = generally URT
6. Cotton wool test: is there equal air movement from each nostril?
7. Respiratory noise is more indicative of URT problem.

Question 2

What would you expect with URT disease?

Answer 2

• Nasal discharge
• Ocular discharge
• Coughing
• Stridor/sturtor

Question 3

What would you expect with LRT disease?

Answer 3

• Dyspnoea
• Tachypnoea
• Inspiratory crackles (with restrictive lung diseases e.g. pulmonary oedema and fibrosis)