Chronic Bronchitis In Greys, Anyone With Experience?

[Guest MomofSweetPotatoes]

Just wondering, has onyone experience chronic bronchitis, asthma, lung disease in their greyhound? Is there such a thing as a Veterinary Pulmonologist?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Kerri

 

 

[Guest Winterwish]

Hi Kerri! Yes there is such a thing as veterinaray pulmonologists. Maybe it's allergies? Or an inflammation of some kind?

It's possible your regular vet come handle it also depending on his exam.

 

I hope your pups are okay Kerri!

[DaisyDoodle]

Awww, who is the sick boy this time?

 

Kisses to all,

 

Auntie Donna

[Guest LynnM]

Your best bet is a veterinary cardiologist. Dogs don't tend to have the same lung injuries that people have (many, if not most lung diseases are manmade). They can and do have heart issues that affect the lungs and that's where both your general practice vet and possibly a cardiologist might come into play. Start with your general practice vet. He or she can tell you if it's something that can be managed locally or if a specialist should handle it.

 

Lynn

[ahicks51]

If the dog in question is in Massachusetts like the OP, then Tufts has a program- but it's for horses:

 

http://www.tufts.edu/vet/sports/pulmonology.html

 

However, they may be able to point you towards someone in the state who would be the "go to" person for canine pulmonology.

[Guest MomofSweetPotatoes]

I guess I should have given more info. A GP vet was consulted and bloodwork, echo, and x rays etc. were done. the next step will be a bronchialveolar lavage, to rule out infectious diease.

 

Unfortunately this grey had a distressful breathing episode with merely 5 minutes in the humid weather, rush to the vet and most tests were repeated again. Breathing was controlled with introduction of oxygen and steriods (and air conditioning). The GP vet is referring to a cardiologist for more info and testing. There is also talk of starting a bronchodialator since the overall condition seems to have gained control with the introduction of steroids, although it is a bit too early to determine.

 

Ahicks, thanks for the info, tufts was called. Unfortunately their gear is all guaged to the big animals, but there is referal to a vet at angell memorial . The vet they referred to isn't a pulmonologist, but have attended many seminars etc on lung diseases in humans etc.

 

an email has also been sent to Philip Padrid DVM re: his lecture on respiratory medicine - and hopefully he might give insight.

 

We're all just stumped, since as you mentioned LynnM, lung injury in dogs is quite uncommon.

[dmswartzfager]

Has laryngeal paralysis been ruled out? The breathing distress in humidity is what made me think of LP. Is the breathing normally kind of raspy? Change in bark? I thought I read somewhere that steroids are sometimes used with LP, but I can't find it now. (Angel Frazzle had LP)

[Guest Winterwish]

Gee Kerri I hope the dog will be alright. Bronchialveolar lavage,wow.

That's good he's showing some improvement with the steroid and air conditioning. I hope he continues to improve Kerri,with a bronchodilator being given temporarily at most.

Edited June 23, 2008 by Winterwish

[Guest greytexplorer]

My vet wanted to do a lavage on my bird-dog, Sally, many years ago. I said no.

Long after Sally had died (kidney failure), I saw the lavage procedure done on a dog, about the size of Sally.

Man, was I glad that I refused that procedure!!!

 

Anyway, Sally's vet told me that there is all kind of crap in the dirt that the scenthounds breathe into their lungs, creating all kinds of infection. Sally constantly had a snotty nose, like rubber cement, she'd shake her head real hard and ROPES of this stuff would come flying out! Once it happened at the vet's office, and all this rubberysnot smacked a lady on top of her head.

 

Kerri and pup, Good Luck!!!

 

~Pat