Dog with chronic cough diagnosed with cystic bronchiectasis

Abstract

A 9‐year‐old neutered female mixed breed dog was examined for productive coughing, gagging, increased respiratory effort and restlessness. In survey chest radiographs a soft tissue opacity was present in the right middle lung lobe. In horizontal‐beam radiographs, it was apparent that the opacity was a thin‐walled cyst containing air and fluid. Peribronchial infiltration and bronchial dilation were present in all lung lobes. At necropsy, a diagnosis of chronic bronchitis and bronchiolitis and cylindrical and cystic bronchiectasis was made. Acquired bronchiectasis may result from any disease process which weakens the bronchial wall or obstructs drainage. Three forms of bronchiectasis have been described in man: cylindrical, saccular and cystic. Cylindrical bronchiectasis is tubular distention of larger, thick‐walled bronchi; saccular bronchiectasis is circumscribed outpocketing of intermediate‐sized bronchi and cystic bronchiectasis is a more pronounced manifestation of saccular bronchiectasis in terminal bronchi. Cylindrical and saccular bronchiectasis have been described in the dog; cystic bronchiectasis has not been described in the dog. Generalized bronchiectasis is an incurable condition due to the irreversible bronchial pathologic changes. Focal bronchiectasis can be surgically corrected by lobectomy and the prognosis is good. Aggressive antibiotic therapy should be used to treat chronic bronchitis in an effort to prevent bronchial destruction and development of bronchiectasis.