Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Aspiration pneumonia risk is high in Irish wolfhounds
By Greenwell, C M & Brain, P H·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2014·Small Animal Specialist Hospital, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Aspiration pneumonia in the Irish wolfhound: a possible breed predisposition.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Irish wolfhounds was found to have a high rate of aspiration pneumonia, a condition where food or liquid enters the lungs, causing infection. Out of 25 Irish wolfhounds studied, 9 were diagnosed with this issue, which is significantly higher than other breeds. Some of these dogs had known causes, like choking or gastric bloat, while others did not have any identifiable reason for their pneumonia. This suggests that Irish wolfhounds may be more prone to this condition, and pet owners should be aware of the symptoms and seek veterinary care if their dog shows signs of respiratory distress.
People also search for: Irish wolfhound aspiration pneumonia symptoms · dog choking treatment · signs of pneumonia in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Anecdotal reports suggest a recent high prevalence of aspiration pneumonia in Irish wolfhounds, prompting further investigation into the incidence of the disease in this breed. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the possibility that Irish wolfhounds have an increased incidence of aspiration pneumonia, and to consider possible predisposing causes in this breed. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records from the Small Animal Specialist Hospital, Sydney, from January 2008 to December 2012 inclusive to determine the total hospital incidence and individual breed incidences of aspiration pneumonia. RESULTS: The total hospital incidence of aspiration pneumonia was 0 · 5%. The Irish wolfhound had the highest breed incidence, with 9 of 25 dogs (36%) diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. Four of the Irish wolfhounds had a predisposing cause identified; one having a choking episode, one having gastric bloat, while two were diagnosed with laryngeal paralysis after it was specifically investigated because of clinical suspicion. Five had no underlying cause of their aspiration pneumonia determined. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: On the basis of the hospital population studied, the Irish wolfhound has a high incidence of aspiration pneumonia. Further investigation into the possible predisposing cause(s) in this breed is warranted.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25213726/