Association between signalment and clinical signs, and nasal and nasopharyngeal diseases type and localization in dogs and cats.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Upper respiratory tract diseases in companion animals encompass various diagnoses and anatomical localizations that are challenging to distinguish based solely on clinical signs. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Assess associations between signalment and clinical signs, and the localization and categories of nasal and nasopharyngeal diseases in dogs and cats. ANIMALS: A total of 396 client-owned animals (167 cats, 229 dogs) presented for nasal or nasopharyngeal disease at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Li&#xe8;ge (Belgium) between 2018 and 2022. METHODS: Retrospective observational cross-sectional study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify associations between signalment and clinical signs and disease type or localization. RESULTS: Nasopharyngeal disease in cats was associated with stertor (odds ratio [OR], 10.1; 95%CI, 2.2-47.3; P&#xa0;=&#xa0;.003), dyspnea (OR, 6.5; 95%CI, 2.0-21.6; P&#xa0;=&#xa0;.002), absence of sneezing (OR, 0.1; 95%CI, 0.03-0.4; P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001), and nasal discharge (OR, 0.04; 95%CI, 0.007-0.2; P&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001). In dogs, nasal and nasopharyngeal localizations were, respectively, associated with sneezing (OR, 95.6; 95%CI, 9.3-987.9; P&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001) and reverse sneezing (OR, 5.7; 95%CI, 1.3-25.2; P&#xa0;=&#xa0;.02). Although epistaxis was associated with both fungal rhinitis and nasal masses in dogs, only masses were associated with decreased nasal airflow (OR, 29.4; 95%CI, 8.1-106.9; P&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001), whereas it was preserved in fungal rhinitis (OR, 0.02; 95%CI, 0.003-0.15; P&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001). Systemic signs were observed in cats with nasal masses (OR, 7.3; 95%CI, 2.5-21.3; P&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001); in dogs, they were linked to fungal rhinosinusitis (OR, 26.1; 95%CI, 3.9-176.0; P&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Signalment and clinical signs provide valuable indicators for diagnosis and localization of nasal diseases in dogs and cats, which may guide clinical decision-making.