Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with blocked nasal passage and throat narrowing causing breathing
By Coolman, B R et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·1998·Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Choanal atresia and secondary nasopharyngeal stenosis in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 20-month-old male shih tzu was having ongoing breathing problems due to a condition called choanal atresia, which is a blockage in the back of the nose. The vet performed surgery to fix the issue, but unfortunately, scar tissue formed quickly, causing more airway obstruction. To help the dog breathe better in the long term, a permanent tracheostomy (a surgical opening in the windpipe) was done, which successfully relieved his respiratory difficulties.
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Abstract
A 20-month-old, intact male shih tzu was evaluated for chronic upper airway disease. Endoscopic examination established a diagnosis of choanal atresia, a developmental anomaly of the posterior nasal cavity. Although surgical intervention provided temporary relief, stenosis of the nasopharynx by obstructive scar tissue was confirmed within four weeks. A permanent tracheostomy provided long-term relief of the respiratory difficulty. This is the first report of choanal atresia or nasopharyngeal stenosis in a dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9826286/