Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with chronic cough and skin lesion caused by toothpick in lung
By Moon, So-Jeung et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2012·BK21 Basic & Diagnostic Veterinary Specialist Program for Animal Diseases and Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Chronic bronchocutaneous fistula caused by toothpick foreign body in a Maltese dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old Maltese dog was brought to the vet because it had a persistent wet cough and a sore spot on its side that had been there for four years. After some imaging tests, the vet discovered a connection between the dog's bronchial tube and the skin, caused by a long wooden toothpick that had been stuck inside. Once the toothpick was surgically removed, the dog's symptoms improved significantly. This case highlights the importance of thorough imaging to identify hidden foreign objects in pets.
People also search for: Maltese dog cough · dog skin sore · foreign body removal in dogs · chronic cough in dogs · toothpick in dog skin
Abstract
A 7-year-old, 1.76 kg Maltese dog presented with a 4-year history of a chronic pustular lesion and a wet cough. Erosive lesions were seen at the left thoracic wall. Radiology and computed tomography (CT) revealed a bronchocutaneous fistula connecting from the left cranial bronchus to the skin. On definitive surgery, a long wooden toothpick was observed within this tract, and clinical signs resolved after retrieval of the foreign body. Three-dimensional CT was useful to identify the characteristics of the bronchocutaneous fistula. However, the wooden foreign body was not apparent on CT. Here, we report the clinical, clinicopathological and diagnostic imaging findings of a chronic bronchocutaneous fistula caused by a foreign body in a dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22185770/