Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Chest physiotherapy helps dogs with fluid in their airways breathe
By Pouzot-Nevoret, Céline et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2021·Intensive Care Unit (SIAMU), France·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Effectiveness of chest physiotherapy using passive slow expiratory techniques in dogs with airway fluid accumulation: A randomized controlled trial.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 31 dogs with breathing problems caused by fluid in their airways were treated in a hospital. Half of the dogs received standard medical treatment along with chest physiotherapy techniques, which included prolonged slow expiration and assisted cough, while the other half only received medical treatment. The dogs that had chest physiotherapy showed significant improvement in their oxygen levels and needed less supplemental oxygen during their stay. The results suggest that these techniques can be beneficial for dogs struggling to breathe due to fluid accumulation in their lungs.
People also search for: dog breathing problems treatment · chest physiotherapy for dogs · how to help dog with airway fluid
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prolonged slow expiration (PSE) and assisted cough (AC) are airway clearance techniques feasible and well tolerated in dogs. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of PSE and AC as chest physiotherapy (CP) techniques in dogs with airway fluid accumulation. ANIMALS: Thirty-one client-owned dogs hospitalized in an intensive care unit from October 2014 to May 2018. METHODS: Prospective randomized controlled trial. Dogs presented with or developing acute dyspnea during hospitalization associated with airway fluid accumulation were assigned to CP group (medical treatment and CP, 15 dogs) or control group (medical treatment alone, 16 dogs). The arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO) to fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO) ratio (P/F ratio; PaO/FiO× 100) was calculated daily for the 1st 48 hours of hospitalization and using the last arterial blood gas performed before discharge or death. The ratio of days of hospitalization with oxygen/total number of hospitalization days (ratio of oxygen-free-days [OFree]) was calculated. RESULTS: During the 1st 48 hours, the P/F ratio increased significantly in the CP group compared to the control group (+ 35.1 mm Hg/day; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.4-57.5; P = .03). The (median; 1st quartile to 3rd quartile) difference between the P/F ratio at discharge and inclusion was significantly higher in the CP group (178 mm Hg; 123-241) than in the control group (54 mm Hg; -19 - 109; P = .001). Mean OFree increased by 46.4% in the CP group compared with control group (95% CI = 16-59; P = .001). Mortality was 13% (2/15) in the CP group and 44% (7/16) in the control group (P = .07). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Prolonged slow expiration and AC improved P/F ratio within 48 hours and decreased need for oxygenation in dyspneic dogs with acute airway fluid accumulation.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33704831/