Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How often brachycephalic dogs have breathing problems in ICU care
By Barchard-Couts, Adrienne & Rozanski, Elizabeth·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2022·Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Syndromic surveillance of the frequency and severity of respiratory compromise of brachycephalic dogs in ICUs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that about 10% of dogs in veterinary ICUs were brachycephalic breeds, like Bulldogs and Pugs, which are known for breathing issues due to their short noses. Out of these dogs, nearly half were admitted for respiratory problems, while others were there for different health issues but still faced breathing complications. Alarmingly, 16% of these dogs developed respiratory problems after being hospitalized for unrelated conditions. This highlights the importance of monitoring brachycephalic dogs closely, especially after surgery or during recovery.
People also search for: brachycephalic dog breathing problems · Bulldog ICU admission · Pug respiratory issues after surgery
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Brachycephalic dogs (BCD) are increasingly popular companion animals and widely recognized to suffer from respiratory compromise based upon their conformation; however, the actual percentages of BCD in veterinary ICUs are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate a canine ICU census, as well as the presence, development, and severity of respiratory compromise in BCD using syndromic surveillance. KEY FINDINGS: Ten institutions provided surveillance data twice weekly over an 11-week study period. The total canine ICU census was 1254 dogs hospitalized during the days and times of the study period; of this population, 125 (10%) were BCD. Fifty-six (45%) BCD were hospitalized in ICUs because they were perceived to be at risk of respiratory complications while recovering from general anesthesia or had a nonrespiratory condition requiring ICU admission, with the remaining 69 dogs (55%) being treated for respiratory disease. Twenty dogs (16%) developed respiratory complications requiring ICU admission after initially being hospitalized for another condition. Four percent of dogs were supported with mechanical ventilation. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Syndromic surveillance was a useful method for evaluating the number of BCD in a veterinary ICU. Almost 1 in 5 BCD developed respiratory compromise after initial evaluation for an unrelated problem. Ongoing evaluation of the medical issues associated with brachycephaly is warranted.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34498799/