Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Exercise tests and breathing sounds help grade airway disease in pugs
By Riggs, Julia et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2019·The Queen's Veterinary School Hospital, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Validation of exercise testing and laryngeal auscultation for grading brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome in pugs, French bulldogs, and English bulldogs by using whole-body barometric plethysmography.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of brachycephalic dogs, including pugs, French bulldogs, and English bulldogs, were evaluated for breathing problems related to a condition called brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). The dogs underwent clinical exams both at rest and after exercise, with the most accurate results coming from a 3-minute trot test. This exercise helped improve the detection of airway issues, showing that the clinical exam was more effective after the dogs were active. The study suggests that including this trot test and listening for breathing sounds can help veterinarians better assess and manage BOAS in these breeds.
People also search for: pug breathing problems · French bulldog airway issues · English bulldog exercise test for BOAS
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the sensitivity of clinical examination for assessing upper airway disease severity in 3 breeds of brachycephalic dogs can be improved by incorporating an exercise test (ET) or by auscultation of a laryngeal stridor to predict laryngeal collapse. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: Client-owned brachycephalic dogs (n = 44 ET; n = 57 laryngeal stridor assessment). METHODS: In the first part of the study, clinical examinations were performed at rest and after 5-minute walk and 3-minute trot tests, and a grade reflective of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) severity was assigned. Whole-body barometric plethysmography was used as a comparative, objective measure of disease severity. In the second part of the study, the degree of laryngeal collapse present in dogs undergoing BOAS surgery was compared to pre-exercise and postexercise laryngeal stridor detected during functional testing. RESULTS: The sensitivity of clinical examination for BOAS diagnosis was 56.7% pre-ET, 70% after a 5-minute walk test, and 93.3% after a 3-minute trot test. The sensitivity of laryngeal stridor as a predictor of laryngeal collapse was improved after exercise (70%) compared with before exercise (60%). Specificity of laryngeal stridor for laryngeal collapse was 100% (pre-exercise and postexercise). CONCLUSION: The sensitivity of clinical examination for BOAS diagnosis was improved by inclusion of an ET, particularly the 3-minute trot test. Audible laryngeal stridor was highly specific but only moderately sensitive for laryngeal collapse. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Inclusion of a 3-minute trot test and careful auscultation for laryngeal stridor are recommended during BOAS assessment of brachycephalic dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30666670/