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Chronic bronchitis (CB) in dogs involves persistent inflammation of the bronchial walls and excessive mucus production within the airways, with or without bronchial infection, and may lead to degenerative airway changes such as bronchiectasis (BE) and bronchomalacia (BM). Standardized treatment protocols for CB with concurrent BE and/or BM (BEBM) are lacking. This article proposes a therapeutic approach for dogs with CB and BEBM, based on veterinary literature and relevant human medical data. Two treatment algorithms are outlined, depending on the presence or absence of cytological evidence of bacterial infection in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and/or bronchial brush samples. For cases with suspected infection, indicated by intracellular bacteria on cytology, first-line therapy with oral doxycycline is recommended pending BALF culture and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results. If warranted, antibiotic therapy should be escalated stepwise after culture/qPCR confirmation, in accordance with antimicrobial stewardship principles. In non-infectious inflammatory cases, inhaled glucocorticoids are advised as first-line therapy and may also be used in infectious cases unresponsive to antibiotics alone. Mucoactive agents and cough suppressants are not recommended in the initial protocol but may be considered as adjunctive, symptom-targeted treatments on a case-by-case basis, avoiding unnecessary or unsupported interventions. These proposed algorithms are not intended as definitive clinical guidelines, but as a starting point for discussion and future validation. They emphasize rational and prudent use of antibiotics, alone or alongside anti-inflammatory therapy, to improve patient outcomes while minimizing antimicrobial resistance risks. Further research is needed to assess the long-term efficacy of this approach.

Background Bordetella bronchiseptica (Bb) infection commonly causes respiratory disease in dogs. Gentamicin delivered by aerosol maximizes local drug delivery without systemic absorption but clinical response to protocols remains undetermined. Objectives To compare the clinical response to 2 protocols of aerosolized delivery of gentamicin in bordetellosis. Animals Forty‐six dogs with Bb infection confirmed by culture or quantitative polymerase chain reaction on bronchoalveolar lavage. Methods Retrospective study. Administration of aerosolized gentamicin for ≥10 minutes q12h for ≥3 weeks using 4 mg/kg diluted with saline (group 1) or undiluted 5% solution (group 2). Clinical response firstly assessed after 3‐4 weeks and treatment pursued by 3‐weeks increments if cure not reached. Cure defined as absence of cough persisting at least a week after treatment interruption. Results Demographic data were similar between both groups. Clinical cure at 3‐4 weeks was more frequently observed with the use of undiluted solution (19/33 vs 3/13 dogs, P = .03) in association with a shorter median duration of treatment (4 vs 6 weeks, P = .01). Dogs from group 2 having less than 1000 cells/μL in lavage were also more likely to be cured at 3‐4 weeks than dogs with more than 1000 cells/μL [9/9 vs 10/19, P = .006] and median duration of treatment in that subgroup of animals was reduced (3 vs 5 weeks, P = .02). Conclusion and Clinical Importance Aerosolized delivery of gentamicin seems effective for inducing clinical cure in Bb infection. Clinical response appears better using undiluted 5% solution, particularly in the subgroup of dogs having less than 1000 cells/μL in lavage.

Background Comparison of clinical findings, chest radiographs (CXR), lung ultrasound (LUS) findings, and C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentrations at admission and serial follow‐up in dogs with aspiration pneumonia (AP) is lacking. Hypothesis Lung ultrasound lesions in dogs with AP are similar to those described in humans with community‐acquired pneumonia (comAP); the severity of CXR and LUS lesions are similar; normalization of CRP concentration precedes resolution of imaging abnormalities and more closely reflects the clinical improvement of dogs. Animals Seventeen dogs with AP. Methods Prospective observational study. Clinical examination, CXR, LUS, and CRP measurements performed at admission (n = 17), 2 weeks (n = 13), and 1 month after diagnosis (n = 6). All dogs received antimicrobial therapy. Lung ultrasound and CXR canine aspiration scoring systems used to compare abnormalities. Results B‐lines and shred signs with or without bronchograms were identified on LUS in 14 of 17 and 16 of 17, at admission. Chest radiographs and LUS scores differed significantly using both canine AP scoring systems at each time point (18 regions per dog, P < .001). Clinical and CRP normalization occurred in all dogs during follow up. Shred signs disappeared on LUS in all but 1 of 6 dogs at 1 month follow‐up, while B‐lines and CXR abnormalities persisted in 4 of 6 and all dogs, respectively. Conclusion and Clinical Importance Lung ultrasound findings resemble those of humans with comAP and differ from CXR findings. Shred signs and high CRP concentrations better reflect clinical findings during serial evaluation of dogs.

Bronchiectasis (BE) and bronchomalacia (BM) are chronic respiratory diseases in dogs, yet their combined occurrence (BEBM) is not well studied. This retrospective study analyzed 65 dogs diagnosed via endoscopy with BE, BM, or BEBM (E-BE, E-BM, E-BEBM) to identify clinical and pathological differences and assess how imaging results (radiography and computed tomography (CT)) align with endoscopic findings. Clinical symptoms like coughing, dyspnea, and exercise intolerance were similar across all groups, except lung crackles, which were more common in E-BEBM. Inflammation seen during bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid results, including neutrophil counts, showed no significant differences between groups. Bacterial infections were present in 15% of dogs with no difference among groups. Diagnostic agreement between radiography and endoscopy was low: 18.1% for E-BE, 10.5% for E-BM, and 38.4% for E-BEBM. CT results matched endoscopic findings in all E-BE cases but only in half of E-BM and 40% of E-BEBM cases. The bronchial-to-arterial ratio, a benchmark for BE diagnosis, did not align with CT findings. Overall, the study found limited clinical or pathological differences between BE, BM, and BEBM and limited concordance between imaging and endoscopic findings, emphasizing the need for further research to clarify potential implications for treatment strategies.

Background Evidence regarding optimal treatment duration in dogs with aspiration pneumonia (AP) and the role of thoracic radiographs (TXR) and lung ultrasonography (LUS) in the long‐term follow‐up of affected dogs is lacking. C‐reactive protein (CRP) is a reliable acute phase protein to monitor bacterial pneumonia in dogs. Hypothesis Investigate the safety of antimicrobial discontinuation based on clinical improvement and serum CRP normalization, as well as the usefulness of TXR and LUS for follow‐up. Animals Dogs diagnosed with AP and treated with antimicrobials. Methods Prospective observational study. Antimicrobials were discontinued based on clinical improvement and serum CRP normalization after 1, 3, or 5 weeks. At each consultation, a quality‐of‐life questionnaire, physical examination, serum CRP, TXR, and LUS were assessed. Short‐ (2 weeks) and long‐term (>1 month) follow‐ups after treatment discontinuation were performed to monitor for possible relapses. Results Seventeen dogs were included. Antimicrobials were discontinued after 1 week in 12 dogs (70.6%) and 3 weeks in the remaining 5 dogs (29.4%). Short‐term relapse was not observed in any dog and long‐term relapse was diagnosed in 3 dogs. Thoracic radiographs and LUS were useful for diagnosis, but did not add additional information during follow‐up, because image normalization lagged behind clinical improvement and serum CRP normalization. Conclusion and Clinical Importance Dogs with AP can be safely and effectively treated using a short‐term antimicrobial regimen discontinued after clinical improvement and serum CRP normalization. Imaging might still be useful for complicated cases with a less favorable response to treatment.

Background Extrinsic and intrinsic factors have been shown to influence nasal microbiota (NM) in humans. Very few studies investigated the association between nasal microbiota and factors such as facial/body conformation, age, and environment in dogs. The objectives are to investigate variations in NM in healthy dogs with different facial and body conformations. A total of 46 dogs of different age, living environment and from 3 different breed groups were recruited: 22 meso−/dolichocephalic medium to large breed dogs, 12 brachycephalic dogs and 12 terrier breeds. The nasal bacterial microbiota was assessed through sequencing of 16S rRNA gene (V1-V3 regions) amplicons. Results We showed major differences in the NM composition together with increased richness and α-diversity in brachycephalic dogs, compared to meso−/dolichocephalic medium to large dogs and dogs from terrier breeds. Conclusion Healthy brachycephalic breeds and their unique facial conformation is associated with a distinct NM profile. Description of the NM in healthy dogs serves as a foundation for future researches assessing the changes associated with disease and the modulation of NM communities as a potential treatment.

Background Pathogenesis of canine fungal rhinitis is still not fully understood. Treatment remains challenging, after cure turbinate destruction may be associated with persistent clinical signs and recurrence of fungal rhinitis can occur. Alterations of the nasal microbiota have been demonstrated in dogs with chronic idiopathic rhinitis and nasal neoplasia, although whether they play a role in the pathogenesis or are a consequence of the disease is still unknown. The objectives of the present study were (1) to describe nasal microbiota alterations associated with fungal rhinitis in dogs, compared with chronic idiopathic rhinitis and controls, (2) to characterize the nasal microbiota modifications associated with successful treatment of fungal rhinitis. Forty dogs diagnosed with fungal rhinitis, 14 dogs with chronic idiopathic rhinitis and 29 healthy control dogs were included. Nine of the fungal rhinitis dogs were resampled after successful treatment with enilconazole infusion. Results Only disease status contributed significantly to the variability of the microbiota. The relative abundance of the genus Moraxella was decreased in the fungal rhinitis (5.4 ± 18%) and chronic idiopathic rhinitis (4.6 ± 8.7%) groups compared to controls (51.8 ± 39.7%). Fungal rhinitis and chronic idiopathic rhinitis groups also showed an increased richness and α-diversity at species level compared with controls. Increase in unique families were associated with fungal rhinitis (Staphyloccaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, Enterobacteriaceae and Neisseriaceae) and chronic idiopathic rhinitis (Pasteurellaceae and Lactobacillaceae). In dogs with fungal rhinitis at cure, only 1 dog recovered a high relative abundance of Moraxellaceae. Conclusions Results confirm major alterations of the nasal microbiota in dogs affected with fungal rhinitis and chronic idiopathic rhinitis, consisting mainly in a decrease of  Moraxella . Besides, a specific dysbiotic profile further differentiated fungal rhinitis from chronic idiopathic rhinitis. In dogs with fungal rhinitis, whether the NM returns to its pre-infection state or progresses toward chronic idiopathic rhinitis or fungal rhinitis recurrence warrants further investigation.

Background C‐reactive protein (CRP) is a well‐known acute‐phase protein in dogs that may discriminate bacterial bronchopneumonia from other pulmonary conditions. Bronchopneumonia caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica (Bb) is common but the associated increase in CRP concentration in naturally infected dogs has not been fully explored. Objective To compare CRP concentrations of dogs with Bb infection, with or without radiographic pulmonary lesions, to dogs with aspiration bronchopneumonia (ABP). Animals Sixteen dogs with Bb infection and 36 dogs with ABP. Methods Retrospective study. C‐reactive protein concentrations and thoracic radiographs were available for each dog. Results Eleven dogs with Bb infection had alveolar lesions. In all dogs, CRP concentration was mildly increased (14‐38 mg/L). In the 5 dogs without alveolar lesions, CRP concentration was within the reference range in all but 1 dog, in which it was slightly increased. Median CRP concentration was significantly higher in dogs with alveolar lesions (20 mg/L) compared with dogs without alveolar lesions (5 mg/L; p < .002). In dogs with Bb infection, median duration of clinical signs was not different between dogs with normal CRP concentration and dogs with increased concentration. In dogs with Bb infection either with or without alveolar lessions, median CRP concentration was significantly lower (20 mg/L) than in dogs with ABP (118 mg/L; p < .001). Conclusions and Clinical Importance In contrast to dogs with APB, CRP was not a good marker for the diagnosis of dogs suspected to have bordetellosis. Confirmation of Bb infection still requires lower airway sampling.

Background In dogs with sinonasal aspergillosis (SNA) the utility of PCR in the diagnosis and monitoring of the disease after treatment has not been assessed. Objectives To evaluate the presence of fungal DNA using quantitative PCR targeting Aspergillus fumigatus (Aspfum) and Aspergillus spp. (PanAsp), and PCR targeting multiple fungal species (PanFun), in samples obtained from nasal cavities of dogs with SNA, other nasal diseases and healthy dogs. Animals Sixty‐two dogs including 20 with SNA, 12 with cured SNA (of which 10 are from the SNA group), 20 dogs with Non‐SNA nasal disease, and 20 healthy dogs. Methods Prospective cross‐sectional study. Aspfum, PanAsp, and PanFun were performed on blindly collected nasal swabs obtained in anesthetized dogs. Results In SNA dogs, Aspfum and PanAsp were positive in 13/20 and 14/20 dogs. In all dogs in the 3 other groups, A. fumigatus DNA was not detected using Aspfum. PanAsp was positive in 3 non‐SNA dogs: 1 with cured SNA and 2 with Non‐SNA nasal disease. A Ct cut‐off value of 33.3 for Aspfum demonstrated 65% sensitivity and 100% specificity. A Ct cut‐off value of 34.5 for PanAsp demonstrated 70% sensitivity and 96.2% specificity. PanFun was positive in 16/20, 12/12, 19/20, and 7/20 dogs in the SNA, cured SNA, Non‐SNA, and healthy groups, respectively. Conclusion and Clinical Importance Aspfum and PanAsp on blindly collected nasal swabs can be useful for the detection of SNA at diagnosis and at cure, especially when more invasive methods are not available.