Canine bronchitis including use of inhaled medications

摘要

Chronic bronchitis (CB) is an inflammatory airway disease that, in association with tracheobronchial collapse, is probably the most common chronic canine airway disorder. Although the cause(s) of most cases of CB in dogs is unclear, the result is chronic airway inflammation, chronic cough and excessive mucus production. Because dogs do not expectorate, excessive mucus maybe difficult to recognize. Therefore, the diagnosis of CB is usually based on chronic cough alone. Importantly, because the diagnosis of CB is based on clinical criteria (cough), the diagnosis should not be made until you rule out other causes of chronic cough such as heart failure, heartworm infestation, pneumonia, lung tumor etc. The purposes of this article are to 1) summarize the main clinical features of canine CB, 2) highlight the most important tests used to confirm the diagnosis of canine CB, and 3) emphasize practical treatment principles and specific treatment strategies.