Title : Retrospective study of chronic coughing in dogs
Abstract:
Aims of the study:
Chronic cough is a common complaint in small animal internal medicine. The aim of this study was to describe the most common causes of chronic cough in dogs.
Material and methods:
The medical records from a referral centre in the United Kingdom were retrospectively reviewed for dogs presenting with chronic coughing between January 2012 and December 2021. Chough was considered chronic when present for at least 8 weeks. For each patient, age, sex, breed, weight and type of cough (productive or non-productive), duration, diagnostic investigations and definitive diagnoses were recorded.
Results:
A total of 346 dogs were included in the study. The most common breeds were Labrador retriever (40/346, 11%) and Yorkshire Terrier (23/346, 6.6 %). The mean age was 8 years (ranging from 5 months – 16 years).
The most common diagnoses of chronic cough in this population of dogs were airway collapse (102/346, 29.47 %), chronic bronchitis (100/346, 28.9 %), neoplasia (62/346, 17.91%) and infectious disease (58/346, 16.76%).
In dogs under 15 kg (172/346), airway collapse (82/204, 40%) and chronic bronchitis (49/204, 24%) were overrepresented. In contrast, dogs over 15 kg (174/346) were more frequently diagnosed with chronic bronchitis (51/218 23.3%) and neoplasia (43/218, 19.7%).
In dogs under 5 years of age, eosinophilic lung disease was the most common diagnosis (19/76, 25%). None of the dogs in this group was diagnosed with neoplasia. In dogs between 5 and 10 years of age the most frequent diagnoses were airway collapse (47/171, 27.4%) and chronic bronchitis (46/171, 26.9 %). In dogs with over 10 years of age, the most common diagnoses were airway collapse (44/175, 25.1 %), chronic bronchitis (41/175, 23.4%) and neoplasia (37/175, 21.1%).
Bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage were performed in most of the cases (259/346, 74.85%). Thoracic radiograph was the most frequent imaging modality performed (247/346, 71.39%).
Discussion and conclusion:
To the authors’ knowledge, this is the largest study of dogs with chronic coughing, providing useful information when approaching this clinical sign. This study concluded that chronic bronchitis and airway collapse are the most common causes of chronic coughing in dogs. None of the dogs under 5 years of age was diagnosed with neoplasia, and neoplasia was more frequently diagnosed in dogs over 15 kg. Eosinophilic lung disease was more frequently identified in younger dogs, with just one case diagnosed in elderly dogs (> 10 years). None of the dogs with over 10 years of age presented due to a foreign body.
Audience Take Away:
- Common concurrent symptoms of dogs presenting with chronic cough, depending on the underlying pathology
- Most common diagnoses of dogs presenting with chronic coughing
- Association of certain diagnoses with age and size of the dog, which will help to establish an investigation plan.
- Most common investigations needed to achieve a diagnosis.
- Breed predisposition to certain pathologies.
