Bronchoscopy in dogs and cats is a diagnostic methodology (minimally invasive technique using a fiberoptic instrument) that requires general anesthesia of the patient, allows the veterinarian to see through an endoscopic camera: trachea, lungs and internal structures.
It is performed in the course of acute and chronic respiratory diseases such as
- Acute cough (suspected inhalation of a foreign body such as foxtail grass)
- Chronic cough of unknown origin
- Snoring Breath or Respiratory Stridor in the absence of laryngeal lesions (Laryngoscopy in the normal range).
- Confirmation and Staging of Tracheal Collapse
- Staging of Chronic Bronchitis
- Distinguishing between heart disease or lung disease as a cause of coughing in dogs
- Diagnosis and Staging of Lung Neoplasms
- Chronic Parenchymal Disease (Bronchial – Alveolar – Interstitial)
- Persistent halitosis
It is indicated to assess the state of the airways and to take samples for cytological examination and biopsy sampling or for tracheobronchial lavage
Cat dog bronchoscopy
The technique for obtaining material for a subsequent cytological examination is that of tracheobronchial lavage which allows the identification of infectious agents:
- Mycoplasma spp.
- Pasteurella spp.
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
- Salmonella typhimurium
- Pseudomonas spp
- Cryptococcus neoformans
- Aelurostrongylus abstrusus
Bronchoscopy is recommended by the veterinarian in case of
- Tracheal collapse
- Bronchial collapse (Bronchomalacia)
- Foreign bodies (often foxtail grass)
- Stenosis
- Chronic cough
- Hemorrhages
- Coughing up blood
- Tumors
- Airway compression
- Infectious bronchitis
- Pneumonia
It is generally a low-risk procedure; In rare cases, the trachea or bronchi may suffer minor injuries and bleeding may occur after tissue removal (biopsies). Always assess the risks of general anesthesia.
Bronchomalacia in dogs
