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Respiratory Signs 1447.e1

Respiratory Signs
VetBooks.ir history and/or physical exam

Respiratory abnormality in

Sneezing Inspiratory effort Physical examination Increased adventitial Decreased adventitial
Nasal discharge with stridor abnormalities outside breath sounds on auscultation breath sounds on auscultation
Stertor the respiratory system Paradoxic breathing
Muzzle pain or asymmetry

Nasal or Upper airway or Assess for primary Interstitial, Pleural space disease
pharyngeal disease tracheal disease disease small airway, or
alveolar disease

Consider: Consider: Neoplasia Consider: Consider:
• Radiography • Direct visualization Bleeding disorder • Radiography • Radiography
• Computed tomography • Radiography, including 2 Inflammatory process • Computed tomography • Thoracocentesis
• Nasal flush, cytology lateral views with Abdominal enlargement • Tracheal wash • Pleural fluid analysis
• Rhinoscopy forelimbs cranial, then Chest wall disease • Bronchoscopy • Microbiology
• Microbiology caudal Neuromuscular disease • Bronchoalveolar lavage • Ultrasound
• Serology • Ultrasound (larynx) Other systemic diseases • Fine-needle aspiration • Computed tomography
• Biopsy and • Electrodiagnostics • Exploratory thoracotomy • Pleural biopsy
histopathology (larynx) and biopsy • Exploratory thoracotomy
and biopsy
• Coagulation profile • Aspirate or cytology
and platelet count if • Biopsy for histopathology
epistaxis • Bronchoscopy
• Fluoroscopy (trachea)
• Microbiology
(Modified from Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC: Textbook of veterinary internal medicine, ed 6, St. Louis, 2005, Saunders.)

Clinical Algorithms

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