EVALUATION OF INHALED THERAPY FOR SOME RESPIRATORY DISEASES OF DOGS

Abstract

Non infectious and infectious diseases of the respiratory tract, including, bronchitis and canine distemper, are common problems in dogs. Traditional therapies have often included corticosteroids, bronchodilators and antimicrobial agents given by mouth or injection. Inhaled drugs are not as absorbed into the systemic circulation and have a local therapeutic effect. In this study 65 dogs were used, 15 of them were used as a normal control group, 25 were used for therapeutic trial by conventional route and 25 by inhaled route. Diagnostic and therapeutic workup were recorded including clinical examination, hematology, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology, estimation of biomarkers (MMP-2 and MMP-9), bronchoscopy, thoracic radiography and pulse oximetry monitoring. The difference between the two therapeutic routes were recorded. It can be concluded that Corticosteroid, bronchodilator and antimicrobial when administrated by inhalation resulted in more clinical improvement than traditional route and in severe cases, inhalant antibiotic combined with systemic antibiotic resulted in more effective result. Key Words: Dogs, Inhalation therapy, Bronchitis, Canine Distemper, MMP-2, MMP-9 and Thoracic radiolog