Crackles, Coughs and Wheezes – Approaching Respiratory Disease in First Opinion Practice

Dealing with a dyspnoeic animal can be stressful for all concerned. During this one-day course, we will consider how best to localise the problem using the available history, clinical observations, and targeted diagnostics; with the aim of optimising the management of these cases - and reducing everyone’s stress levels!

In a wide variety of tachypnoeic, coughing or wheezing patients, we’ll take the opportunity to consider diagnostic options: from blood work, thoracic radiographs and bronchoscopy, to CT and thoracic ultrasound.  This day should give you more confidence dealing with coughing and wheezing animals, and further develop your decision making in dyspnoea.

Topics to be covered:

• Practical methods of oxygen supplementation and emergency management
• Practical tips to help to distinguish cardiac and respiratory causes of dyspnoea  
• How to perform a bronchoalveolar lavage, and optimise the diagnostic information obtained from it
• Review of thoracic imaging 
• Canine chronic coughs