SPONTANEOUS PNEUMOTHORAX IN THE DOG - A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF 21 CASES

Spontaneous pneumothorax was diagnosed in 21 dogs over a 10-year perio d. Diagnosis was made by the presence of pneumothorax with exclusion o f antecedent trauma. Signalment and history in all presenting dogs wer e similar to that previously reported. Thirteen of 21 (62%) were prese nted with bilateral pneumothorax; seven of 21 (33%) had a tension pneu mothorax. Only four demonstrated pulmonary radiographic lesions. All d ogs treated by thoracocentesis and 14 of 16 treated with thoracostomy tubes required further therapy due to recurrence of pneumothorax. Twel ve underwent exploratory thoracotomy and partial or complete resection of diseased lung lobes. The most common histopathological diagnosis w as bullous emphysema. The lowest recurrence rate was seen in dogs trea ted surgically. Two of the 21 dogs died of their recurrent pneumothora x, three of underlying pulmonary disease, and one of postoperative com plications. The average hospital stay was shorter in surgically treate d dogs than those treated conservatively. Results of this review indic ate that spontaneous pneumothorax in dogs is a more serious and life-t hreatening condition than in humans and early surgical intervention yi elds the best long-term survival.