Ak. Jarvinen et al., LUNG INJURY LEADING TO RESPIRATORY-DISTRESS SYNDROME IN YOUNG DALMATIAN DOGS, Journal of veterinary internal medicine, 9(3), 1995, pp. 162-168
A progressive pulmonary disease resulting in severe respiratory failur
e and death in an average of 3 weeks was diagnosed in 11 young Dalmati
an dogs. The dogs were from 4 litters, all genetically related by a co
mmon ancestor. The initial clinical signs were tachypnea and noisy res
piration. Respiratory distress developed shortly before death and was
characterized by strenuous and rapid respirations, along with cyanosis
and vomiting, On blood gas analysis, there were severe arterial hypox
emia, hypercapnia, and marked alveolar-arterial oxygen difference, Rad
iographically, a diffuse pattern of alveolar, interstitial, and peribr
onchial densities was observed in the lungs. Most dogs developed pneum
omediastinum and gastroesophageal intussusception in the terminal phas
e of the disease. There was no response to treatment with antibiotics,
corticosteroids, diuretics, or oxygen. At necropsy, the lungs were we
t. heavy, and relatively airless. Absence of 1 kidney in 2 dogs and se
vere internal hydrocephalus in 2 dogs were additional necropsy finding
s, Pulmonary histopathology included metaplasia and atypia of the alve
olar and bronchiolar epithelium, a nonpurulent inflammatory reaction c
haracterized mainly by mononuclear cells and macrophages. eosinophilic
hyaline membrane formation, and focal pulmonary fibrosis, The histolo
gical manifestations were typical of acute lung injury. Clinically, th
e findings were consistent with adult respiratory distress syndrome (A
RDS), except for the relatively long course. No known risk factors for
ARDS, such as trauma, toxin exposure, infection, or endotoxemia could
be identified. The relationship of the other abnormalities (ie, renal
aplasia, hydrocephalus) to the pulmonary disease also remains obscure
, An inherited defect is suspected, because segregation analysis of th
e 4 litters suggests autosomal recessive inheritance. Copyright (C) 19
95 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.