MEASUREMENT OF UPPER AIRWAY-RESISTANCE IN AWAKE UNTRAINED DOLICHOCEPHALIC AND MESATICEPHALIC DOGS

A technique for measuring upper airway resistance was developed in awa ke untrained dolichocephalic and mesaticephalic dogs. Twenty healthy d ogs, 10 Collies (group A-dolichocephalic) and 10 mixeds-breed dogs (gr oup B-mesaticephalic), were studied. All dogs tolerated the procedure well, and adverse effects were not observed. Mean (+/- SEM) value for upper airway resistance was 7.1 +/- 0.50 cm of H2O/L/s. There was a tr end toward lower upper airway resistance (R(uaw)) values in group-A do gs, compared with those in group-B dogs. Values of R(uaw) were reprodu cible for an individual dog. The mean individual dog coefficient of va riation for R(uaw) was 7.5%. The overall R(uaw) coefficient of variati on for all 20 dogs was 31.4%. This technique for measuring upper airwa y resistance in dogs is clinically applicable for objectively assessin g response to treatment of obstructive upper airway disorders.