PYOGRANULOMATOUS PLEURITIS WITH EMPYEMA IN HUNTING DOGS

Nine hunting breed dogs were treated for thoracic empyema of undetermi ned origin. Seven dogs returned to normal health after combined pleura l drainage by modified Seldinger technique and long-term chemotherapy. Two were destroyed in the early phase of treatment. One died and one was destroyed due to recurrence. Associated signs in four of the dogs included thoracic wall swellings. In two of these, very small foreign bodies of plant origin were found intrathoracically at surgery. Predom inantly anaerobic commensals of the mucous membranes were isolated fro m pleural exudate. Post-mortem examination in the four cases showed pr oductive, pyogranulomatous intrathoracic inflammation and pleural adhe sions. It is proposed that inhaled small plant parts, by synergism wit h endogenous microorganisms of mucous membrane origin, may be of aetio logic importance in seemingly idiopathic pyogranulomatous pleuritis wi th empyema in hunting dogs.