Introduction
Canine chronic bronchitis (CCB) is often a difficult condition to diagnose, manage, and to append an accurate prognosis. This is partly due to the fact that CCB has a poorly understood etiopathogenesis, making pathophysio- logically rationalized treatment difficult to tailor, and also due to the fact patients are often older, overweight small breed dogs with comorbid conditions such as canine myxomatous mitral valve disease, and canine hyper- adrenocorticism, which may obfuscate an accurate diagnosis and complicate therapeutic interventions.
Notwithstanding this disagreeable situation, a careful stepwise systematic approach will permit the optimal management of each case and ensure that clients are given accurate feedback. Traditionally CCB is defined as a chronic inflammatory lower airway disease, fulminating as a harsh dry cough, which has persisted for at least two months. Corticosteroids and antitussives are the mainstay of therapy. Many patients can be maintained on inhaled glucocorticoids, which are associated with fewer side effects.
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