Knowledge Hub
Access valuable information to help pet owners and veterinarians improve canine health and quality of life.
Lung & Airway Health Research
The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) funds research to better understand and treat respiratory diseases in dogs, focusing on the underlying causes and potential therapies.
Read MoreCanine Pulmonary Fibrosis
Author: Liz Rozanski, Tufts University Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition that is being recognized with increasing frequency in dogs. The West Highland White Terrier and other terriers are the most commonly affected although any breed may develop pulmonary fibrosis. Pulmonary fibrosis belongs to a group of diseases referred to as interstitial lung disease, which is […]
Read More02507: Characterizing Developmental Lung Disease as a Cause of Sudden Death in the Norwich Terrier
Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome has been attributed to more than 60% of deaths early in life in puppies. The underlying cause(s) of this apparently common problem is poorly understood. Despite the high frequency of respiratory-related mortality in neonatal puppies, there are no reports describing the underlying lung pathology in affected individuals. In human medicine the […]
Read More02232-MOU: Characterization of Upper Airway Syndrome in Norwich Terriers
Breeders have long known of upper airway issues in Norwich Terriers (NTUAS) while veterinary awareness and recognition of NTUAS, has lagged behind. Signs of disease can vary from mild airway noise to severe distress with heat and exercise intolerance, and death. Descriptions of NTUAS have focused on everted laryngeal saccules (outpouched laryngeal tissue), likening it […]
Read More03059: Comparison of Sedated Respiratory-Gated Computed Tomography (CT) to Anesthetized Inspiratory:Expiratory Breath Hold CT in Dogs
Performing chest x-rays is the most common type of imaging test in general practice to help diagnose respiratory disease in dogs. However, despite its common use, it has substantial limitations including underestimating and sometimes failing to diagnose important lung and airway diseases. This in turn can lead to failure to start appropriate therapy, administration of […]
Read More02346-A: Blood Culture and Blood Microbiome as Minimally Invasive Diagnostics for Canine Bacterial Pneumonia
Canine bacterial pneumonia is a common and serious respiratory infection. Pneumonia can develop from contagious environmental bacteria or from the dog’s own bacteria gaining access to the lungs (e.g., after accidentally inhaling food, liquids or vomit). Diagnosis relies on clinical signs, x-rays, and lung fluid (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or BALF) analysis. Analysis of BALF helps […]
Read More01183: Measuring Ventilatory Responses to Heat Stress in Dogs
Dog lack extensive sweat glands and therefore rely on evaporative cooling through the respiratory mucous membranes for thermoregulation. This is a relatively inefficient means of dissipating metabolic heat due to the limited surface area that participates in thermoregulation. Thermoregulatory capacity is increased by increased air movement. Defects in a dog’s ability to increase air movement […]
Read More03048-A: Thoracoscopic-Guided Autologous Blood Injection for Treatment of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax
Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is defined as the presence of air within the pleural space without an obvious precipitating factor. This disease presents as a life-threatening emergency causing shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, and possible collapse or sudden death, affecting an average of 13 dogs per year at NCSU. Although the overall prevalence is fairly […]
Read More01188-A: Capacity for Respiratory-Based Thermoregulation in Brachycephalic Breeds
Grant Status: Closed Grant Amount: $11,517 Michael Scott Davis, DVM; Oklahoma State University January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2011 Sponsor(s): American Pointer Club, Collie Health Foundation, Golden Retriever Foundation, Greyhound Club of America, Newfoundland Club of America Charitable Trust Breed(s): Pekingese, Shih Tzu, French Bulldog, Pug, Boxer, Boston Terrier Research Program Area: Lung and […]
Read More0195: Characterization of the Clinical Features of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in the West Highland White Terrier
A chronic respiratory condition has been noted for some time in West Highland White Terriers, and typically affects middle to old-aged dogs resulting in reduced exercise ability, respiratory difficulty and coughing. Eventually the condition results in respiratory failure and the dogs have to be euthanized. The condition develops slowly and consequently the changes are often […]
Read More02680-A: Assessment of Circulating Inflammatory Mediators in Dogs with Tracheal Collapse
This study investigates whether dogs with tracheal collapse have increased levels of blood inflammatory markers. Dogs with tracheal collapse can experience significant airway narrowing and thus airflow limitation. This can lead to mild or intermittent changes in oxygenation which may stimulate inflammation throughout the body. The research team aims to determine if inflammation occurs in […]
Read More02690-A: Diagnostic Utility of Thoracoscopy for Localization of Pulmonary Bullae in Dogs with Spontaneous Pneumothorax
Primary spontaneous pneumothorax is defined as the presence of air in the space around the lungs without an obvious precipitating factor. This disease presents as a life-threatening emergency causing shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, and possible collapse or sudden death. The diagnosis of these lesions that cause spontaneous pneumothorax in dogs (known as pulmonary bullae) […]
Read More03413-A: Targeted Cytokine Analysis to Identify Hyper- and Hypoinflammatory Subphenotypes in Canine ARDS
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in dogs is a severe condition caused by intense lung inflammation, often triggered by infections, diseases, or trauma. This inflammation results in life-threatening respiratory failure and carries a high mortality rate. Treating ARDS is challenging due to the variability in how it affects each dog and the limited options for […]
Read More02699: The Pathologic Link between Lung and Gut: Diagnosis of Aerodigestive Disorders in Dogs
Chronic unintentional inhalation (aspiration) of small amounts of gastrointestinal contents into the respiratory tract can cause or worsen respiratory disease in dogs. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is reported in up to 90% of people with certain respiratory diseases but is under-recognized and therefore, not treated in dogs in large part because they cannot report signs of […]
Read More03413: Targeted Cytokine Analysis to Identify Hyper- and Hypoinflammatory Subphenotypes in Canine ARDS
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in dogs is a severe condition caused by intense lung inflammation, often triggered by infections, diseases, or trauma. This inflammation results in life-threatening respiratory failure and carries a high mortality rate. Treating ARDS is challenging due to the variability in how it affects each dog and the limited options for […]
Read More01572: Development of a Novel Therapeutic For Neutrophil-Driven Inflammation
White blood cells called neutrophils are essential for host defense. When activated, they produce an array of proteins and other molecules that kill invading microbes. However, these products also are quite damaging to host tissues. Neutrophil functions are often not regulated properly in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract and other body […]
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