Purulent pneumonia in animals. Aspiration pneumonia

Inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia) occurs in all animal species. Depending on the causes and clinical signs, two forms of pneumonia are distinguished: catarrhal and lobar, or fibrinous. In most cases, catarrhal pneumonia develops due to microbronchitis. It is one of the most common diseases of animals, especially young animals (calves and piglets).
Lobar pneumonia is most often infectious in nature.
Causes. Catarrhal pneumonia can be caused by a variety of reasons. First of all, these include colds caused by drafts, keeping animals in damp and cold weather on pastures, giving hot animals cold water, bathing and leaving them uncovered for a long time in the cold or wind.
One of the very common causes of the disease, which deserves serious attention, is the inept, forced administration of drugs to animals, as well as the entry into the bronchi foreign bodies with swallowing disorders and vomiting. In these cases, inflammation of the bronchi and lungs occurs, called aspiration bronchopneumonia. When pyogenic and putrefactive microbes enter the lungs, pneumonia is often complicated and ends in purulent-putrefactive decay lung tissue. This process is called gangrene of the lungs.
In young animals, the cause of pneumonia is various errors and violations of the conditions of their keeping, namely: keeping young animals in poor, dirty, damp, stuffy rooms, lack of provision of young animals with good, dry bedding, complete feed and mineral supplements.
Excessively high air humidity in combination with sharp temperature fluctuations is especially unfavorable. Inhalation of such air leads to disruption of gas exchange in the lungs and oxygen starvation body, hypothermia of the body, alternating with overheating, leads to various colds, including the respiratory system. Pneumonia can also be caused by young animals lying for long periods of time on cold, damp soil during walks and grazing, as well as on damp, cold floors and wet bedding.
Vitamin starvation, especially hypo- and avitaminosis A, and lack of walks also play an important role in the occurrence of pneumonia in young animals. fresh air and partly the practice of drinking buckets of calves (pneumonia due to inhalation and entry of milk into the lungs).
Croupous, or fibrinous, pneumonia is often observed in contagious diseases (contagious pleuropneumonia, general pneumonia, swine fever, hemorrhagic septicemia and etc.). Sometimes lobar pneumonia also occurs due to penetration into the lungs molds and some types of worms (dictyocaulosis, etc.).
Signs. With catarrhal pneumonia, the main signs of the disease are: general depression, decreased or complete absence of appetite, high body temperature, thirst, rapid and difficult painful breathing and increasing shortness of breath, sometimes accompanied by stomas, weak, rapid pulse, and increasing general loss of strength. Rapid emaciation of the animal, cyanosis of visible mucous membranes, profuse serous-mucous or mucopurulent bilateral discharge from the nose and a short painful cough are also noted. When listening in the affected areas of the lungs, weakening of breathing and wheezing are observed, and later - a complete cessation of respiratory sounds; during percussion, there is a dullness of the percussion sound in the lesions.
Croupous pemmonia, in contrast to catarrhal pneumonia, develops faster, is more severe, with a constant high body temperature and increasing cardiac weakness. Croupous pneumonia is sometimes accompanied by the discharge of characteristic saffron-yellow, rust-colored discharge from the nose and very often leads to the death of animals. Lobar pneumonia should be considered a contagious disease.
The main distinguishing signs of lung gangrene are: putrefactive, foul odor exhaled air and nasal discharge, painful cough, rapidly increasing severe weakness of the animal and shortness of breath. When listening to the lungs, splashing and bubbling noises are noted.
Treatment. Regardless of the form of the disease, the animal must be released from work and given complete rest in a warm, spacious and clean room. It is necessary to improve nutrition, care and living conditions, and if a weak pulse appears, support the heart function by giving the animal alcohol or vodka diluted in 2-4 parts of water (large animals - 50-100 ml, small animals - 10-20 ml per dose). For catarrhal pneumonia, cupping and mustard plasters, rubbing chest turpentine with vegetable oil or ammonia mixed with water, warm wraps, as well as inhalation of water vapor with creolin or turpentine.
It is necessary to remember that in cold weather, in an unheated room, vapor inhalation cannot be prescribed, as colds and deterioration are possible. disease process rather than improving it.
Turpentine as an expectorant can be sprinkled in the stable without heating. Large animals are given 10-15 g of streptocide orally 2 times a day, 5-10 g of ammonia with anise seed powder, etc. As directed by the veterinarian, intravenous administration of sodium sulfathiazole is also prescribed in a dose of 0.02-0.03 g per day. 1 kg of animal weight as 10% aqueous solution; 300-400 ml of 20% alcohol; 120 ml of rivanol solution diluted 1: 1000 with 40 ml of alcohol; 400 ml of 1% streptocide solution; Penicillin is administered intramuscularly for 2-4 days at a dose of 300-600 thousand action units (AU) every 6 hours.
When treating pneumonia in young animals (calves and piglets), especially important have the elimination of zoohygienic errors that caused the disease, and Attentive attitude to sick animals. Young animals are also recommended to give expectorants internally, periodically lightly rub camphor alcohol or turpentine with oil into the chest (1 part turpentine to 9 parts vegetable oil), as well as mustard plasters followed by warm wrapping of the chest.
The oral administration of acidophilus and lysozyme has a beneficial effect, which is used for 2-4 days, 0.5-1 ml per 1 kg of animal weight on an empty stomach in the morning and evening. good therapeutic effect provide sulfazole, norsulfazole, phthalazole, prescribed orally at 0.01-0.02 g per 1 kg of animal weight 3-4 times a day.
In addition, antibiotics (streptomycin, penicillin, etc.) are widely used in the treatment of pneumonia in young animals. Streptomycin is administered intramuscularly: to calves - 30-50 thousand units every 4-6 hours for 6-7 days, to piglets - 20 thousand units per 1 kg of animal weight 3 times a day; bicillin or biomycin - for calves once in a dose of 300-500 thousand to 1 million units; penicillin for calves - 2-4 thousand units, for piglets - 3-5 thousand units per 1 kg of animal weight for 2-4 days.
It is recommended to give calves orally with milk 800 units of vitamin A per 1 kg of animal weight per day, vitamin D - 50 thousand units per calf and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) - from 50 to 250 mg.
For lobar pneumonia, in particular in horses, as a specific remedy It is recommended to inject 3 g of novarsenol into a vein, diluted in 60 ml of distilled water, after preliminary subcutaneous administration of cardiac drugs. Otherwise for treatment lobar pneumonia use the same methods and means that are used for catarrhal pneumonia.
Prevention. It is necessary to protect animals from colds, as the main predisposing cause of pneumonia, and also to observe the rules of animal hygiene in the sense of keeping, feeding and exploitation of animals. Bearing in mind that pneumonia is very often accompanied by various contagious diseases, precautions must be taken in relation to patients: until the arrival of a veterinarian, they must be isolated from healthy animals, especially with lobar pneumonia.
To prevent pneumonia in young animals, it is necessary to create proper living conditions for them and provide them with adequate feeding and good care. To do this, young animals must be housed in well-equipped, dry and bright premises. In these premises it is necessary to systematically remove manure and slurry, monitor the proper functioning of ventilation and sewerage in order to prevent dampness and high humidity in the air. Young animals should be regularly provided with walks in the fresh air, and in the summer they should be kept in camps.
In the prevention of pneumonia, the correct mode of drinking milk, providing clean drinking water after drinking milk, and feeding with minerals are important ( salt, bone meal, chalk, etc.) and feed rich in vitamins (green grass, etc.).
In order to prevent pneumonia, it is also recommended to give acidophilus to young animals, which can replace up to half the daily milk ration.

Lobar pneumonia(Pneumonia crouposa)

Lobar pneumonia- acute, cyclical developing inflammation lungs, covering an entire lobe or a significant part of it, in which fibrinous exudate, leukocytes and erythrocytes sweat into the lumen of the alveoli and bronchi, expressed high fever permanent type, saffron-yellow discharge is released from the nasal openings. It can be sporadic and massive, primary, secondary and symptomatic.

Etiology. Massive lobar pneumonia manifests itself as one of the main symptoms of peripneumonia and gbmosepticemia.
Sporadic lobar inflammation of the Lungs often occurs with hypothermia, overfatigue, the presence of a “critical” amount of saprophytic microflora in the respiratory tract, allergies, overirritation of the central nervous system, damage to nerve nodes, severe irritation of N. phrenicus, N. ischiadicus, disruption of the integrity of the trunks of the Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system , metabolic disorders (more often with diabetes).

Pathogenesis. When extra- and interoreceptors are exposed to unfavorable factors, a number of deviations occur. The neurovascular reaction is disrupted, the phagocytic protective forces and immunobiological processes, thereby creating more favorable conditions for pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microflora. Microflora aerogenously or hematogenously and lymphogenously penetrates into the lower parts of the respiratory tract, contributes to the development of inflammation, which usually begins in the depths of the lobe, then quickly spreads mainly through the lymphatic ducts to the periphery and covers large areas of the lung. The pathological process develops more often in the cranial or ventral parts of the lungs, less often in the caudal lobe and even less often in the dorsal parts of the lung. The development of inflammation is characterized by stages, that is, hyperemia occurs first, then the stage of red and gray hepatization and ends with the stage of resolution.
In the stage of hyperemia, a strong dilation of blood vessels and their overflow with blood occurs, sloughing of the alveolar epithelium. Viscous exudate, leukocytes and erythrocytes are released into the lumen of the alveoli, oxygen exchange becomes difficult, urination and heat regulation are disrupted. Leukocytosis appears, eosinophils disappear. This stage lasts from several hours to a day. In the second stage - red hepatization - the exudate coagulates, the lung tissue thickens and takes on the appearance of a liver. Through the affected area, the flow of oxygen into the blood and the release of carbon dioxide from the blood stop.
In addition, the use of oxygen by tissues, the oxidation of carbons, and their entry into the brain are reduced. As a result of the current conditions, oxygen deficiency sharply manifests itself, intoxication increases, and body temperature rises to an even greater extent, despite significant heat transfer. In the blood, the amount of intermediate breakdown products, unconducted bilirubin and leukocytes increases. Part of the uncoagulated exudate and lysis products ends up in Airways healthy areas of the lung, irritates them and is released in the form of a saffron-yellow discharge.
In the stage of gray hepatization, the coagulated exudate under the influence of leukocytes and other factors undergoes fatty degeneration, intoxication, the formation of unconducted bilirubin and the penetration of the latter into tissues increase, and the discharge of saffron-yellow discharge from the nose increases. When fatty degeneration reaches a high degree, the lung tissue acquires a yellow color. Some authors call this stage the stage of yellow hepatization. In the stage of yellow hepatization, intoxication and fever reach their maximum degree (critical condition). The second and third stages last for 2 days.
In patients during the development of lobar pneumonia, pulmonary respiration, which leads to a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the blood by 30-50%. At the same time, the absorption of oxygen by tissues decreases, which leads to worsening hypoxia, disruption of redox processes in organs and tissues, and an increase in intermediate decomposition products. In the blood, the amount of albumin, beta and gamma globulins, tryptophan, eosinophils decreases, reserve alkalinity and pH decrease, the number of red blood cells, sugar, and carbon dioxide increases. In the resolution stage, increased liquefaction of the exudate occurs under the influence of lipolytic enzymes secreted by leukocytes; a large number of lysis products are absorbed into the blood and released through the respiratory tract, the flow of air into the alveoli is restored, the epithelium is regenerated, urination increases, the number of eosinophils and chlorine in the blood increases and the content of other substances is normalized. The permitting process lasts up to 7 days.
Sometimes with lobar pneumonia one of the characteristic symptoms. Therefore, six atypical forms of the disease are distinguished: abortive, which occurs in strong animals and lasts 1-2 days; creeping, when the process spreads in the lungs; recurrent, which develops again in recovered animals; senile; central, when the process is localized in the center of the lung; massive, capturing the entire lobe.
Symptoms The disease begins with a rapid rise in body temperature to 41-42 °C, depression of the general condition, and a sharp drop in productivity. Patients cough. A saffron-yellow discharge is released from the nasal openings, starting from the second day of illness until the 2-3rd day of the resolution stage. There is a significant increase in cardiac impulse and increased heart rate. Relationship between quantity breathing movements And pulse waves instead of 1: 2-3 (in healthy animals) it is 1: 1.
When auscultating the chest in the stage of congestion, crepitus and hard vesicular breathing are heard in the affected areas, mainly in the lower third, less often in the middle third of the chest. In the stage of hepatization, there are no respiratory sounds, and weak bronchial breathing appears. At the stage of resolution of the process, when the alveoli are freed from exudate, crepitation noises reappear, followed after 1-2 days by vesicular breathing. The percussion sound changes in accordance with the stages of the inflammatory process: in the stage of influx - tympanic, in the stage of hepatization - dull or dull, in the stage of resolution - tympanic.
With fluoroscopy, foci of darkening are found at the site of the affected lobe, and with radiography, clearing is found. Changes from the side of cardio-vascular system occur from the first days of illness. An increase in body temperature by 1 °C is accompanied by an increase in heart rate by 10-20 waves per minute. The pulse becomes full, at this time the heartbeat also increases. Heart sounds are clear, but amplified, especially the second one on the pulmonary artery. In cases of prolonged illness or complications, the pulse quickens, becomes weaker and softer. The veins become more tortuous and filled with blood, the mucous membranes have a bluish tint, and if the liver is damaged, they become jaundiced. Often, during a period of critical temperature drop, it develops vascular insufficiency: muscle tone drops sharply, peripheral veins become empty, visible mucous membranes turn pale, the temperature of the peripheral parts of the body decreases, the pulse becomes thready, heart sounds weaken, and blood pressure drops. During this period, conditioned reflexes disappear, reflexes of the skin and cornea decrease.
Animals have decreased appetite and slowed peristalsis. Gastritis and coprostasis are often observed. Diuresis in the first days of the disease is significantly reduced, and with the onset of the resolution stage it is noticeably increased. Accordingly, the physicochemical properties of urine change. In the first days of illness, urine has a high relative density (above 1.036), traces of protein are found in it, and the chloride content is reduced. In the resolution stage it decreases relative density urine, protein disappears, the amount of chlorides increases. The urine reaction of herbivores in severe condition is slightly acidic, and during the recovery period it is alkaline.
Morphological and biochemical composition blood changes: significant leukocytosis is noted, a nuclear shift to the left to young, rarely to myelocytes; the number of eosinophils decreases and the number of monocytes increases. ESR in the first days of the disease is slowed down, and in the resolution stage it is accelerated. Total protein in the first three stages is increased to 8.5% due to an increase in the tlobulin fraction, the content of bilirubin also increases to 30 mg%, lactic acid - to 20 mg%; The chloride content and reserve alkalinity of the blood decrease. With the resolution of the process, the morphological and biochemical composition of the blood is restored.

Flow. The duration of the disease depends on the conditions of detention, feeding of the animals, the condition of the body, the timeliness and completeness of treatment. Timely treatment under good housing and feeding conditions often interrupts the process at the first stage of its development. In most cases, the disease lasts 14-15 days, and sometimes more. The latter happens when the disease is complicated by exudative pleurisy, hepatitis, in advanced cases - purulent pneumonia or gangrene of the lungs and ends in death.

The prognosis depends on the condition of the body, the location of the lesion and the duration of the course. More favorable - for abortive form of pneumonia, less favorable - for lesions upper third lung and periaphragmatic area.

Pathological and anatomical changes. Each stage of development is accompanied by characteristic pathomorphological changes.
The flushing stage is characterized by hyperemia, blood stasis, slight exudation of serous fluid into the alveoli and interstitial spaces of the lung tissue. Amazed lung lobe slightly enlarged, dark red in color, rather dense, the lumen of the pulmonary alveoli, in addition to serous fluid, contains a small amount of red blood cells.
The red liver stage is accompanied by further sweating of fluid rich in protein and red blood cells. The alveoli are completely filled with a coagulated red mass. The affected lobe of the lung is airless and resembles the liver in consistency and color.
In the stage of gray hepatization, fibrinous exudate contains a large number of leukocytes and rejected alveolar epithelium.
In the stage of yellow hepatization, the lung tissue is dense, yellow in color; in the lumen of the bronchi, a large amount of dense and a small amount of liquid mass of saffron-yellow color is found.
The resolution stage begins from the moment the inflammatory phenomena fade away. At this time, the alveoli are filled with yellow exudate, in some cases growths are found connective tissue(carnification) and death of the alveolar.

Diagnosis. Diagnosis of lobar pneumonia is based on identifying its characteristic clinical signs. To them. include a rapid rise in body temperature, a constant type of fever, a large focus of dullness, bilateral nasal discharge of saffron-yellow color, and a staged process. At the same time, studies are carried out to diagnose atypical lobar pneumonia. In all cases of manifestation of lobar pneumonia, a thorough analysis of the epizootic situation and differentiation of lobar pneumonia from peripneumonia, bronchopneumonia, pleurisy and pericarditis is necessary.

Treatment. During treatment, the following tasks are set: to provide the sick animal with the necessary nutrients, reduce oxygen deficiency, delay the development of pathogenic microflora, create an outflow of blood from the affected part of the lung, normalize neurotrophic processes in these areas, promote the resorption and removal of accumulated exudate and eliminate symptoms indicating a critical condition of the body. To complete the assigned tasks, sick animals are placed in rooms with clean, dry and warm air. Mixed grass hay is included in the diet High Quality, malted and yeasted food, infusion of pine needles in small quantities. Warming compresses, warm wraps, mustard plasters, cupping, rubbing, skin, blocking nerve nodes and trunks with novocaine help to relieve the processes.
A. M. Kolesov (1945) proposed a treatment regimen for lobar pneumonia in horses, which can also be used for cattle. Treatment but its method depends on the stage of pneumonia: at the stage of hot flashes, rest is created, novarsenol is administered intravenously - 0.01 g per 1 kg of body weight (in isotonic sodium chloride solution), 10% calcium chloride solution - 200-250 ml, prescribed mustard plasters; in the stage of red and gray hepatization - novarsenol (second administration), mustard plasters or cups, rubbing the chest with irritating liniments, 20% camphor oil -20 ml 3 times a day or 10% caffeine - 20-30 ml subcutaneously, in vein 5% glucose solution - 400-600 ml and subcutaneous insulin 0.5 units. per 1 kg of body weight; in the resolution stage, expectorants are given: ammonium chloride - 7-15 g, sodium hydrocaroonate - 20 g 3 times a day and diuretics: orally - juniper berries - 20-50 g, furosemide - 0.4, diacarb - 1.5-2, timisol - 5-10, hypothiazide - 0.25-0.5, potassium acetate (potassium acetate) - 25-60, bearberry leaves - 15-20, orthosiphon leaf - 30-35. hexamegalenetetramine (urotropine) orally and intravenously, 5-10 g 2 times a day for 3-4 days. Short walks are useful at this time.
Satisfactory results have been obtained from the use of norsulfazole, which is administered orally at a dose of 5-12 g (0.05 g per 1 kg of body weight) 4-5 times a day. Soluble norsulfazole ( sodium salt norsulfazole) is administered intravenously at 0.02-0.06 g per 1 kg of body weight 2-3 times a day for 4-5 days. in a row until body temperature drops. Good action sulfadimezine has an effect when administered orally after 4 hours at 0.08 g per 1 kg of body weight, on the 3-4th day of treatment - 0.02 after 6 hours, on the 5th day - but 0.01 g after 8 hours
Sulfonamide drugs are combined with antibiotics (penicillin, bicillin-3, streptomycin, terramycin) or broad-spectrum antibiotics are used (streptomycin, tetracycline, neomycin sulfate, erythromycin). When using antibiotics without prolongators, it is recommended to administer them 4-5 times a day for 4-6 days. until the main phenomena of the disease are eliminated, when using antibiotics with prolongators, they can be administered after 8-12-48-120 hours. It is useful to combine antibiotic therapy with novocaine blockade of the stellate ganglion - 0.25-0.5% solution of novocaine in a dose of 0.5 -1 ml per
1 kg of body weight or intravenous administration of a 0.5-1% solution of novocaine 30-50 ml for 2-3 days in a row, once a day, some recommend administering once every 3-4 days. Along with sulfonamides and antibiotics, mustard plasters, cupping, diathermy, and UHF are used. To accelerate the course of the disease, use calcium chloride or calcium glyconate. Oxygen therapy and intravenous administration glucose with ascorbic acid(0.5 ml of 40% glucose solution and 7 mg of ascorbic acid) and subcutaneous insulin 0.5 units. per 1 kg of body weight. Oxygen is administered through a special mask or subcutaneously into the chest area in an amount of 10-12 liters. At the resolution stage, expectorants are prescribed: ammonium chloride - 7-15 g per day, if there is no intestinal catarrh, or sodium bicarbonate - 15-30 g.
Cardiac activity is supported with camphor. She is introduced into oil solutions(20%) subcutaneously for large animals at a dose of 20 ml 2-3 times a day. Cordiamine is prescribed subcutaneously in 10-20 ml (25% solution). For vascular insufficiency, adrenaline (1:1000) - 1-5 ml is administered intravenously, norepinephrine (1:500-1:1000) - 2-5 ml in 100 ml of 5% glucose solution, mezaton, 1% - ny solution -
3 - 10 ml subcutaneously or intramuscularly. In prolonged cases, autohemotherapy is used - 30-50 ml daily for
4 - 5 days
At high body temperatures, antifibrin is given orally - 15-30 g, phenacytin - 15-25, latophenine - 10-15 g, a short-term cold shower followed by rubbing the body, warm wrapping and keeping the patient in a room with an air temperature of about 20 ° C. If the animal coughing, he is prescribed morphine subcutaneously, dionine - orally 0.2-0.3 g 1-2 times a day, omnopon - subcutaneously 0.2-0.3 g
2 times a day.

Inflammatory processes in the lungs of pets are not uncommon. The cause of the disease is most often infection, foreign objects entering the respiratory system. As a result of the development of the pathological process, normal gas exchange is disrupted, which in severe cases can be life-threatening four-legged friend. Treatment of pneumonia is complex and should be carried out under supervision veterinary specialist.

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Causes

Perennial veterinary practice shows that the main reasons contributing to the development of pneumonia in dogs are the following:

Factors that provoke pneumonia, according to veterinarians, are:

• Weakening of the body's immune system. failure to local immunity resisting the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the mucous membranes increases the risk of developing pneumonia. Veterinarians consider insufficient production of class A immunoglobulin to be one of the main immunological causes of pneumonia in animals.
• Sudden temperature changes. For short-haired dog breeds, long walks in winter time of the year.
• Unsatisfactory living conditions (damp, cold room with drafts).
• Injuries in the chest area.
• Contacts with relatives sick with infectious pathologies.
• Unbalanced. A diet poor in complete proteins, vitamins, and minerals weakens the body and increases the risk of inflammatory pathology.
• Ingress of pathogenic microorganisms with low-quality feed. Fungal pneumonia can develop due to contamination of food with pathogenic fungi, such as Aspergillus.

• Long-term use of certain medications, such as Digoxin.
• Chemotherapy for malignant neoplasms.
• Metabolic diseases (diabetes, uremia).

Puppies and older pets are most often susceptible to inflammation in the lungs due to a weak immune system. Hunting, guard and sled dogs, which due to the nature of their service have to deal with unfavorable environmental factors, are more often susceptible to pneumonia than other breeds.

Types of pneumonia

The variety of causes leading to pneumonia in domestic animals determines the types of pathology. Experts distinguish between infectious and non-infectious types of pneumonia in dogs.

Infectious

Inflammation of the lungs caused by the introduction of pathogenic microflora refers to infectious species illness.

The infectious agent can enter the dog’s body with food, water, through contact with a sick animal, as well as through the hematogenous and lymphogenous route during the underlying disease.

Aspiration

Aspiration pneumonia is a non-infectious form of the disease. The disease develops for several reasons: inhalation of small foreign objects, vomiting, paralysis and other neuromuscular diseases of the pharynx and esophagus, incorrect insertion of the tube for artificial feeding. Aspiration is often caused by medicine through the mouth.

Based on the nature of the inflammatory process in the lung tissue, veterinary specialists distinguish between catarrhal and lobar pneumonia.

Catarrhal

The catarrhal form of the disease is characteristic of bronchopneumonia, when in the inflammatory pathological process bronchi and alveoli are involved. In this case, serous or serous-catarrhal exudate is formed, and the pathology is focal in nature. Puppies and older dogs are susceptible to the disease.

Krupoznaya

The most severe type of inflammatory process is lobar pneumonia. The pathology is associated with the fact that fibrin filaments, formed as a result, sweat into the lumen of the alveoli and bronchi. pathological inflammation. In addition to fibrinous exudate, erythrocytes and leukocytes are exuded.

In case of lobar pneumonia, veterinary specialists distinguish the stage of active hyperemia, red and gray hepatization and resolution. At the stage of red hepatization, fibrin fibers and red blood cells leave the capillaries. The gray hepatization stage is characterized by the migration of leukocytes. At the resolution stage, the exudate liquefies.

Symptoms in a dog

At the beginning of the disease, the owner usually observes general symptoms characteristic of many respiratory diseases:

• decreased appetite or complete failure from food, increased thirst;
• lethargic, drowsy, apathetic state of the pet;
• nose dry and hot to the touch;
• chills, indicating an increase in body temperature;
• nasal discharge of a mucopurulent nature.

With the development of inflammation, the symptoms become more characteristic of pneumonia:

Degree of expression clinical picture largely depends on the severity of the inflammation and the state of the dog’s immune system.

Diagnostic methods

If pneumonia is suspected, the veterinarian will first perform lung percussion to detect areas of dullness and auscultation to assess breath sounds. Detection of wheezing, increased respiratory sounds, and attenuation of breathing in different areas of the lungs indicate a pathological process.

An informative diagnostic method is an x-ray examination of the animal's chest. The inflamed area of ​​the lungs appears on the image as a darkening with an uneven border.

Complex therapy of the disease includes antibacterial agents, vasodilators, expectorants and mucolytic drugs. Special attention is given to the maintenance and proper feeding of a sick pet.

Antibiotics prescribed by your doctor

Antibacterial drugs play a leading role in the treatment of pneumonia in animals.
therapy. Its effectiveness can be increased by performing preliminary tests of sputum or bronchial washings for sensitivity to a particular group of antimicrobial agents.

Broad-spectrum antibiotics are most often prescribed for illness: Gentamicin, Ampicillin, Amoxiclav. Cephalosporin drugs are effective: Cefotaxime, Ceftriaxone, Cephalexin, Cefuroxime. Cephalosporins are active against staphylococci, streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, etc.

If the causative agent of pneumonia is chlamydia or mycoplasma, tetracyclines - Doxycycline, as well as macrolides, for example Sumamed, are used.

Vitamin therapy

An integrated approach necessarily includes vitamin therapy. On the recommendation of a veterinarian, a four-legged pet may be prescribed multivitamins, as well as intramuscular injections ascorbic acid, B vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamin A is useful for illness, affecting tissue regeneration processes.

Home care and recovery

After stabilizing the pet’s condition in the hospital, for a speedy recovery at home, the owner must provide competent care:

• The room should be warm, dry, without drafts
• A balanced diet must be enriched with vitamins and minerals.
• On the recommendation of a veterinarian, the owner can massage the chest to stimulate mucus production.
• At home, it is useful to use dry heat in the form of irradiation with a Sollux lamp.

• Strict compliance with the instructions of a veterinary specialist. Uncontrolled use of antitussive drugs, for example those based on codeine, is not allowed.
• Treatment should be carried out under the control of radiographic examination.

Disease prevention

The owner can prevent the development of pneumonia in a four-legged family member by following the following tips and recommendations from veterinary specialists:

Pneumonia in dogs is a common disease that affects alveolar tissue. Inflammation usually occurs with the introduction of pathogenic microflora. Dogs are often diagnosed with the aspiration form of the disease. Diagnostics includes general clinical methods and chest x-ray.

Treatment is complex and based on long-term use antibacterial drugs and should only be carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Useful video

For information on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia in dogs, watch this video:

The disease is characterized by purulent inflammation of the lungs as a result of the introduction (metastasis) of purulent origin from other pathological foci of the body. Involvement of the lungs in the pathological process can be in the form of disseminated (point) lesions and abscess.

Etiology. Basically, this is a secondary disease that occurs as a complication of septic processes of various origins: pyosepticemia, purulent inflammation uterus, wash, pharyngitis, ulcerative endocarditis, ulcers, purulent wounds, abscesses, surgical interventions.

Pathogenesis. In all cases, pyemic emboli clog certain blood vessels of the lungs with the formation of hemorrhagic infarctions and pyemic nodules (metastatic form), from which necrotic foci can arise in the lung tissue, and from their fusion lesions are formed large sizes(lung abscess).

This is usually accompanied by the development of sepsis, varying degrees (usually severe) weakness of the cardiovascular system, loss of strength and frequent death of animals from general sepsis.

Symptoms The most typical symptoms are shortness of breath, painful cough, and refusal to feed. Subsequently, with the development of abscesses in the lungs, the animal’s condition sharply worsens, fever intensifies to 40-41°C, characterized by daily fluctuations in body temperature and sweating in most animals.

Auscultation reveals weakening of respiratory sounds, wheezing, bronchial or amphoric breathing. In cases of rupture of the abscess, the animal’s condition usually improves somewhat, and purulent or mucopurulent fluid, often foul-smelling, flows from the nose. It contains elastic fibers and particles of lung tissue. There are signs of pleurisy.

In the presence of small lesions, percussion does not establish deviations from the norm, but in the case of large lesions (abscesses), dullness or a nearby tympanic sound is observed, indicating the development of vicarious emphysema. When a large abscess ruptures and empties, the percussion sound may have a metallic tint. With complications in the pleura, auscultation may produce pleural friction sounds, and percussion may be painful.

Pathomorphological changes. Single or multiple abscesses are found in the lungs, mostly superficial, ranging in size from a pea to walnut, inner surface which are villous, the surrounding tissue is compacted and does not contain air. Entire lobes of the lung are often hepatized, the cut surface of which is dotted with small grayish-yellow spots. Over time, they can be encapsulated in a connective tissue membrane with a curdled mass inside. The pleura in places of superficially located foci is affected by serous-fibrinous or purulent inflammation.

Diagnosis. The presence of a purulent process in the lungs* in most cases can only be assumed. It can be confused with chronic pneumonia, purulent pleurisy and other lung diseases, which themselves may be secondary.

Most Important diagnostic value has an x-ray examination, although for the final diagnosis of the disease all the given clinical symptoms and course of the disease should be taken into account.

In differential diagnostic terms, other diseases should be excluded respiratory system on the basis of their characteristic clinical manifestations and special research methods.

Forecast. With the development of general sepsis and collapse - unfavorable. In other cases - doubtful. If it is possible to eliminate the underlying disease, the prognosis may be favorable.

Treatment. Sick animals need good maintenance; they are prescribed anti-streptococcal serum, auto-hemotherapy, immune drugs, ASD-2, subcutaneous hydrolysates, antibiotics and sulfonamide drugs are administered orally. Heat in all forms and cardiac medications are indicated on the chest.

Prevention follows from the etiology and consists mainly of preventing lung diseases and timely treatment sick animals.

Lobar pneumonia (Pneumonia crouposa) is an acute febrile disease characterized by acute lobar (fibrinous) inflammation, involving entire lobes of the lung, with pronounced allergy symptoms and typical changes in the stages of the fibrinous process.

Lobar pneumonia affects mainly horses, less often sheep and young cattle. Among animals of other species, lobar pneumonia is rarely recorded. In emaciated and weakened animals, lobar pneumonia occurs in an atypical form and is more similar to catarrhal bronchopneumonia. IN last years in specialized farms for raising heifers and fattening calves, a significant increase in the incidence of disease in calves is recorded 1-3 one month old serous-fibrinous and fibrinous-purulent pneumonia.

Etiology. In the occurrence of lobar pneumonia in animals, the main role belongs to two factors: allergic condition organism and pathogenic microflora. Lobar pneumonia in animals can be caused by various gram-positive, gram-negative microorganisms, virulent strains of pneumococci, diplococci, mycoplasma, chlamydia, pasteurella, fungi, and viruses. Pneumonia in animals can be caused by microbial association. When conducting a study of nasal discharge, tracheal contents and material from pneumonic areas of the lungs in veterinary laboratory secrete staphylococci, streptococci, pasteurella, chlamydia and other microbes. At the same time, the listed microorganisms can sometimes be isolated from healthy animals.

Many researchers associate the occurrence of lobar pneumonia with increased allergic reaction body caused by a strong irritant - stress. This condition in animals can develop after sudden hypothermia of a horse that is hot after a competition, driving sheep in hot weather through cold mountain rivers, or quickly transferring cattle from a warm, stuffy room to a damp and cold one.

Pathogenesis. As a result of the influence of factors unfavorable for the animal on the receptor apparatus of the respiratory organs, a number of deviations occur in the animal’s body. In the body of a sick animal, a disturbance in the neurovascular reaction occurs, phagocytic protective forces and immunobiological processes are reduced, as a result of which more favorable conditions are created in the body for the development of pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microflora. Main route of infection respiratory tract is aspiration of nasopharyngeal secretions, aerogenic route or hematogenous and lymphogenous transfer of microorganisms from extrapulmonary foci to the lower respiratory tract. In this case, inflammation develops, which usually begins in the depths of the lobe; inflammation, mainly through the lymphatic tract, quickly spreads to the periphery of the lung, capturing large areas of the lung. In animals, lobar inflammation most often develops in the cranial or ventral parts of the lungs, less often in the caudal lobe and even less often in the dorsal parts of the lung.

In the development of pneumonia, disturbances in the local lung defense system, incl. decrease in mucopillar clearance, activity of alveolar macrophages and neutrophils, secretory immunoglobulins.

Damage to local defense mechanisms against the background of a decrease in the resistance of the animal’s body creates favorable conditions for the activation of the microbial flora and the occurrence of pneumonia.

Croupous pneumonia is characterized by pronounced stages (first, hyperemia occurs in the lungs, then the stage of red and gray hepatization and ends with the stage of resolution).

The first stage (stage of inflammatory hyperemia, hot flash). At this stage there is a strong expansion blood vessels and their overflow with blood, desquamation of the alveolar epithelium. This stage in an animal lasts from several hours to a day. Viscous exudate, leukocytes and erythrocytes are released into the lumen of the alveoli, the exchange of oxygen in the animal is hampered, urination and heat regulation are impaired.

In the second stage (red hepatization stage), the exudate in the alveoli, infundibulae and bronchioles coagulates, the lung tissue thickens and takes on the appearance of a liver. Through the affected area of ​​the lung, the flow of oxygen into the blood and the release of carbon dioxide from the blood stops.

In the second stage, the use of oxygen by tissues, the oxidation of carbons, and the flow of glucose into the brain decreases. As a result of all this, oxygen deficiency sharply manifests itself in the animal’s body, intoxication increases, despite significant heat transfer, and a further increase in body temperature occurs. In the blood of a sick animal, the amount of intermediate breakdown products, unconverted bilirubin and leukocytes increases. Part of the uncoagulated exudate and lysis products enters the respiratory tract of healthy areas of the lung, causing their irritation, and is released from the nose in the form of a saffron-yellow discharge.

Third stage (gray hepatization stage). The coagulated exudate, under the influence of leukocytes and other factors, undergoes fatty degeneration, intoxication increases, the formation of unresolved bilirubin and the penetration of the latter into tissues, and the secretion of saffron-yellow discharge from the nose increases. When fatty degeneration reaches a high degree, the lung tissue itself becomes yellow in color. Because of this, some scientists sometimes call this stage the yellow hepatization stage. At this stage, the increase in body temperature and intoxication of the body reach the maximum degree in the sick animal. The second and third stages in sick animals last 2 days.

During the development of lobar pneumonia in a sick animal, pulmonary respiration is disrupted, and the amount of oxygen in the blood of the sick animal decreases by 30-50%. At the same time, the absorption of oxygen from the blood by tissues in the body decreases, which leads to worsening hypoxia, disruption of redox processes in tissues and organs, and the amount of intermediate decay products in the body increases. In the blood, the amount of albumin, beta and gamma globulins, tryptophan, and eosinophils decreases, reserve alkalinity and blood pH decrease, and the number of red blood cells, sugar, and carbon dioxide increases.

Fourth stage (resolution stage). At this stage, under the influence of lipolytic enzymes secreted by leukocytes, the exudate liquefies. A large number of lysis products are absorbed into the blood and released through the respiratory tract, the flow of air into the alveoli is restored, the epithelium is regenerated, the animal’s urination increases, and the number of eosinophils and chlorine in the blood increases. The resolution process in the body of a sick animal lasts up to 7 days.

In some animals with lobar pneumonia, one of the characteristic symptoms disappears. Therefore, six additional atypical forms of the disease are identified: abortive, which occurs in strong animals and occurs within 1-2 days; creeping, when the process spreads in the lungs; recurrent, which develops again in recovered animals; senile; central when inflammatory process localized in the center of the lung; massive, capturing the entire lobe.

Clinical picture. In most animals, lobar pneumonia is acute. The disease in animals begins with severe chills, a rapid rise in body temperature to 41-42°C, sudden depression and weakness, increased breathing and mixed shortness of breath. The animal's productivity drops sharply. On clinical examination, the mucous membranes of a sick animal are hyperemic and icteric. Sick animals cough, starting from the second day of illness and until the 2-3rd day of the resolution stage, a saffron-yellow discharge is released from the nasal openings. The heartbeat is increased, the pulse is accelerated, hard; vascular filling is increased. The ratio between the number of respiratory movements and pulse waves instead of 1:2-3 (in healthy animals) becomes 1:1. During the flushing stage, when auscultating the lungs in the affected areas, we listen to hard vesicular breathing and sounds of crepitus. In the stage of hepatization, there are no respiratory sounds during auscultation; we can detect weak bronchial breathing. At the stage of resolution of the process, when the alveoli are freed from exudate, during auscultation we again listen to the sounds of crepitus, which after 1-2 days are replaced by vesicular breathing. When percussing the lungs in the stage of inflammatory hyperemia, we get a loud sound with a tympanic tint; in the stage of hepatization, the sound becomes dull or dull in a large part of the lung (more often than one). A dull sound during percussion in animals is heard by a veterinarian behind the shoulder blades and in a caudal direction from it. In the resolution stage, the tympanic shade of the pulmonary sound appears again.

At the site of the affected lobe, fluoroscopy reveals foci of darkening, and radiography reveals clearing.

At the onset of the disease, there is a slight increase in heart rate that does not correspond to body temperature (with an increase in temperature by 2-3°C, the pulse increases by 10-15 beats). This situation is typical for lobar pneumonia. Subsequently, as pneumonia develops, veterinary specialists note a significant increase in heart rate, arrhythmia and symptoms of myocarditis. In cases of prolonged illness or complications, the pulse quickens, becomes weaker and softer. The veins become more tortuous and filled with blood.

In this case, the degree of cardiac dysfunction usually corresponds to the degree of lung damage. Sometimes, during a period of critical drop in temperature, a sick animal develops vascular insufficiency: muscle tone drops sharply, peripheral veins become empty, visible mucous membranes become pale, peripheral parts of the body are cold, the pulse becomes thready, heart sounds are weakened, and a drop in blood pressure occurs. When examining an animal, its conditioned reflexes disappear, and the reflexes of the cornea and skin decrease.

A sick animal has a decreased appetite, gastrointestinal peristalsis intestinal tract slow, gastritis and coprostasis are recorded. Diuresis in the hepatization stage is reduced, and with the onset of the resolution stage it increases. When examining the blood, we find a sharp neutrophilic leukocytosis with a shift to the left, lymphopenia, anesinophilia and monopenia, a decrease in the number of platelets and red blood cells. With the resolution of lobar pneumonia, the morphological and biochemical composition of the blood is restored.

With an atypical course of the disease, which more often occurs in cattle, sheep, weakened and emaciated animals, the clinical symptoms of lobar pneumonia are very diverse. The duration of lobar pneumonia can vary from several days to several weeks. Fever during illness can become remitting. Animals, after apparent recovery, often experience relapses of the disease.

Flow. The duration of lobar pneumonia depends on feeding conditions, maintenance, body condition, timeliness of treatment started and compliance with the course of treatment.

Timely treatment under good living conditions and proper feeding can interrupt the inflammatory process in the lungs at the first stage of its development. In practice, most cases of lobar pneumonia last for 14-15 days, and sometimes more. A longer course of the disease occurs with complications of the disease: exudative pleurisy, hepatitis, gangrene of the lungs, degenerative changes in the heart and kidneys, encephalitis.

The prognosis of the disease depends on the condition of the body, the location of the lesion and the duration of the course. More favorable prognosis occurs with complications of the disease - exudative pleurisy, hepatitis, less favorable - with damage to the upper third of the lung and near the diaphragmatic area.

Pathological changes. Each stage of development of lobar pneumonia is characterized by its own pathological changes.

The first stage is accompanied by hyperemia, blood stasis, slight leakage of fluid into the alveoli and interstitial space of the lung tissue. The affected lobe of the lung is slightly increased in volume and has Dark red color, dense to the touch, in the lumen of the pulmonary alveoli, in addition to serous fluid, there is a small amount of red blood cells.

In the red hepatization stage, the alveoli are completely filled with a coagulated red mass. The affected lobe of the lung is airless and resembles the liver in consistency and color.

In the stage of gray hepatization, fibrinous exudate contains a large number of leukocytes and reflexed alveolar epithelium.

In the stage of yellow hepatization, the lung tissue is dense and has a yellow tint; in the lumen of the bronchi we find a large amount of dense and a small amount of liquid mass of saffron-yellow color.

The resolution stage is characterized by the filling of the alveoli with yellow exudate; in some dead animals we find growth of connective tissue and death of the alveolar tissue.

Diagnosis Lobar pneumonia is diagnosed on the basis, as is customary among doctors, of the “gold standard” - high constant fever, cough, sputum, severe neutrophilic leukocytosis with a shift to the left, leukopenia, accelerated ESR. In the nasal discharge and tracheal mucus, fibrin, leukocytes, erythrocytes, and microbial bodies are found in the exudate. X-rays reveal extensive intense foci of shading in the cranial, ventral and central areas pulmonary field. At the same time, the intensity of shading is most pronounced in the stages of red and gray hepatization.

Differential diagnosis. When conducting differential diagnosis veterinarian First of all, one must exclude acute infectious diseases that occur with damage to the lungs: contagious pleuropneumonia of horses, infectious pneumonia of sheep and goats, mycoplasmosis and others. For this purpose, it is necessary to analyze epizootic situation and a complex of special laboratory diagnostic studies, including isolation from exudate and identification of microbial pathogens.

Lobar pneumonias are excluded from lobar pneumonia by the fact that they occur with less pronounced symptoms of lung damage, and they do not have the staged development of the disease characteristic of lobar pneumonia.

We exclude pleurisy, hydrothorox and pneumothorax by auscultation, percussion and the absence of high body temperature in the sick animal. In doubtful cases it is necessary to carry out X-ray examination or make a diagnostic puncture of the pleural cavity (thoracentesis).

The prognosis for lobar pneumonia is usually cautious, and if the animal is provided with qualified veterinary care late, it is often unfavorable.

Treatment. Animals exhibiting symptoms consistent with lobar pneumonia should be considered by veterinarians as suspicious for one reason or another. infectious disease. Based on this, such animals must be promptly isolated in a separate room or isolation room, and the room where the animals were must be thoroughly disinfected.

When organizing the treatment of an animal with lobar pneumonia, a veterinary specialist should set himself the following tasks:

- provide the sick animal with an easily digestible, complete diet.

- reduce oxygen deficiency.

— delay the development of pathogenic microflora in the lung tissue.

- create an outflow of blood from the lung tissue affected by inflammation.

- normalize neurotrophic processes in the affected area lung tissue.

- take measures to resolve and remove accumulated exudate.

In summer, in good calm weather, it is better for owners of sick animals to keep them under shady canopies or in the shade of trees. Herbivores are given fresh green grass and vitamin hay in their diet. The water should be at room temperature. The diet of carnivores should consist of strong meat broth, finely chopped pieces fresh meat.
Treatment of a sick animal begins with active antibacterial therapy, from the first hours of illness, novarsenol, miarsenol, antibiotics or sulfonamide drugs are used.

Novarsenol is administered intravenously to a sick animal in the form of a 10% aqueous solution once a day or every other day until complete clinical recovery at a dose of 0.005-0.01 dry matter of the drug per 1 kg of animal body weight. Miarsenol is used intramuscularly in the same doses.

Antibiotics after titration of pulmonary exudate for sensitivity in a veterinary laboratory - penicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, terramycin, oxytetracycline, neomycin sulfate and others are administered intramuscularly 3-4 times a day for 8-10 days in a row at a dose of 5000-7000 U/kg, bicillin-3, 5. B Lately also used modern antibiotics cephalosporin series.

Sulfonamide drugs (norsulfazole, sulfadimezin, etazol, sulfadimethatoxin and others) are administered to sick animals with food 3-4 times a day for 7-10 days in a row at a rate of 0.02-0.03 g/kg.

Along with antibacterial drugs, pathogenetic therapy is used for sick animals: unilateral blockade of the lower cervical sympathetic nodes (alternately every other day on the right and left sides), rubbing chest wall turpentine or 5% mustard alcohol, calves and small animals place jars on the lateral surfaces of the chest wall. As antiallergic therapy, intravenous injections of sodium thiosulfite are used daily for 5-6 days in a row at the rate of 300-400 ml of a 30% aqueous solution per injection to a large animal (cow, horse), 10% solution calcium chloride 100-150 ml per administration (cow, horse).

To relieve intoxication in a sick animal, a 20-40% solution of glucose with ascorbic acid, a 10% solution of sodium chloride or hexamethylenetetramine in therapeutic doses is injected intravenously. At the same time, to normalize carbohydrate metabolism and reduce intoxication, insulin is administered simultaneously with the glucose solution.

Significant role in successful implementation in the treatment of lobar pneumonia, cardiac support plays a role; with the development of symptoms of cardiovascular failure, injections are used in sick animals camphor oil, caffeine, camphor-alcohol solutions, strophanthin, cordiamine, and adrenaline are administered intravenously in therapeutic doses. When oxygen deficiency (hypoxia) develops, oxygen therapy is administered.

In the resolution stage, expectorants are used for a sick animal: ammonium chloride 7-15g, sodium bicarbonate -20g 3 times a day, and diuretics - juniper berries - 20-50g, furosemide - 0.4, diacarb -1.5-2, timisol - 5-10, hypothiazide - 0.25 - 0.5, potassium acetate -25-60, bearberry leaves -15 -20, hexamethylenetetramine (urotropine) orally and intravenously 5-10 g 2 times a day for 3-4 days.

When treating sick animals, autohemotherapy, diathermy, ultra-high-frequency therapy, warm wrapping of the chest, heating the chest with incandescent lamps and other means are used.

At high body temperatures, antifibrin is given internally - 15-30g, phenacytin - 15-25g, latophenine - 10-15g. A sick animal can be given a short-term cold shower, followed by active rubbing of the body, warm wrapping and keeping the patient in a room with an air temperature of about 20°C.

For large animals (horses), alcohol therapy is used (33% alcohol in a vein up to 200 ml).

After clinical recovery, the animals are kept in a hospital for at least 7-10 days under the constant supervision of a veterinary specialist. During this period, horses are released from work and training.

Prevention. Prevention of lobar pneumonia is based on strengthening the body's resistance, compliance by animal owners with the technology of keeping and proper use of sports and working horses. Owners should not allow animals to become hypothermic, especially after being in warm and stuffy rooms or during transportation. Hot animals should not be given cold water or left in cold winds or drafts. Animal owners must comply with the deadlines and rules for mechanical cleaning and disinfection of premises, and promptly sanitize stalls and boxes.