Diagnosis of Respiratory Disease:

12.2 Diagnosis of Respiratory Disease:

A proper history is especially important when deciding how to treat an animal with respiratory disease. In general:

- Animals with chronic respiratory problems do not get well easily - and they are often expensive to treat.

- Acute respiratory problems can usually be treated more effectively than chronic respiratory problems.

1. Take a history. Is it acute or chronic?

1. Examine the animal carefully and thoroughly. Remember to take the temperature.

1. Use the following chart to guide the choice of treatment.

Signs of Respiratory Disease - Increased Respiratory Rate.

- Difficult Breathing.

- Discharges from Nose and Eyes.

- Coughing and Sneezing.

- Swollen Throat.

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1. Take History - Acute or Chronic??

Acute (less than 4 days)

2. Take Temperature Chronic (more than 4 days)

2. Take Temperature Acute with Fever Diagnosis Bronchitis/ Pneumonia H.S.

Anthrax Treatment:

Tetracycline Acute with No Fever Diagnosis Poison Allergy Treatment:

Magnesium Sulfate or other poison medicine Antihistamine/ Steroids Antibiotics Chronic with Fever Diagnosis Old Pneumonia Tuberculosis Throat Infection Treatment:

Tetracycline (Recovery is difficult!)

Chronic with No Fever Diagnosis Liver Fluke/ Other Parasites Lungworm Emphysema Tuberculosis Treatment:

Parasite medicine (Recovery is difficult!)