Lecture 1.

Pneumonia in dogs and cats: Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies

Pneumonia can be an acute, subacute, or chronic in nature, and careful attention to history and physical examination is important for detecting the condition.  Confirming a bacterial etiology and identification of any underlying diseases are essential for appropriate management.  This session will review clinical and radiographic findings and other diagnostic tests for animals with suspected pneumonia. Methods for determining the severity of illness and appropriate interventions will be presented, along with antimicrobial and adjunct respiratory therapy.

Lecture 2. 

Interpreting canine thoracic  radiographs – is it pulmonary or cardiac?

This lecture will compliment Dr. Johnson’s first lecture.  Learn how Dr. Pollard interprets thoracic radiographs including what to expect with different thoracic diseases.  Rachel will work thru clinical cases providing a very practical discussion.

Lecture 3.

Why can’t I get this dog to stop coughing?!

Cough is a common clinical complaint in dogs and can be associated with infectious, inflammatory, or structural diseases of the airways. Causes include chronic bronchitis, airway collapse, bronchiectasis, with some cases having multiple causes.  Physical examination can provide important clues to the underlying etiology of disease.  In this session, strategies for rational diagnostic testing will be reviewed, and specific guidelines for treatment with antibiotics, bronchodilators, and inhaled or oral steroids will be presented.   

Lecture 4.

Interpreting feline thoracic radiographs – is it pulmonary or cardiac?

This lecture will compliment Dr. Johnson’s feline lecture.  Learn how Dr. Pollard interprets thoracic radiographs including what to expect with different thoracic diseases.  Rachel will work thru clinical cases providing a very practical discussion.

Lecture 5.

Does this cat have asthma or bronchitis?

Cats with chronic cough or respiratory distress can represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in clinical practice.  While these lower respiratory tract signs are commonly caused by inflammatory airway disease, chronic pneumonia, aspiration, neoplasia, and cardiac disease can also result in some of these clinical complaints.  Ruling out other causes of cough or tachypnea is essential for proper management. Current issues regarding appropriate diagnosis and therapy of feline lower airway inflammatory disease will be discussed.