Chronic lung disease in old dogs and cats

North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Companion Animal and Special Species Medicine, Raleigh 27606.

Chronic bronchial disease constitutes a significant, yet underdiagnosed, cause of both chronic cough and episodic and acute-onset respiratory distress in mature dogs and cats. Untreated chronic bronchial disease is a debilitating, progressive respiratory syndrome that results in decreased exercise tolerance, inactivity, paroxysmal respiratory distress, airway collapse and even death. With proper medical treatment, however, the prognosis for the effective long term management of chronic bronchial disease, even in severe cases, can be good.