This is a 3 year old Australian Cattle Dog with an intermittent cough since being adopted. The coughing has recently become more frequent with production of foamy material/small amounts of blood. Have a look at the case and post your interpretations.
Findings
There is moderate right sided heart enlargement with a prominent pulmonary artery bulge visible on the DV projection. There is moderate pulmonary arterial enlargement with the right caudal pulmonary artery being grossly enlarged and blunted. A patchy interstitial to alveolar pattern is present throughout all lung fields, primarily peribronchial in distribution. It is worse in the right caudodorsal lung fields. Incidentally there is a metallic BB within the soft tissues of the right dorsal thorax.
Diagnosis
- Heartworm disease
Highlighted images
Alveolar and bronchial pattern in the dorsal lung fields, mild right side cardiomegaly, prominent main pulmonary artery. The pulmonary arteries are wider than the veins- best visualized on the right lateral view. A small amount of air in the esophagus-most likely an incidental finding.
These findings are compatible with a respiratory disease with a secondary pulmonary hypertension, heartworm disease, lung worms etc. An echocardiogram, blood tests for HWD, fecal tests for lung worms, broncho-alveolar lavage and fungal serologies are recommended.