Clinical rhinoscopic and computed tomographic studies and therapeutic evaluation in twelve dogs with chronic inflammatory rhinitis

Abstract

Inflammatory rhinitis is the second common chronic disease of nasal cavity in dogs. Clinical signs are often insufficient for reliable differentiation between other canine chronic nasal cavity diseases. Definitive diagnosis requires diagnostic imaging modalities like radiography, computed tomography and rhinoscopy along with biopsy to rule out other primary nasal lesions. The treatment strategies followed for chronic inflammatory rhinitis includes various antibiotics, antihistamines, steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The present study evaluates the clinical, rhinoscopic and computed tomographic changes and therapeutic evaluation of twelve dogs with chronic inflammatory rhinitis. Dogs brought to Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital, Chennai with clinical signs suggestive of nasal cavity diseases were screened. The dogs were subjected to radiography and computed tomography of skull and rhinoscopic assessment of the nasal cavity with a biopsy in case of mucosal lesions for ruling out other primary chronic nasal diseases like nasal tumour, foreign body rhinitis, fungal rhinitis or dental disease. Ten apparently healthy dogs brought for general check-up were utilized for obtaining reference values of parameters under study. Twelve dogs with chronic inflammatory rhinitis were grouped into the two treatment groups. Group I and II comprised of six dogs each administered with prednisolone alone and meloxicam followed by prednisolone respectively. Clinical signs, haemato-biochemical, radiographic, computed tomographic and rhinoscopic changes and therapeutic evaluation in dogs with chronic inflammatory rhinitis confirmed through histopathological studies are presented. The present work will be complementary to diagnostic imaging studies and treatment of canine chronic inflammatory rhinitis.