Johnson LR, Mayhew PD, Culp WTN, Stanley BJ. Results of owner questionnaires describing long-term outcome in Norwich terriers with upper airway syndrome: 2011-2018.
J Vet Intern Med 2021;
35:1950-1956. [PMID:
34076315 PMCID:
PMC8295680 DOI:
10.1111/jvim.16180]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Norwich terriers are affected by an upper airway syndrome (NTUAS) but little is known about outcome in affected dogs.
Objective
To determine outcome in dogs with NTUAS using owner questionnaires.
Animals
Thirty‐four client‐owned dogs.
Methods
At initial assessment, owners were questioned about respiratory noises and exercise tolerance. A NTUAS score was prospectively constructed based on the number and severity of obstructive lesions detected endoscopically (range, 0‐25). Owner questionnaires on respiratory noises, exercise tolerance, and quality of life (QOL) were obtained 2.2‐9.3 years (median, 4.2 years) after endoscopy.
Results
Dogs ranged from 0.5 to 10.7 years of age (median, 4.75 years) at initial examination and no correlation was found between age and NTUAS score (median, 13; range, 1‐25). Of 5 possible laryngeal abnormalities, 7 dogs had 1‐2, 10 dogs had 3, and 17 dogs had 4‐5 abnormalities (median, 3.5). Surgery was performed in 15 dogs, which had higher NTUAS scores (18.5 ± 6.3) than dogs that did not have surgery (7.7 ± 4.7, P < .0001). Scores for QOL ranged from 0 to 31 out of 40, with higher scores indicating worse QOL. Owner surveys resulted in QOL scores of ≤3 in 25/31 dogs (81%), with worse scores in dogs that had surgery performed (median 5, vs 0; P = .003). No correlation was noted between NTUAS and QOL scores, but age at follow‐up was weakly associated with worse QOL.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
Despite variable severity of NTUAS scores, owners reported excellent QOL for most Norwich terriers examined.
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