Efficacy of twice-daily nebulized budesonide for the treatment of canine chronic bronchitis: a pilot study
Canine chronic bronchitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by a cough for > 2 months without another identifiable cause. Dogs with chronic bronchitis have persistent airway neutrophilic inflammation. The foundation of long-term therapy is corticosteroids. Oral prednisone is commonly used but has a litany of possible adverse effects. Inhaled steroids is an alternative to avoid the adverse effects of prednisone but the only available option is fluticasone. This medication is expensive and has variable efficacy. Inhaled budesonide is a medication used in humans to treat a similar airway disorder and is a fraction of the cost. This study aims to investigate the benefit of inhaled budesonide on respiratory tract symptoms in dogs with chronic bronchitis.
About Chronic Bronchitis
Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia
In Immune mediated hemolytic anemia or IMHA, the antibodies attaching to red blood cells lead to anemia that is often severe and life-endangering. In immune mediated thrombocytopenia or ITP, antibodies attach to platelets causing their loss which impairs normal clotting ability. Thus, patients with ITP often present for abnormal bleeding or bruising (e.g., bleeding from the nose, gums, or under the skin). Bleeding can be so severe that the patient becomes pale, weak, and anemic. Diagnosis of IMHA or ITP is accomplished using blood tests. It is important to survey general health as finding an underlying cause of IMHA or ITP helps guide appropriate treatment (e.g. possible initiating conditions include: infections, cancer, and drug or vaccine reactions).
Treatment may include blood transfusions, medications aimed at controlling adverse immune responses, and management of any underlying conditions. Prognosis for both conditions can be good depending on patient response to medications and underlying causal disorder.
Eligibility
Dogs with a history of cough exceeding two months may be eligible for the study.
Your dog has thoracic radiographs performed in the past 3 months
Thoracic radiographs will be used by principal investigator to determine eligibility.
Your dog does NOT have an alternative cause for chronic cough
Dogs with alternative caused for chronic cough such as tracheal collapse, heart disease, cancer, Valley Fever, etc are not eligible for this study.
Your dog has not received previous treatment with corticosteroids
Dogs who have received previously received corticosteroids for treatment of chronic cough are not eligible for this study.
Compensation
Investigation of cough totaling $3,000 worth of diagnostic tests
Diagnostic tests including thoracic radiographs, CBC, chemistry, urinalysis, Valley Fever titers, bronchoscopy, and bronchoalveolar lavage. Fluid collected from the airways will be evaluated cytologically and various types of cultures (i.e., aerobic, anaerobic, Mycoplasma spp., and fungal).
Owner Responsibilities
Budesonide will be administered once every 12 hours at home with the owners for 14 days.
$400 service fees for initial screening
Owners will be instructed on how to administer inhaled budesonide with a nebulizer and mask that we provide. Budesonide will be administered once every 12 hours at home with the owners for 14 days.
Schedule
Administration of Budesonide every 12 hours
Repeat bronchoscopy at 14 days
A repeat bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage will be performed after 2 weeks of budesonide treatment. Budesonide treatment and repeat bronchoscopy will be free. Owners will be required to fill out short questionnaires to assess response.
Location
1. Midwestern University Companion Animal Clinic
5715 W Utopia Rd, Glendale, AZ 85308
623-806-7387
Study Team
Jared Jaffey
D.V.M., M.S., DACVIM
Veterinary medicine is an ever-evolving field that requires those involved to stay current in order to optimize patient care. I am proud to be associated with Midwestern University, where I can help patients directly, help train future veterinarians, and contribute to research that can augment care of animals around the world.
