Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Geezer on 23/06/2012 03:03:17

Title: Why would cause lungs to collapse?
Post by: Geezer on 23/06/2012 03:03:17

Our Cairn Terrier managed to snap his retractable leash and go after a porcupine. He was a complete mess and in great pain, so we had to take him to the vet to get him fixed up.

He seemed to be coming along quite well, but yesterday afternoon his breathing became very strange - he seemed be gulping for breath. We took him along to the emergency vet in the evening. Just as well we did because X-rays revealed that one lung had almost completely collapsed, and the other was seriously impaired.

The vet tapped both cavities to remove air, and our Cairn immediately recovered. He seems to be doing OK today, but we'll need to wait and see if the leakage returns.

The emergency vet was really puzzled. We were not aware of any other trauma, nor were there any other signs of trauma on the Cairn. Our regular vet thinks it might be caused by quills continuing to migrate within his body, but he's never seen anything quite like it before.

Any suggestions?

Title: Re: Why would cause lungs to collapse?
Post by: RD on 23/06/2012 05:38:41

Puncture via porcupine seems to be sufficient ...

Quote

A traumatic pneumothorax may result from either blunt trauma or penetrating injury to the chest wall

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumothorax#Traumatic

Title: Re: Why would cause lungs to collapse?
Post by: Mazurka on 25/06/2012 16:53:58

Having spent Sunday morning studying primary diagnostic survey of trauma casualties in mountain rescue scenarios, I agree with RD the poor laal thing seemed to have (tension) pneumothorax. 

A delay in onset is unusual but not impossible (depending on the nature of the trauma) but I think your regular vet has the truth of it - some quills may have been missed or only partially removed (Did you see the xrays?) or that the contamination/ infection from the quills caused it. 

Hope he makes a full recovery!

Title: Re: Why would cause lungs to collapse?
Post by: Geezer on 25/06/2012 17:40:05

Thanks!

He's doing OK, although his respiration still seems to be a bit compromised.

We did see the x-rays - the vet even gave us a copy on a CD. No signs of trauma (broken ribs etc.) and unfortunately the porcupine quills don't show on the x-ray. We thought we saw one, but the vet pointed out that it was his ID chip.

I pulled two more quills out of him yesterday. They show up with the sharp end pointing out of his skin!