Atom Animal Hospital
Animal Respiratory Center
《Examination time》
10:00-12:00*Inquiries for those who live far away
16:00-18:00 (weekdays) *FAQ
14:00-18:00 (Sunday)
《Non-consultation days》 Saturdays and public holidays
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03-3935-6355
General Outpatient
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General internal medicine
General medical treatment
We provide medical treatment for gastrointestinal, urinary, circulatory, endocrine, etc. Diagnosis is performed using blood tests, X-ray tests, ultrasound tests, etc., depending on the animal's symptoms.
Health checkup
We perform everything from simple health checks to detailed health checkups such as one dog and nyan dog.
This disease is commonly seen in brachycephalic breeds such as pugs, French bulldogs, Boston terriers, English bulldogs, and Shih Tzus. It is sometimes seen in cats with stuffy noses, such as chinchillas and Himalayans. What is surprisingly unknown is that toy breeds such as Chihuahuas, Maltese, and Yorkshire Terriers are also classified as brachycephalic breeds, so be careful if you experience similar symptoms.
Brachycephalic airway syndrome is a general term for obstructive airway disorders caused by the anatomical structure of the head and neck, such as the flat face, round head, and short, thick neck characteristic of brachycephalic breeds. In many cases, multiple diseases are present, stenotic nare(1), elongated soft palate (2), laryngeal ventricular ectropion (3) and laryngeal collapse (4), tracheal hypoplasia (5), or tracheal collapse (6). To do. In addition to the diseases that have clear names, the disease is complicatedly associated with a thick tongue, an enlarged soft palate at the end, pharyngeal mucosa that protrudes into the oral cavity, and enlarged tonsils.
In typical cases, the condition appears soon after birth (genetic predisposition) and worsens in a chain reaction over a chronic course.
Symptoms include severe panting (fast breathing with a rapid rhythm), high body temperature, and a strong wheezing sound that is especially clear when breathing in air (a whistling sound similar to asthma when air passes through a narrow space), and the symptoms become more severe. This can lead to difficulty breathing, intolerance to exercise, loss of energy, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, and even fainting. In addition to respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea often occur.
elongated soft palate
Dogs and cats do not have a uvula like humans. Because there is no hanging uvula, the soft palate is arched and lies above the pharynx. In soft palate hyperplasia, the soft palate becomes too long and blocks the larynx, which is the entrance to the trachea, causing it to vibrate and cause the sound of snoring, especially when sleeping. Think of snoring as a disease.
It is overwhelmingly common in brachycephalic breeds such as pugs, French bulldogs, Boston terriers, English bulldogs, and Shih Tzus, and can also be seen in dogs such as Yorkshire terriers, Chihuahuas, and even chinchillas and Scottish Folds. It can also be seen in larger dogs such as Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers.
Laryngeal paralysis
Similar to laryngeal collapse, laryngeal paralysis is caused by damage to the nerves or muscles that move the larynx. The larynx, which is the entrance to the trachea, is made up of cartilages and connective tissue and muscles that connect them. In particular, the arytenoid cartilage affects the opening and closing of the laryngeal opening. It is located above the vocal cords and expands to the left and right during inspiration, expanding the larynx into a circular shape. The vocal cords located underneath also expand at the same time to maximize air intake. In laryngeal paralysis, the arytenoid cartilages cannot open and close, making it impossible to breathe in enough air.
Congenital laryngeal paralysis has been reported in Bouvier des Flanders and Huskies. However, congenital laryngeal paralysis is extremely rare, and most cases are idiopathic laryngeal paralysis seen in medium to large dogs. Golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers are especially common. Although it is rare in small dogs, it may be associated with tracheal collapse or brachycephalic airway syndrome, and the prognosis is often poor.
Laryngeal ectropion
The depression next to the vocal cords is called the laryngeal ventricle, and laryngeal ventricle ectropion is a disease in which the mucous membrane of the laryngeal ventricle becomes edematous (like a blister) due to inflammation, and the swelling narrows the airway.
The larynx expands in a circular shape when breathing in air, but if there is laryngeal ectropion, the laryngeal opening can only expand halfway, making it difficult to breathe as desired.
This disease is often associated with brachycephalic airway syndrome, and occurs after prolonged barking or severe coughing. Therefore, although it is more common in brachycephalic breeds, it can occur in any breed of dog.
Laryngeal collapse
The larynx is a device that expands the airway to suck in air when breathing, and closes when drinking or eating to prevent water and food from entering the trachea. Laryngeal collapse is a disease in which the cartilage called the arytenoid cartilage, which is essential for this movement, loses its strength and enters the trachea during inspiration.
Some research groups classify the stages into three stages and claim that the aforementioned laryngeal ventricular ectropion is stage 1 of laryngeal collapse. In stages 2 and 3, the cuneiform process and lesser angle process of the arytenoid cartilage are displaced medially.
Brachycephalic breeds such as pugs, French bulls, English bulls, and cavalier dogs are most susceptible to this condition, and it is more common in dogs over 2 years of age, and the symptoms can be severe if it occurs in older people. Diagnosis is by endoscopy under anesthesia. It is also important to differentiate it from laryngeal paralysis and other respiratory diseases.
Treatment for stage 1 laryngeal ventricular ectropion involves surgical removal of the edematous and inverted laryngeal ventricular mucosa. However, in stages 2 and 3, the arytenoid cartilage becomes fragile (brittle and weak) and flips inward during inspiration, blocking air suction. If the weakening is severe, there is no surgical option.
However, in 2014, we devised a new surgical method.
The new method allows surgery through an intraoral approach, making it relatively easy to widen the larynx, especially as a response to emergencies. The strength of the cartilage to be sutured is important, and the possibility of cartilage dehiscence (cutting by the sutures) is greater in larger dogs than in small dogs. For long-term maintenance, a surgical procedure called arytenoid cartilage lateralization may be indicated for laryngeal paralysis, but in the case of small dogs, it is not recommended due to the narrowness of the surgical field and the strength of the arytenoid cartilage. Not suitable.
Kennel cough (canine infectious trachea and bronchitis)
It is a respiratory infection, also known as dog flu. Symptoms are limited to the respiratory tract and are characterized by a brief, dry cough. Appetite is nearly normal and the person remains energetic, but may have a slight fever. It spreads easily among dogs kept in high density, such as in pet shops, and can be prevented by vaccination with mixed vaccines.
Cat asthma
Feline asthma is recurrent attacks of dyspnea caused by narrowing of the lumen of the small bronchi and bronchioles, characterized by wheezing during attacks.
At our hospital,General internal medicine, surgery, diagnosis and examination of heart disease, dermatology, ophthalmology,dental,Nephrology, Urology, etc.
I have a comprehensive medical examination.
We also offer a wide range of medical services, including health checkups, preventive care, vaccinations, and surgery.
If you need other specialized treatment, please feel free to contact us as we can refer you to a specialized hospital.