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Review
. 2019 Feb;60(2):116-120.
doi: 10.1111/jsap.12938. Epub 2018 Oct 4.

Pyrexia in juvenile dogs: a review of 140 referred cases

V L Black  1 , F J S Whitworth  1 , S Adamantos  2
Affiliations
Review

Pyrexia in juvenile dogs: a review of 140 referred cases

V L Black et al. J Small Anim Pract. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the presentation, influence of previous treatment and diagnosis in juvenile dogs presenting with pyrexia to a UK referral centre.

Materials and methods: Clinical records of dogs aged 1 to 18 months presenting with a problem list including pyrexia (≥⃒39∙2°C) that was reproducible during referral hospitalisation were retrospectively reviewed. Signalment, history - including previous treatment, clinical examination findings and diagnosis were recorded. Diagnoses were categorised as non-infectious inflammatory, infectious, congenital, neoplastic and miscellaneous. The influence of previous treatment on the ability to reach a final diagnosis was analysed.

Results: A total of 140 cases was identified. Diagnosis was reached in 115 cases. Non-infectious inflammatory disease was identified in 91 cases (79%), infectious disease in 19 cases (17%), a congenital disorder in four dogs (3%) and neoplasia in one dog (1%). Breeds most commonly identified were Border collies (17/140; 12%), beagles (16/140; 11%), Labrador retrievers (11/140; 8%), springer spaniels (9/140; 6%) and cocker spaniels (8/140; 6%). Before presentation, most dogs had received antibiotics (83/140; 59%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (84/140; 60%) or steroids (9/140; 6%), either alone or in combination. Neither antibiotics nor non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs influenced the ability to reach a diagnosis. Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis comprised 55 of 91 (60%) individuals of the non-infectious inflammatory cohort. All four dogs diagnosed with congenital disorders were Border collies.

Clinical significance: Non-infectious inflammatory disease, particularly steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis, immune-mediated polyarthritis and metaphyseal osteopathy, was commonly diagnosed in this population of pyrexic juvenile dogs.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. The study obtained ethical approval (VIN/18/022).

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Age distribution of dogs with infectious and non‐infectious inflammatory disease. The difference between the ages in these two groups was statistically significant, P=0∙01⁠
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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