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. 2021 Jul;35(4):1950-1956.
doi: 10.1111/jvim.16180. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

Results of owner questionnaires describing long-term outcome in Norwich terriers with upper airway syndrome: 2011-2018

Lynelle R Johnson  1 , Philipp D Mayhew  2 , William T N Culp  2 , Bryden J Stanley  3
Affiliations

Results of owner questionnaires describing long-term outcome in Norwich terriers with upper airway syndrome: 2011-2018

Lynelle R Johnson et al. J Vet Intern Med. 2021 Jul.

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.

Keywords: anatomy and pathology; endoscopy; laryngeal//pharyngeal inflammatory disease; larynx; pharynx; respiratory tract; surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Endoscopic view of the larynx illustrating several abnormalities associated with NTUAS. 1: the dorsal pharyngeal wall is normal in this case. 2: exuberant tissue obscures the piriform recess bilaterally. 3: both cuneiform processes are deviated to the midline. 4: ventricular edema and eversion is present. The infraglottic lumen is not visible in this image
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
The severity of NTUAS score was significantly higher in dogs that had surgery performed (n = 15) than in those that did not (n = 19), *P < .0001
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
The percentage of Norwich terriers reported by owners to have panting, snoring, and respiratory noise are presented at initial exam (white bars) and at follow‐up (gray bars)
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Quality of life (QOL) score showed a weak but significant correlation with age at follow‐up evaluation, P = .008, r 2 = .23. The open circle represents an outlier
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Quality of life score at follow‐up was significantly higher (worse) in dogs that had surgery performed at initial evaluation than those that did not, *P = .003
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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