title: Relationship between paradoxical breathing and pleural diseases in dyspneic dogs and cats: 389 cases (2001-2009).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the strength of the relationship between paradoxical breathing (PB) and spontaneous pleural diseases in dyspneic dogs and cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs (n = 195) and cats (194) with a recorded diagnosis of dyspnea examined at the National Veterinary Schools of Alfort and Toulouse (France) between January 2001 and October 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs and cats were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of PB. Stratified analysis by species was performed. Signalment of affected animals and occurrence of PB were recorded. The relationship between PB and pleural diseases among dyspneic dogs and cats was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A strong relationship between PB and pleural diseases was highlighted in multivariate analysis (dogs, OR = 12.6 and 95% confidence interval = 4.6 to 31.2; cats, OR = 14.1 and 95% confidence interval = 6.0 to 33.5). Paradoxical breathing prevalence among dyspneic dogs and cats was 27% and 64%, respectively. Occurrence of pleural diseases in dyspneic animals with and without PB was 49% and 9% in dogs and 66% and 13% in cats, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of PB as a predictor of pleural diseases were 0.67 and 0.83 in dyspneic dogs and 0.90 and 0.58 in dyspneic cats, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values of PB were 0.49 and 0.91 in dyspneic dogs and 0.66 and 0.87 in dyspneic cats, respectively. Age, sex, feline breeds, and canine morphotypes in patients with PB were not significantly different from those of other dyspneic animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PB was strongly associated with pleural diseases in dyspneic dogs and cats. The presence of this clinical sign should prompt small animal practitioners to implement appropriate emergency procedures and guide their diagnostic strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Université de Toulouse, INP, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, F-31076 Toulouse cedex 03, France.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Le Boedec
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arnaud
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chetboul
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trehiou-Sechi
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pouchelon
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gouni
authors.forename: Brice S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002415:Cats; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index