Arterial blood gas analysis in labrador retriever dogs with upper and lower respiratory tract diseases*

Abstract

Arterial blood gas analysis helps to assess the patient’s ventilation and oxygenation status. Arterial blood gas variations in 12 awake Labrador retriever dogs with respiratory diseases were studied. The animals were further divided on the basis of clinical signs and radiography into those with upper and lower respiratory tract diseases. Arterial blood samples were collected from the dorsal pedal artery. The results were compared with arterial blood gas values of control dogs.nSignificant evidence of hypoxemia was noted with abnormal mean values in partial pressure of oxygen (P < 0.01), oxygen saturation (P < 0.01) and alveolar-arterial (A-a) gradient (P < 0.01) in dogs with upper and lower respiratory tract diseases. However, there were no significant changes in these values between animals with upper and lower respiratory tract affections.

Keywords

• arterial blood gas analysis
• upper and lower respiratory tract diseases
• hypoxemia