Relationship between Respiratory Rate, Oxygen Saturation, and Blood Test Results in Dogs with Chronic or Acute Respiratory Disease: A Retrospective Study

Simple Summary Diagnosis of respiratory diseases uses a variety of tools in addition to signalment and clinical signs, including physical examination, blood tests, and diagnostic imaging. Until now, studies have been conducted on the relationship between specific respiratory diseases and physical examination and blood test findings, but there have been no reports on these test findings for respiratory diseases as a whole. This study aimed to investigate the association of physical examinations and blood tests with canine respiratory diseases and to compare the examination findings in the chronic and acute phases. Significant associations were observed with various items mainly in lung diseases, such as increased respiratory rate, decreased oxygen saturation, and increased C-reactive protein in both chronic and acute phases. Blood gas analysis showed that respiratory alkalosis was most prevalent in the chronic phase, whereas respiratory acidosis was most prevalent in the acute phase. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that these testing tools are useful for diagnosis and monitoring or treatment responses in respiratory diseases.Abstract This study aimed to investigate the association of respiratory rate (RR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), and blood findings with respiratory disease in dogs and to compare the examination findings in the chronic and acute phases. Dogs that visited a veterinary referral hospital with respiratory symptoms were classified into the chronic disease group (GC), and those that visited the emergency veterinary hospital were classified into the acute disease group (GA). In total, 704 and 682 dogs were included in GC and GA, respectively. The RR and SpO2 were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in patients with lung disease compared to other disease sites in both groups. White blood cell counts were significantly increased in patients with lung and pleural diseases in both groups. Respiratory alkalosis and respiratory acidosis were most common in GC and GA, respectively. The C-reactive protein levels were elevated in both groups, primarily in patients with lung disease. Associations between the results of several tests for understanding and diagnosing respiratory conditions and diseases were recognized, and differences in the trends of the chronic and acute phases were clarified. These tools may be used as adjuncts to other tests for the diagnosis and monitoring of treatment responses.