Canine Pulmonary Disease and the Urban Environment

Abstract

The validity of radiographic examination of the chest for pulmonary disease was measured in 136 dogs from a veterinary hospital and 200 dogs from a pound. Conventional radiography, 70-mm photofluorography, and portable radiography were employed. Sensitivity exceeded 90% in hospitalized dogs, and specificity was 80.0%. In pound dogs, a significantly lower sensitivity (72.5%) and insignificantly higher specificity (87.1%) were observed. No significant disadvantage was found in using portable radiography or 70-mm photofluorography in a group of 92 dogs radiographed simultaneously with one of these methods and conventional equipment. Errors in reliability of interpretation were found in terms of interindividual and intraindividual variation. Radiographic examination of the chest was found to be a feasible and valid approach to determine prevalence rates of pulmonary disease in canine populations for comparative environmental medical research.