|
Recently, a ten year old dog was referred to Metairie Small Animal Hospital because of fluid accumulation in the chest. The dog had apparently been ill for about one month. An echocardiogram was performed and reveled a normal heart and normal pericardial sac. The fluid was free in the chest and the quantity was such that front and middle lung lobes (apical and cardiac) were collapsed. No sign of cancer was visible on the echocardiogram. Fluid was drained from the chest and a sample was sent to Texas A&M Veterinary School for analysis. Unfortunately, the tests performed there were inconclusive.
After conferring with the referring veterinarian and the owners of the dog, it was decided that MSAH should perform exploratory surgery to better discern what was happening inside the chest. Exploration of the left side of the chest proved fruitless. However, after suctioning fluid from the right side of the chest, numerous irregular masses became visible. Several samples of the material were removed and sent in for analysis.
A few days later, the pathologist who had examined the samples called back with some unusual findings. He felt that the dog was living in a "contaminated environment." He suggested that "black lung" disease--a disease often contracted by coal miners--or something similar had occurred here.
Upon questioning the owners, it was discovered that five years earlier the federal government had removed dirt from the side yard of the owners' home because of asbestos that was originally used as land fill. The family, and their dog, had lived there for nearly three years before the asbestos was removed. Based on this information and the report of the attending pathologist a presumed diagnosis of asbestosis was made.
|
|
