Primary bronchotomy for removal of an intrabronchial foreign body in a dog

An 8-year-old, spayed female toy poodle presented with wounds sustained from a dog fight. The multiple orthopedic injuries present were managed surgically. Months later, a chronic cough developed secondary to an aspirated canine tooth in the mainstem bronchus of the right cranial lung that was nonresponsive to medical management. A thoracotomy and primary bronchotomy were performed to remove the aspirated tooth, resulting in complete resolution of clinical signs. Bronchial foreign bodies are rarely diagnosed in companion animals. Primary bronchotomy is an alternative to bronchoscopy or lung lobectomy in cases that do not respond to medical management.