Barometric whole-body plethysmography investigating breed-specific variations in dogs

Barometric whole-body plethysmography (BWBP) is a non-invasive method for pulmonary function testing in dogs. A significant advantage over other techniques is the possibility to perform measurements in awake and unrestrained animals.

To measure respiratory function parameters using BWBP in three different dog breeds and identify breed-specific differences and measurement variations.

Prospective comparative cross-sectional study including 41 clinically healthy dogs of the breeds Doberman pinscher (17), Parson Russell terrier (14), and French Bulldog (10), all at least 1 year of age. After system calibration, each dog underwent the measurement protocol, which consisted of a 5-min acclimatization period and followed by at least 15 min actual recording. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics and analyzed using separate linear models for each lung parameter with breed as a covariate, followed by multiplicity-adjusted pairwise breed comparisons. Additional pairwise tests assessed breed effects with adjustment for age or weight; statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Of 59 dogs recruited, 41 could be included in the final analysis. In the breed comparison, significant differences were identified for the parameters peak expiratory flow (PEF), peak inspiratory flow (PIF), expiratory flow at 50% of tidal volume (EF50), end-expiratory pause (EEP), and the ratio parameter Te/Ti. After adjusting for age and weight as covariates, significant differences among the three breeds persisted.

The findings support the assumption that breed-specific differences exist for BWBP parameters. However, future studies with larger sample sizes are required to establish reliable reference values, taking breed-specific differences into account.