Normal Respiratory Epithelium. (Image courtesy of Angeline Warner, D.V.M.)

This course covers a wide range of topics, from Defense of the Lungs Against Infection to Acid-Base Regulation Revisited.

The course learning objectives for Veterinary Respiratory Pathophysiology are:

• To review the basics of respiratory physiology and structure as a background for understanding abnormal lung function during pathological states.
• To develop an organized approach for evaluation of the veterinary patient with respiratory disease, including understanding the range of diagnostic methods available (from least-most invasive), learning to interpret results and understand possible complications.
• To present in detail the various agents of respiratory system disease, including infectious agents, immune and inflammatory mechanisms, and neoplastic transformation.
• To consider in detail the interaction of these disease-causing agents with major regions of the respiratory system: the upper respiratory tract, the airways, the vasculature, the parenchyma, and the pleura and mediastinum.
• To describe the state-of-the-art in pulmonary function testing in veterinary patients, including contemporary methods and interpretation.
• To consider in detail the range of respiratory disease and pathophysiology in major species groups of veterinary patients, including small animals, horses, cattle, swine and small ruminants, and laboratory animals.
• To integrate through case discussions in the clinical-pathologic conference (CPC) the pathophysiologic principles and case management. This will include group discussion of diagnostic methods, patient assessment, and pathophysiology.

• Disease of the Pleura and Mediastinum
• Defense of the Lungs Against Infection
• Clinical Evaluation of the Respiratory System
• Clinical Evaluation of the Respiratory System - Images
• Respiratory Disease in Laboratory Animals