Respiratory distress develops in deployed MWDs most commonly due to trauma. MWDs in respiratory distress are fighting to get oxygen: they are anxious, usually have obvious problems breathing, usually have their head and neck extended, elbows and upper legs held out from the chest, don‘t want to lie down, and fight restraint and handling. Cyanosis, if present, is a late finding.

MWDs in respiratory distress typically have 1 of 3 characteristic breathing patterns that help localize the problem. A clinical algorithm for differentiating the most likely cause of a patient‘s distress based on the pattern of breathing is provided (See Figure 26).

Provide supplemental oxygen for any dog in respiratory distress (See Chapter 3).

Figure 26. Clinical Algorithm for Differentiating Cause of Distress Based on Breathing Pattern.1