Bronchoscopy in the dog: grass awn in a bronchus
3-year-old Pointer that, after a day's hunting in June, develops acute paroxysmal cough, retching and later fever. Radiographs show a focal alveolar pattern in the right caudal lung lobe.
What is the most appropriate next step?
chevron_right Show answer and explanation
A. Bronchoscopy to locate and remove the foreign body and obtain a targeted lavage for culture
Correct. The history and focal pattern in a caudal lobe suggest an inhaled grass awn. Bronchoscopy allows it to be seen and removed with forceps, and samples to be taken from the affected bronchus.
B. Treat with antibiotics for 4–6 weeks and repeat the radiographs
While the awn remains in the bronchus, infection will recur when antibiotics stop, and the awn can migrate into the parenchyma or pleura (pyothorax).
C. Immediate right caudal lung lobectomy
Surgery is reserved for when bronchoscopy fails to find or remove the awn, or for abscesses or pneumothorax; it is not the first step.
D. Antitussive and rest, as acute cough after exercise is usually irritative
This ignores the fever and the focal alveolar pattern; suppressing the cough delays diagnosis of a foreign body that will not resolve on its own.
lightbulb Key takeaway
Indications for bronchoscopy: suspected foreign body, bronchial masses or stenosis, bronchial collapse, haemoptysis, undiagnosed chronic cough and lobe-targeted lavage. Grass awns usually lodge in the caudal lobe bronchi, most often the right.
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Updated: October 31, 2026 · Educational content for veterinary professionals. It does not replace current clinical guidelines or the judgement of the attending veterinarian.