Multi-centre assessment of mycotic rhinosinusitis in dogs: a retrospective study of initial treatment success (1998 to 2008).

OBJECTIVES

To retrospectively review the first treatment response of dogs with mycotic rhinosinusitis to commonly utilised treatment techniques.

METHODS

Medical records of dogs treated for mycotic rhinosinusitis were obtained retrospectively via a manual review of the clinical databases of six veterinary referral centres for the period of January 1998 to June 2008, and first treatment outcome was evaluated. Historical and clinicopathological findings were also reviewed to evaluate their impact on treatment success or failure.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in first treatment outcome between treatment groups (P=0.21). When all topical treatments were considered together (n=85), 39 dogs (45.8%) had a successful first treatment. Initial treatment success was associated with a younger age (56.3 versus 75.8 months; P=0.02) and was 2.7 times more likely in dogs with unilateral disease, although this was not significant (P=0.07). Adjunctive therapy with systemic antifungal agents was associated with treatment failure (P< or =0.01). Fifty-nine dogs (69.4%) responded successfully following multiple treatments.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Treatment of mycotic rhinosinusitis remains challenging, and multiple treatments are frequently required for adequate treatment. Reasons for first treatment failure are likely multifactorial in origin, making it difficult to predict those dogs that are likely to have a superior prognosis, regardless of the treatment type used.