Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Dogs; Analysis of Proteins and Respiratory Cells

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Abstract
In an attempt to establish the normal values, bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) of portions of the right upper lobe was done during fiberoptic bronchoscopy in 18 Beagle dogs of various ages. Albumin, IgA and IgG were identified in BAL fluids. The respiratory cells obtained were, in the order of decreasing occurrences, alveolar macrophages, lymphocytes, epithelial cells and neutrophils. No age-related changes were found in the content of immunoglobulins or in the differential cell counts of respiratory cells. Bacterial cultures of BAL were invariably contaminated with resident flora of the upper respiratory tract. Therefore, in determining the etiology of pulmonary infections, the results of such cultures should be interpreted with caution. As an aid to diagnosis of pulmonary diseases in dogs, the analysis of BAL fluid components could be helpful when compared with findings in healthy animals.