The Utility of Acute-Phase Proteins in the Assessment of Treatment Response in Dogs With Bacterial Pneumonia

Viitanen, S.J.; Lappalainen, A.K.; Christensen, M.B.; Sankari, S.; Rajamäki, M.M.

Initially, antimicrobial treatment was chosen empirically to cover the most common causative organisms in BP. Later, when bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility results were available, the treatment regimen was re-evaluated, and if necessary, changes were made according to the culture results. During hospitalization, antimicrobials were administrated IV, and PO treatment was continued after discharge. Dogs were discharged when they did not require oxygen supplementation and were capable of maintaining normal hydration and nutrition PO. At the beginning of the trial, the duration of antimicrobial treatment followed conventional recommendations, and dogs were treated for 3-6 weeks or 1-2 weeks beyond the resolution of alveolar density on the thoracic radiographs. 1, 6 Antimicrobial treatment of dogs entering our study during 2012 was discontinued 5-7 days after serum CRP returned to normal (<25 mg/L). Antibiotic treatment was discontinued by the CRP-guided approach only when owners consented.