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. 2019 Dec 5;50(2):447–465. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2019.10.007

Table 3.

Differential diagnoses for specific radiographic patterns

  • Lobar alveolar consolidation
    • Aspiration pneumonia (cranioventral, right middle)
    • Lung lobe torsion (cranial)
    • Atelectasis secondary to mucus plugging (right middle most commonly)
  • Focal alveolar consolidation
    • Airway foreign body
    • Granuloma
    • Primary pulmonary neoplasia (caudal lobes)
    • Metastatic neoplasia
    • Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema
  • Diffuse alveolar pattern
    • Acute respiratory distress syndrome
    • Congestive heart failure (perihilar in dogs)
    • Fluid overload
    • Eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy
    • Coagulopathy
    • Metastatic neoplasia
    • Fungal pneumonia
  • Diffuse or focal interstitial pattern
    • Early bacterial pneumonia
    • Imminent congestive heart failure
    • Pneumocystis canis infection
    • Inhalant toxicity (eg, paraquat)
    • Viral pneumonia

Modified from Dear JD. Bacterial pneumonia in dogs and cats. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2014; 44(1): 143-159; with permission.