The incidence of thoracic trauma in dogs with skeletal injury

One hundred dogs with skeletal injury were evaluated for co-existing thoracic abnormalities. Parameters used to assess thoracic trauma were physical examination, thoracic radiographs, electrocardiograms and arterial blood gas PaO₂. Thoracic abnormalities were found in 57 per cent of the dogs. Within this group, 77 per cent had abnormal thoracic radiographs, 44 per cent had abnormal low PaO₂, and 30 per cent had cardiac arrhythmias. No clinical signs suggestive of thoracic injury were found on physical examination in 79 per cent of the dogs with thoracic lesions.