Innovations in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies for Companion Animal Gastrointestinal and Respiratory Diseases

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Companion Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 March 2027 | Viewed by 1827

Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Interests: internal medicine; endoscopy; clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic findings in gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Interests: internal medicine; thoracic and abdominal ultrasonography; CEUS; interventional procedures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Interests: internal medicine; endoscopy; clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic findings in gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases account for 5.8% of veterinary consultations in referral centers for dogs (4.1% and 1.7%, respectively) and 5.4% for cats (3.1% and 2.3%, respectively). In recent years, aerodigestive diseases have gained increasing attention in veterinary medicine due to their complex pathophysiology and overlapping clinical presentations with both gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders. However, current diagnostic methods remain limited by suboptimal sensitivity or specificity, as well as by their cost and limited availability in clinical practice. For these reasons, there is a growing need to expand current knowledge of these conditions, improve diagnostic accuracy, and develop updated therapeutic approaches. Particular emphasis should be placed on the identification and application of minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, which can reduce procedural risks and improve animal welfare. The aim of this Special Issue is to collect and disseminate recent advances in the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal, respiratory, and aerodigestive diseases in companion animals, promoting innovative strategies with lower clinical impact and enhanced effectiveness.

Dr. Maria Chiara Marchesi
Dr. Domenico Caivano
Guest Editors

Dr. Giulia Maggi
Guest Editor Assistant

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Keywords

  • gastrointestinal disease
  • respiratory disease
  • aerodigestive disease
  • interventional endoscopy
  • small animals

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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9 pages, 1416 KB  
Case Report
Two Cases of Nasal Rhinosporidiosis in Dogs Treated Endoscopically with a Diode Laser
by Giulia Maggi, Davide De Lorenzi and Enrico Bottero
Animals 2026, 16(5), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16050737 - 27 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1369
Abstract
Nasal rhinosporidiosis is a chronic granulomatous infectious disease that affects the mucous membranes of the nose and nasopharynx in humans and animals. Although it is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions, sporadic cases have been reported worldwide, including a few cases in Italy. [...] Read more.
Nasal rhinosporidiosis is a chronic granulomatous infectious disease that affects the mucous membranes of the nose and nasopharynx in humans and animals. Although it is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions, sporadic cases have been reported worldwide, including a few cases in Italy. The aim of this report is to describe two cases of nasal rhinosporidiosis in dogs from the same geographical region (Northwestern Italy) that were treated using a diode laser under endoscopic guidance. Both dogs presented persistent respiratory signs, including nasal wheezing, sneezing, and unilateral mucous, catarrhal and hemorrhagic discharge. Both dogs underwent diagnostic procedures, including rhinoscopy, which revealed abnormal tissue growth. Histopathological examination confirmed a diagnosis of proliferative-polypoid rhinitis caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi in both cases. In one dog, medical therapy with itraconazole failed to resolve the fungal infection. A local endoscopically guided treatment using a diode laser was thus proposed and successfully performed for polyp removal in both animals. Post-surgical rhinoscopy showed no tissue regrowth in one dog. The second dog experienced recurrence and progression of clinical signs following the first treatment. A second intervention was therefore needed, along with additional oral medical therapy to resolve the fungal rhinopathy. Both dogs were monitored for a minimum follow-up period of one year. Endoscopic debridement is a feasible, minimally invasive technique that could represent a new therapeutic option for the removal of nasal polyps caused by R. seeberi. Full article
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