Introduction

• Tonsilar enlargement may be due to neoplasia or inflammation.
• Cause: primary tonsillitis more common in young, small breed dogs.
• Secondary tonsillitis seen with upper respiratory tract disease, alimentary tract disease, mouth breathing, oral disease.
• Signs: tonsils swollen and painful, dysphagia, retching, gagging, salivation.
• Diagnosis: visual examination of tonsils, elimination of secondary causes.
• Treatment: broad spectrum antibiosis, tonsillectomy if tonsils are causing pharyngeal obstruction, eg brachycephalic breeds.
• Prognosis: good.

Pathogenesis

Etiology

• Bacterial infection from oral/pharyngeal cavity.
• Chronic cough, vomiting.
• Mouth breathing leading to lymphoid hyperplasia.
• Viral disease as a portal of entry, eg Distemper virus.
• Neoplasia, primary lymphoma Lymphoma or secondary netastatic disease.

Specific

• Alimentary tract disease.
• Chronic respiratory tract disease.
• Mouth breathing.

Pathophysiology

• Infection → lymphoid hyperplasia → enlargement of tonsils → possible eversion from tonsillar crypt.
• Pharyngeal pain → dysphagia.
• Tonsillar enlargement → pharyngeal obstruction to air flow or passage of food.
• Acute infection → pyrexia → malaise and inappetence.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Outcomes