Suspected Obstructive Sleep Apnea Successfully Treated with Ondansetron in a Pug.

Erika Villedieu, William Robinson, Chris Shales

Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 2022 May 01

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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been uncommonly reported in dogs and is often associated with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). OSA independent from BOAS has been rarely reported. Treatment of OSA with ondansetron has only been reported in one dog and has not been reported in a breed commonly affected by BOAS. Here, we report the case of a pug with episodes of OSA despite appropriate treatment of BOAS. Administration of ondansetron led to a rapid and near-complete resolution of the clinical signs, with a follow-up of 3 mo. OSA independent of BOAS should be considered as a differential diagnosis in dogs that present for sleep-disordered breathing without exercise intolerance after appropriate treatment for BOAS. Use of certain serotonin antagonists may be useful as a treatment option for these cases. © 2022 by American Animal Hospital Association.

Citation

Erika Villedieu, William Robinson, Chris Shales. Suspected Obstructive Sleep Apnea Successfully Treated with Ondansetron in a Pug. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. 2022 May 01;58(3):152-155