Billie is one of the many adoptable dogs at Wags and Walks. She’s a high-energy pup, very affectionate, and loves cuddling. Due to her active nature, she was placed in a foster home, where she could enjoy long walks and plenty of exercise. She began experiencing breathing and GI issues, so she was taken to an urgent care to figure out what was going on.

While at urgent care, x-rays revealed Billie’s lungs were full of air. A chest tube was used to empty her lungs, and she had bloodwork done. Over the next few days, her lungs continuously filled with air after having them emptied. It was clear something else was going on, so Billie was scheduled for a CT scan.

The results of the CT scan showed she has a bulla, a blister-like air pocket. As bullae grow, it takes up space in the chest cavity and can crowd the lungs. If too much pressure occurs on the lungs, it can result in dangerous disruption of the lung functions.

The bulla is causing pneumothorax, or a collection of air outside the lungs and within the chest walls. The vets have determined her best chance at recovery is to have a lung lobectomy surgery performed and removing the at-risk lung lobe.

In addition to her lung problems, Billie developed some back pains limiting her mobility. The radiologist suspects the fragments detected on her right thoracic limb radiographs are osteochondromas, a relatively uncommon benign bone tumor. There’s also evidence of osteoarthritis in that elbow. Her doctor will soon determine options for managing that in the future.