STATIC RESPIRATORY COMPLIANCE IN NORMAL DOGS

Static respiratory compliance was measured in a series of normal dogs. The values (mean +/- SEM) for total compliance (n = 42), pulmonary compliance (n = 42) and chest wall compliance (n = 93) were 61 (3.8), 82 (4.7) and 94 (3.3) ml/cmH2O, respectively. There was a strong positive correlation between bodyweight and chest wall circumference and all divisions of compliance (r > 0.55) and a slight negative correlation (r = -0.39) between age and chest wall compliance. There was a significant difference between compliance values for narrow chested dogs and broad chested dogs (P < 0.01). Of the four most frequently encountered breeds in this study (border collie, German shepherd, labrador retriever and rottweiler) the German shepherd dog had the strongest correlation between bodysize and compliance while the rottweiler, in general, showed a negative correlation. When corrected for bodyweight the border collie had the highest compliance values and the rottweiler had the lowest. It was concluded from this study that compliance values for specific breeds cannot be extrapolated from the general population data and must be determined on an individual breed basis.