Rhinoscope‐assisted management of nasal hirudiniasis in a dog

Abstract

AbstractA mixed‐breed mesocephalic male dog, weighing 25 kg, was presented with a medical history of nasal leeches (Dinobdella ferox) affecting both nostrils with the symptoms of laboured breathing, reverse sneezing, intermittent epistaxis and a reduced appetite. The dog underwent a standard clinical examination, haematological and biochemical assessments and radiographic studies to systematically diagnose any anomalies and evaluate its suitability for general anaesthesia. A Karl Storz video‐otoscope featuring a 15 Fr instrument channel was used to conduct anterior rhinoscopy under general anaesthesia. The endoscope was introduced sequentially into each nostril to visualise the nasal cavities and pinpoint the presence of leeches therein. Grasping forceps, guided through the endoscope's integrated instrument channel, were used to extract the leeches from both nasal cavities within a brief timeframe (18 leeches in 16 min) and without encountering substantial challenges. Following the leech removal, a post‐retrieval minor capillary bleeding within the nasal cavities, which was seen from both the nostrils, was controlled by flushing the nostrils with a 1:10,000 adrenaline tartrate solution.