Federal Animal Hospital

8300 S.E. Federal Highway

Hobe Sound, FL 33455 

(772) 287-5009

Fax (772) 287-5077

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Linda Lord Jaffe, D.V.M.

To whom it may concern,

This letter is in reference to an eleven year old spayed female dachshund named “Loompi”, owned by Bill and Elizabeth Mac Dowell of 5370 Merion Way, Stuart, Florida. “Loompi” passed away at home on September 18, 2005 after a long battle with respiratory disease. The radiographic diagnosis was chronic pulmonary fibrosis complicated by intrathoracic fat deposits.

The origins of pulmonary fibrosis are multifactorial. Inhaled agents, drugs, chemicals and chronic infection or inflammation can lead to fibrosis. Exposure to these agents leads to inflammation the lung, in turn leading to a thickening and destruction of the alveolar wall, a thickened barrier to diffusion for gas exchange and a decrease in compliance. Subsequently there is hypoxemia, increased effort to breathe and end stage restrictive lung disease. Essentially, the fibrosis is scar tissue and responds poorly to therapy. “Loompi” was a wonderful little dog, a super friend and companion who we will always miss. We wish pulmonary fibrosis was more medically treatable and did not carry such a poor prognosis.

Regards,

Linda L Jaffe DVM