“…The clinical examination was conducted as previously reported 7, 8 and in accordance with established and standardized scoring systems 2, 14, 15, where available. The variables examined included the measurement of the following: breathing rate at rest, breathing type (relative units [RU] in the range of 0–4; where 0 = no or little movement in the ventral region of the flank, and 4 = obvious abdominal lift, heave line and nostril flaring) 14, nasal discharge (RU in the range of 0–3; 0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = severe discharge), auscultation of lungs and trachea (in the range of RU 0–4; 0 = physiological, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe, 4 = wheezes/rhonchi) 2, 7, 8, and arterial blood gas parameters 15.…”