Have you treated cases of postoperative pneumonia or aspiration pneumonia in your practice? Have you wondered what factors might predispose your canine patients to developing postoperative respiratory complications? In people, there are a number of risk factors for aspiration pneumonia in the peri- and postoperative period that include: increased age, co-morbidities, preexisting pulmonary disease, immobility, decreased consciousness, analgesia and gastrointestinal problems like motility disorders, increased gastric acid, esophageal disease, among others.