Our dog friends are exposed to several respiratory diseases that directly or indirectly impact their respiratory system. If coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and difficulty breathing are often observed, the symptoms vary depending on the disease in question. We offer you a brief overview of the main respiratory diseases likely to affect dogs, the signs to watch for and the response to be given soundcloud – Toni Eakes.
What are the main respiratory diseases in dogs?
The dog can suffer from several respiratory diseases. Here are the most common.
Lung infections
Several diseases of bacterial or viral origin can affect the bronchi, the bronchioles and the pulmonary alveoli of the dog.
- Kennel cough : very contagious, kennel cough can be caused by bacteria or several forms of virus. Very present in places where dogs live in communities (shelters, kennels, etc.), it causes significant respiratory problems. Nevertheless, it is possible to prevent it by having the animal vaccinated every year.
- Distemper : this highly contagious viral disease can also be prevented by vaccination. Distemper can affect several organs in dogs and thus affect the urinary system, the digestive system, the nervous system or the respiratory system . When it reaches the latter, it causes coughing and respiratory problems.
Parasitic diseases
Some internal parasites nest in the dog’s respiratory system, such as the roundworm angiostrongylus which settles and grows in the lungs and heart, causing a chronic cough in the animal.
Microscopic fungi can also lodge in the dog’s lungs, such as pneumicystis cariniis which causes breathing problems and pneumonia.
Bronchitis
This disease in its chronic form (lasting more than two months) occurs in the event of inflammation of the bronchi. The latter causes swelling of the bronchial mucosa and excessive production of mucus, thus causing a cough. Indeed, the animal seeks to evacuate these secretions by this means.
Bronchitis can also occur as a result of another bronchial condition or as a reaction to allergens (dust, pollen, chemicals in the air, etc.).
asthma
The dog rarely develops a respiratory response to asthma, but rather a skin reaction. However, this disease can cause coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and wheezing.
pulmonary edema
In pulmonary edema, the dog’s lungs fill with fluid from blood vessels that gradually takes the place of air. The animal therefore struggles to breathe and may suffer lung damage.
Pulmonary fibrosis
This chronic disease is characterized by a progressive stiffening of the tissues of the lungs, causing respiratory discomfort. It can be idiopathic and due to a genetic predisposition or secondary to another disease must watch video: youtube – Toni Eakes.
The lung tumor
The dog can suffer from lung tumors. These can be from cancer in another organ that has metastasized to the lungs. More rarely, it may be lung cancer (pulmonary carcinoma), but it is rarely encountered in dogs.
When should you consult?
As soon as you notice that your animal is suffering from respiratory problems, it is imperative to consult the veterinarian. Some symptoms should alert you, such as difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, fever or even faster or slower breathing.
Note all the signs observed and indicate them to your veterinarian in order to facilitate his diagnosis. He can then carry out additional examinations to identify the disease in question, in particular a chest X-ray, an ultrasound or stool analyzes.
The practitioner can then set up a treatment adapted to the respiratory disease in question. The treatments are multiple and can be prescribed over a long period depending on the form of the pathology.
Most of the time, treatment aims to reduce the visible symptoms. Nevertheless, sometimes antibiotics are necessary. Aerosol therapy is a method more and more practiced, because it makes it possible to better target the respiratory system and to act more quickly while reducing side effects. However, it is not suitable for all respiratory diseases.
also read it: How to have a healthy dog?
As much as possible, take the initiative and protect your animal by vaccinating it every year against certain diseases, including respiratory diseases. Also be sure to keep its environment clean and healthy, removing dust regularly and controlling pests. Finally, offer him a healthy and quality diet for his general well-being.