Just like humans, dogs also get sick and feel unwell. Respiratory diseases in the bronchi and lungs, or also called diseases of the respiratory system, are numerous and vary greatly in their severity.
It can be simply a common cold, which is cured in a few days with a mild treatment, or it can lead to chronic pathologies that are difficult to diagnose, with long treatments, as is the case with a pulmonary enema.
Continue reading this article on our site about respiratory diseases in dogs, symptoms, main characteristics and some types of treatment.
Recurring symptoms
Pathologies of the respiratory system do not present individual symptoms, but mean everything a picture of combined symptoms and they are usually the same, the The way to diagnose each disease is through a visit to the veterinarian with the respective analysis.
In most cases, it takes the animal by surprise by breaking down its physical and even emotional defenses. If your dog has contracted a respiratory disease, he will manifest the following symptoms. If it is a simple cold:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Mucous membrane irritation
- Dyspnoea
- Decay
- Lack of appetite
If the dog suffers from a more complex disease he may have these additional symptoms:
- Cough (dry or productive)
- Noisy Breathing
- Nausea
- Intolerance to any type of exercise
- Anorexy
- Fever
- Tachycardia
Whatever the symptoms are, it is necessary to pay attention to them from day one. These diseases can begin to develop from simple cold snaps due to drafts, poorly cured flu, humidity (nest of bacteria), sudden changes in temperature and rain. If you think your dog may be suffering from any of these, Go to your vet as soon as possible, especially if your dog is a puppy. Below we explain some of the respiratory diseases in dogs:
Colds and Flus
When a dog has the flu it will not transmit it to humans because even if it has the same name and the dog feels the same way that a person when they have a flu, it is a different disease caused by the filterable virus. If your pet rubs his nose with everything he finds, it is a clear sign that he has the flu since he has an irritation in the nasal mucosa.
To improve this condition, you can wash the dog's nose gently with warm water, dry it and apply a little olive oil. Influenza in dogs can be located both in the first respiratory tract or in the bronchopulmonary abdominal area.
Normally a cold heals in a few days, it is important to drink plenty of water, give it a light diet and place it in a quiet and warm place, protected from draftsof air that can make it worse.
We must not underestimate sneezing in dogs. It is not like in men that a sneeze does not mean much. In these animals, they are more serious symptoms that should not last more than a day, and if this is the case, it is best to go to the vet.
Bronchitis
bronchitis could be the stage after a badly cured fluWhen the mucosa that lines the bronchial tubes becomes inflamed, this disease occurs which could be paired with other respiratory diseases such as colds, sore throat and pneumonia. Bronchitis in its first stage looks like a temporary dry cough that should not cause permanent damage to the airways. However, if the disease worsens because treatment is not completed or for other reasons, it could go from acute bronchitis (maximum two months) to chronic (more than two months due to airway injuries) where symptoms and discomfort will persist for much longer.
This disease can be caused by viral or bacterial infections, allergies, fungi and foreign bodies that are inhaled such as smoke and dust. In the acute case, the common treatment is usually through antibiotics, and the location and elimination of the causes of the disease. In the case of chronic bronchitis, together with the previous treatments, combined with bronchodilators and sometimes antitussives, nebulizers are usually applied to moisten the respiratory tract.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia in dogs is a serious disease that attacks the lungs and lower respiratory tract, causing them to become inflamed. This disease usually attacks older dogs or very young dogs, it is uncommon for it to occur in adult dogs with a he althy life. Chronic bronchitis can also trigger bacterial pneumonia. It can also affect the throat, trachea and bronchi and, like bronchitis, is caused by fungi, viruses, internal parasites and bacteria.
Diagnosed by blood tests and chest X-rays. In addition, bacterial cultures are performed to determine the type of treatment to be performed, which will also depend on the cause of the infection and the type of pneumonia.
- Bacterial Pneumonias: Antibiotics selected to attack the specific bacteria. Medication administration for at least 3 weeks.
- Infectious pneumonia: caused by viruses, fungi or parasites will be treated with medications carefully selected for each case.
- Aspiration pneumonia: This type is caused by inhaling a solid or liquid material that is toxic to the lungs. In this case, the toxic agent that was aspirated through the respiratory tract is extracted or suctioned.
Pulmonary edema
pulmonary edema is not the same as pneumonia. This is the accumulation of fluid in the lungs specifically in the area of the pulmonary interstitium that frequently occurs when there is congestive heart failure. Dogs suffering from this disease find it very difficult to breathe. This is a great effort, which in many cases, produces a cough accompanied by blood.
The treatment for this disease aims to improve the entry and exit of oxygen, and is done by applying a mask or a nasal probe. In these cases, it is highly recommended to carry out intubation and positive ventilation so as not to burden the animal with more stress. Regarding medications, veterinarians often prescribe diuretics (with caution in dogs with low circulating blood volume) as well as the very popular bronchodilators.
Asthma
Asthma is a disease that commonly affects our pets. We know that a dog could have asthma when he has difficulty breathing, especially when walking or doing any type of physical activity, in addition to having a very persistent cough. This is caused by family inheritance or by some type of allergy. Pets with asthma should be in quiet areas where the air is dry and their feeding should be controlled.
When a dog has an asthma attack it can be easily identified by the color of their tongue and gums that turn bluish by the lack of oxygen. It is essential to take him immediately to the veterinarian, who will perform a physical examination, review his medical and hereditary history and perform a chest x-ray. Some of the treatments chosen to treat asthma in dogs are:
- Antihistamines: to counteract the presence of any allergy in the respiratory system.
- Bronchodilators: The type of medication used in inhalers for people with asthma. Reduces bronchial constriction and helps your dog breathe more easily.
- Steroid application: helps reduce inflammation of the bronchial tubes and prevents future asthma attacks.
