Pneumonia Symptoms in Dogs

If you own a cuddly dog at your home, you need to be very cautious about its health as it may suffer from a number of health problems. Pneumonia is one of the common dog health problems. Pneumonia in dogs results in inflammation of lungs and bronchi. This infection is more common in the dogs younger than one year of age. If not treated immediately, the dog may die of pneumonia.

Causes of Dog Pneumonia

Pneumonia is caused by bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infections. In case of dogs, pneumonia is mainly due to bacterial infection. Inhalation is typically a route of transmission of infection. Some of the major causes of dog pneumonia are immunosuppression from drugs, dyskinesia, reduced clearance of inhaled debris from the lungs, malnutrition, aspiration of ingestal material or gastric contents or gastric contents, viral infection and fungal or parasitic infection. Certain dog breeds such as hounds, sporting dogs, working dogs and some mixed breeds are more vulnerable to pneumonia. Dogs from 2 months to 15 years of age are more likely to get pneumonia infection.

Pneumonia Symptoms in Dogs

Coughing is one of the most notable pneumonia symptoms in dogs. Some other signs and symptoms of pneumonia in dogs are as follows:

• Frequent coughing with mucous secretions
• Nasal discharge
• Difficulty in breathing
• Fever
• Wheezing or panting
• Dehydration
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargic behavior

You may also notice that the dog’s lips are bulging outward while breathing. The breaths are shallow and rapid. As the lung tissues are filled with fluid, the dog may not get enough oxygen. The tongue, lips and gums of the dog may appear bluish or gray, which is called cyanosis. It indicates decreased amount of oxygen in the blood. The body temperature is generally elevated. If left untreated, pneumonia can lead to dog’s death.

Diagnosis of Dog Pneumonia

When you notice the symptoms of pneumonia in your dog, you need to immediately take it to the veterinarian. The veterinarian asks complete medical history and performs a careful physical examination of the dog, especially lungs and heart. When the dog takes a deep breath, the abnormal sounds from the lungs are noticed. Medial history of the dog covers any previous illness, appetite, activity or exercise intolerance, weight loss, cough and environmental exposure to dust, vapors and smoke and therapy and response to therapy. Certain investigations are performed for the accurate diagnosis of pneumonia in dogs such as complete blood count, chest X-ray, airway cytology, tracheal wash cytology and culture/sensitivity. Some other tests such as heartworm test and bronchoscopy are also performed to diagnose pneumonia in dogs.

Treatment of Dog Pneumonia

Pneumonia causes difficulty in breathing. In some severe cases of pneumonia, hospitalization is required with intravenous fluids, oxygen, antibiotics and supportive care. Dogs are treated with antibiotics at least for three weeks, plenty of fluids and warmth, humidified oxygen and percussion of thorax to loosen and remove the secretions.

Pneumonia can be a progressive, serious health problem in dogs and hence, it should not be neglected. Being a dog owner, it’s your responsibility to take care of dog health. With proper dog care and a healthy lifestyle, you can keep your dog healthy and playful.