Dogs who suffer from seasonal allergies may only show symptoms certain times of the year, while others may have them year-round. Dogs are playful. Unfortunately, play is one of the leading causes of breathing problems in dogs.
Dogs who chew on sticks, balls, bones, and other toys can accidentally inhale pieces that obstruct their airways. Dogs who get into the garbage are also more likely to suffer from obstructions. If your floofer is experiencing difficulty breathing due to an obstruction, go to your vet immediately.
These problems should not be treated at home because the dog may have swallowed additional debris that can cause further problems in the digestive tract. Just monitor your pup and mention it to the veterinarian during your next scheduled appointment.
For minor breathing problems, you can help make your dog more comfortable and assist him or her at home. Think about walking your dog mid-day rather than early in the morning or in the evening when allergens tend to be more prevalent. You can also help your furry friend by using pet wipes to remove allergens after each walk or using a gentle shampoo to help wash away irritants during peak allergy season.
In addition:. A healthy weight for a dog is one in which you can see their ribs. However, a dog at a healthy weight will have a clearly defined waist and you should be able to feel the ribs.
After my golden retriever was spayed, I noticed she began putting on weight. Now, I could blame it entirely on the spay, or I could take a hard look at what I have been feeding her. They both eat the same amount of food, but the pit bull mix male is lean muscle. The retriever, however, is a barrel. Short-nosed dogs known as brachycephalic breeds pugs, Boston terriers, boxers, etc. These dogs tend to breath loudly, cannot over-exert themselves without complications, and are more susceptible to dog wheezing.
However, if the dog does develop serious conditions that include dog wheezing due to airway obstruction, treatment could include:. Click the image below for info on the healthiest new way to feed your dog! Heart disease in dogs can result in a variety of symptoms including dog wheezing. Heartworm disease can also be a cause.
Other causes of heart disease may also be present. NOTE: Treatments will depend on your dog, the breed, and any other underlying health conditions. We tend to think of choking as a full blockage where the dog cannot breath at all. In an effort to expel the object, your dog might try to cough it out, swat at his face, paw at his jaw, gag, or wheeze.
Inspect the mouth to see if the item has come up. Remember: If you dog is wheezing, you know he or she is still getting oxygen and you have time to get medical assistance. Be very careful not to push the item further down into the throat. Collapsing trachea is a condition that can happen in small breeds.
Small breeds known to acquire trachea collapse include Yorkshire terriers, Pomeranian, Poodles, and Chihuahuas. A collapsing trachea occurs when the C-rings inside the trachea begin to stretch and flatten over time.
Once the trachea collapses, it leaves your dog with severely compromised breathing. This condition can affect young and middle-aged dogs. Some of the causes of a canine asthma attack are listed in this post already. Exposure to cigarette smoke, pollen, and household cleaners. Your dog could be severely allergic to anything from certain foods to bug bites. In people, allergens could be anything from seafood to a bee sting.
In dogs, anaphylactic shock is considered rare, but life-threatening. If your dog gets a little over-excited to see you come home at the end of the day, it could just be a result of excitement spasm. The dog jumps up, runs, begins to pant heavily, and gets so over-stimulated that the panting becomes wheezing.
Heartworms are dangerous parasites caused by infected mosquitoes. The mosquito picks up the parasite from another dog, and transits it to your dog. The immature heartworms become larvae and make their way through the body to the heart and lungs.
Signs of heartworm can be hard to detect in the early stages, but could progress to:. The easiest way to avoid this parasitic infection is through prevention.
Most veterinarians if not all sell and prescribe topical or oral drugs that prevent parasitic infections. Although the drugs may be expensive, keep in mind that they usually work on several issues at once. For example, I give my dogs a topical solution that goes on the back of the neck.
It kills all stages of flea larvae and all worm parasites. Emphysema in dogs usually develops as the result of another type of lung disease. With emphysema, the dog has a hard time getting the air out of the lungs so while he might sound normal on inhale, you might hear what sounds like dog wheezing on the exhale.
Blood clots, also known as pulmonary thromboembolisms, are dangerous masses of congealed blood that can travel through the body and lodge themselves into the heart or lung. Your vet can give you more information about this symptom if it is something your dog deals with. Dogs with heart disease may develop wheezing after some time.
It generally develops partway through the progression of the disease for most dogs. If your dog is diagnosed with heart disease, your vet will be able to help you choose what the best course of action may be for you and your pet moving forward. Some dogs may have a collapsing trachea, which can occur with or without the presence of heart disease. If this happens, your vet can help you with treatment options as well. There may be other causes of dog wheezing, outside of those on this list.
It is always important to have your dog checked by a professional veterinarian to determine the underlying cause of the problem. A good quality vet should be able to help you help your dog, and you may soon notice less wheezing from your pet as well. At VEG, we understand how scary it can be when you notice your dog wheezing for the first time, or for any period of time.
VEG is a network of Emergency Veterinarians located across the country. We are dedicated to helping people and their pets when they need it most. If your pet is ever in an emergency situation, use the link below to find our nearest location so we can get your pet the help they need. Send Website Accessibility Information. Join the VEG family. If your dog is gagging or retching in addition to wheezing, it could be a sign that something is stuck in the windpipe. A wheeze accompanied by a cough could indicate an upper respiratory infection, kennel cough, lower airway disease, or a foreign body stuck in the trachea.
Wheezing accompanied by a fast rate of breathing could indicate a range of diseases and conditions, such as chronic bronchitis or heart disease. If your dog is consistently wheezing with no improvement in symptoms, it warrants a visit to the vet to see if there is an underlying cause.
If your dog is wheezing and showing signs of distress, it is important to take steps to help keep them calm and breathe easier.
Remain calm and keep your pet comfortable. Remove triggers from around your dog, including strongly scented products such as candles, air fresheners, or aerosol sprays. If your dog is outside, bring them inside to see if symptoms improve.
It is often easier for veterinarians to see and hear the symptoms your dog is showing at home by watching a video, as your dog might not be showing the symptoms when you arrive at the clinic. Since there are many causes of wheezing in dogs, the underlying condition must first be diagnosed so the appropriate treatment plan can be made.
An examination will reveal the right course of treatment for your pet. For infections, treatment will likely include antibiotics. If the wheezing is caused by chronic bronchitis, your vet will likely prescribe a bronchodilator as a rescue medication to use when your dog is in distress. These medications work to relax the muscles in the airways to allow your dog to breathe easier.
A dog with bronchitis will also require a daily corticosteroid medication to manage the condition and help keep symptoms at bay. Both corticosteroids and bronchodilators can be prescribed as inhalers and are much easier to administer to your pet than a pill or syrup. Speak with your vet about using inhaled medication in conjunction with the AeroDawg canine aerosol chamber to keep your dog happy and healthy.
To help your dog breathe easier, your vet might recommend that you make some changes around the house. This may include:. Make sure you feed your dog a healthy, well-balanced diet. A complete diet will help give your dog the nutrition they need to keep their immune system healthy.
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