Content
- bronchitis in dogs
- Canine Chronic Bronchitis
- Canine Bronchitis - Symptoms
- Canine Bronchitis - Diagnosis
- Canine Bronchitis - Treatment
- Home Treatment for Canine Bronchitis
- Prevent canine bronchitis
Canine bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi, which are part of the respiratory tract of dogs. The bronchi are branches of the trachea that allow air to enter and leave the lungs.
If your dog has recently been diagnosed by your veterinarian as having this respiratory disease and you are worried and would like to understand better what it is, you have come to the right article. The Animal Expert will explain in a simple way what is the canine bronchitis and everything you need to know about this respiratory disease.
bronchitis in dogs
Bronchitis in dogs can be acute or chronic.Acute bronchitis is short-lived and airway damage is usually reversible, unlike chronic bronchitis.
Canine Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is one of the most common respiratory illnesses in dogs. This disease lasts for a long time, at least 2 or 3 months, and causes generally irreversible changes in the airways. It is usually associated with excessive mucus production and chronic coughing.
At more predisposed races to this type of disease are[1]:
- Poodle
- Pekingese
- yorkshire terrier
- Chihuahua
- Lulu of Pomerania
These small breed puppies are also predisposed to suffer other diseases that complicate the picture of bronchitis, such as tracheal collapse and mitral heart failure.
Canine Bronchitis - Symptoms
O canine bronchitis symptoms most common are:
- moderate to severe cough
- difficulty breathing
- Altered lung sounds (that your veterinarian hears when listening)
- Tachypnoea (rapid breathing)
- Purplish mucous membranes (in the most severe cases)
The main reasons that take tutors to the veterinarian are the severe cough and/or mucus production.
It is important to note that in chronic cases, the cough may progress over the years, increasing the frequency of episodes[2].
Canine Bronchitis - Diagnosis
The veterinarian is usually based on clinical signs and coughing pictures to diagnose bronchitis. In addition, the veterinarian will try to determine the cause, which may be idiopathic, ie without a definite cause or consequent to some diseases that need to be addressed, such as:
- Allergic bronchitis
- bacterial infection
- mycoplasma infection
- Heartworm
The veterinarian may choose to have an x-ray to look for changes in the airway. However, not all cases of bronchitis present these changes.
More severe cases may need further tests to rule out other differential diagnoses. Some of possible evidence are:
- Bronchopulmonary cytology
- Tracheobronchial lavage culture
- Bronchoscopy
- Biopsy
Canine Bronchitis - Treatment
The treatment of canine bronchitis is non-specific, that is, it is suitable for each case individually, as it mainly consists of relieving the symptoms. For this reason there is no single way to treat canine bronchitis, as it depends a lot on your dog's case.
Medication usually includes bronchodilators, steroids, and sometimes also a antibiotic for canine bronchitis.
Severe cases may need oxygenation through a mask and medication may need to be administered intravenously, that is, directly into the dog's veins through a catheter.
Regarding the steroids, they are used to decrease the inflammatory process, which is the main cause of the thickening of the mucosa in the airways, which causes coughing and mucus production. However, it is necessary to be very careful and you must strictly follow the indications given by your veterinarian, as these drugs have several side effects.
The veterinarian may also prescribe nebulizations of products suitable for canine bronchitis, which are very useful in clearing the airways.
You bronchodilators are indicated in cases where there is bronchial constriction. These can be done via inhalation, as mentioned above, as they have fewer risks and side effects than by mouth.
Home Treatment for Canine Bronchitis
In addition to the treatment prescribed by your trusted veterinarian, you may be able to avail yourself of a Home Treatment for Canine Bronchitis.
There are several natural foods that help to relieve the cough of dogs such as mint, loquat, cinnamon, etc.
Read our Canine Cough Home Remedy article to learn about several alternatives. In any case, never forget to consult your veterinarian before introducing any food or homemade treatments for your puppy.
Prevent canine bronchitis
Although this disease often has its origin in a genetic predisposition, there are some things that you must avoid because they can be the cause of this or other respiratory problems, namely:
- fireplace smoke
- Sprays
- Air Fresheners
- Perfumes
- Tobacco
- other smokes
Basically, you should avoid anything that might irritate your dog's airways, especially if you've ever noticed him coughing or sneezing, as some of these agents may be causing the problem.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.