Canine Tonsilitis Treatment

Tonsillitis is the inflammation of the tonsils and is a condition that may be caused by several factors including respiratory infections, the swallowing of a sharp object or chronic vomiting. The tonsillitis treatment depends on the causing factor; in some cases, the inflammation of the tonsils can go away without treatment.

Causes of Tonsillitis

As part of the lymphatic system, the tonsils are located in the throat of the dog and there are 2 tonsils. Tonsillitis is a condition that will cause these organs to enlarge and get out of the pockets that normally protect these. The swelling of the tonsils may be caused by various factors:

• The swallowing of objects that irritate the tonsils and the throat
• Chronic vomiting which may be caused by an underlying condition
• Frequent coughing, especially the dry cough, which will irritate the tonsils
• Dental problems
• Gum problems
• Tumors in the throat

These conditions may cause pain and the dog may refuse to eat, will drool in excess and may be lethargic.

Tonsillitis Treatment

The dog should be diagnosed and the vet must establish the cause of the tonsillitis. The treatment options may vary from removal of the foreign object to removal of the tonsils.

Removal of Foreign Object

If the dog has swallowed an object that irritates his throat, this should be removed with a pair of tweezers. Consult a vet if you fear you may hurt the dog while removing the object.

The vet will prescribe some antibiotics to prevent the occurrence of infections in the throat, which may be caused by the foreign object.

No Treatment

If the vet doesn’t find any diseases or factors that cause tonsillitis, he may opt not to administer any treatment, as the inflammation can go away without treatment. The dog should be monitored and should be brought to the vet, should the tonsillitis reoccur.

Removal of Tonsils

The vet may recommend the removal of the tonsils if the cause is not known, but the tonsillitis is recurrent.

Dewormers or Diet Change

In some cases, the dog may have tonsillitis due to chronic vomiting. Most often, chronic vomiting is caused by the presence of internal parasites, which can be removed with dewormers.

If the vomiting is caused by the dog’s diet, a change in the diet will reduce the vomiting and bring relief to the swollen tonsils.

Antibiotics or Fungicides

Often, the tonsils may be swollen due to respiratory infections or frequent coughing and gum or dental disease. The infections may be treated with antibiotics if the infection is viral or bacterial or fungicides if the infection is caused by fungi.

Tooth Extraction

Tonsillitis may be caused by an abscessed tooth and in some cases the best course of treatment is the extraction of the tooth. However, if there is pus in the area of the tooth, the infection must be treated with antibiotics before the tooth can be removed.