Dogs Respiratory Articles

If your dog is coughing, panting, wheezy or sluggish, he might be having dog respiratory issues. Read more about how a dog's respiratory system plays a role in regulating temperature and how this can affect your dog's health if this system breaks down. Learn to distinguish between common ailments and more serious afflictions, as well as get advice on prevention and treatment.

• Your Coughing Dog

  A coughing dog can mean a number of things. Sometimes dogs cough simply because they drank water too quickly. Other times a dog may cough due to a more serious illness.

• What is Canine Respiratory MRSA Infection?

  Respiratory MRSA infection occurs when a dog contracts it from a person, at a veterinary clinic or during surgery. Bacteria enters a dog's blood stream and causes respiratory problems due to an MRSA infection.

• What Causes My Dog to Cough?

  Regarding the treatment of dog coughs, depending on the cause and type of dog cough, the condition can be treated at home or you will have to pay a visit to your vet.

• Understanding Dog Respiratory Problems

  Respiratory problems in dogs could be a sign of something that needs to be taken care of. Sneezing is common and normal; however, if you notice other symptoms, or abnormal breathing, it could signal a more serious situation.

• Treatment Options for Dog Pneumonia

  Canine pneumonia can be as dangerous for dogs as it can be for humans, with potential fatality if left without treatment. Dogs can contract the disease from other infected animals, especially after spending time in a kennel, or from tissues in their own body.

• Treating Canine Lung Cancer with Surgery

  Canine lung cancer is often a terminal disease. The cancer usually starts in a location away from the pulmonary organs in a dog's body and metastasizes to the lungs; it rarely originates in the lungs.

• Tracheobronchitis

  Tracheobronchitis is also known as "kennel cough". This is probably a misnomer, since most dogs that get this disease have not been in kennels. Still, when dogs are placed in group situations, they are often exposed to the organisms that cause tracheobronchitis. It is sort of like all the colds that are seen in kindergartners.

• Trachea Problems

  There are medical treatments for collapsing trachea as well as surgical treatments. The consensus of opinion seems to be that collapsing tracheal problems are best treated medically until it becomes obvious that medical treatment alone is not going to work.

• Respiratory Problems in Dogs

  Sneezing is not as common in dogs as it is in people in response to upper respiratory diseases, but it does sometimes occur. There are a lot of possible causes of gurgling sounds when dogs inhale or exhale. Laryngitis, epiglottitis, pharyngitis, tracheitis, laryngeal paralysis, collapsing trachea, pneumonia, heart failure, cancer of the airways and other conditions can all cause these symptoms.

• Puppy with Kennel Cough: Prevent the Spread of Infection

  Puppy kennel cough is about as contagious among dogs as the common cold is among humans.

• Pulmonary Disease or Disorder

  Upper airway problems can lead to pulmonary congestion. When treating pulmonary fibrosis the most commonly used medications to control the coughing are corticosteroids. Allergic bronchitis can lead to pulmonary congestion when it is severe but that is often possible to detect with bronchoscopy and cytology (which was probably done during the endoscopy).

• Pneumothorax

  Pneumothorax refers to air accumulation in the chest cavity. As odd as this sounds, the chest cavity must have a vacuum (no air) to work properly.

• Paroxysmal Respiration

  The most likely causes of the symptoms you are seeing are paroxysmal respiration, collapsing trachea and upper airway obstructions. Paroxysmal respiration is often described as a “reverse sneeze” because it really does look as if a dog is trying to inhale a sneeze when this occurs. 

• Paroxysmal Respiration

  Dogs have a condition called “paroxysmal respiration”. It is also sometimes called a “reverse sneeze” because it really sort of looks like the dog is trying to inhale a sneeze

• Natural Treatments for Kennel Cough

  Natural treatments for kennel cough is a growing interest for dog owners. Antibiotics are given to cure kennel cough, but this is known to weaken your dog's immune system possibly causing long term health problems.

• Nasal Passage and Nose problems in dogs

  Crusting of the nose can occur with prednisone usage based on observations of patients in our practice. I have been assuming that this may be due to an increased tendency to get secondary skin infections and general thinning of the skin associated with prednisone but have no evidence to back up those thoughts.

• Lung Cancers in Dogs

  Primary lung cancer (cancer coming from lung tissue) is rare in dogs, so the odds are very high that a tumor seen in the lungs is a metastasis from a tumor somewhere else. This is not always the case but it is a reasonable presumption. So in most cases, just seeing a tumor in the lungs is reason to suspect metastatic cancer.

• Lung Cancer in Dogs: An Overview

  Lung cancer in dogs is a potentially fatal diagnosis for a dog that can be devastating for the pet owner. Most common in older, medium to large dogs, the disease is often arduous to treat because canine cancer symptoms are difficult to detect in the disease's early stages. When it is caught in time, treatment for lung tumors in dogs can be costly.

• Larynx and Throat Problems in Dogs

  Most dogs that have been "debarked" still vocalize, they just make a lower pitched sound that is quieter. So it seems a little odd that your poodle doesn't make any sound at all. There are two surgical approaches to debarking that I know of.

• Kennel Cough - Tracheobronchitis

  here are several causes of coughing associated with tracheobronchitis, all of which get lumped under the general name "kennel cough" at times. So it is possible for a dog to get kennel cough from two or three different causes in one lifetime. In addition to that, the most common cause of tracheobronchitis in dogs is probably Bordetella bronchiseptica infection, a bacterial infection.

• Is Your Dog Panting? 3 Cool Down Tips

  Dog panting from time to time, but excessive panting could be a sign of heatstroke. Here are some tips to help cool down your dog when panting seems excessive.

• How Contagious Is Dog Flu to Owners?

  Canine influenza or dog flu is not believed to be contagious to humans. There has been no evidence that dog flu has the ability to be transmitted across species.

• Fungal Infection in Dogs

  Blastomycosis is normally acquired by inhalation of spores of this fungus, causing pneumonia and then spread to other areas of the body. Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection. Coccidioidiomycosis is not spread from animal to animal, nor from human to human.

• Dog Sneezing and Nasal Discharge: When is it Serious?

  Dog sneezing occurs for the same reasons sneezing occurs in humans, mostly to rid the upper respiratory system of an irritant.

• Dog Panting: How do I tell if it’s a Problem?

  Dog panting can occur for a number of reasons. Dog panting can be a temporary symptom of strenuous activity or sign of heat stroke. Some breeds of dogs are more prone to dog panting than others.

• Dog Cough: It Could be a Symptom of Serious Illness

  Dog cough can have a number of causes. Dog coughing can be a symptom of a serious underlying condition such as heartworm. Dog cough can be a result of fungal infections, distemper, or tuberculosis.

• Dog Asthma Treatment Options

  Dog asthma is a disease that affects dogs of any age, but occurs more frequently in younger and middle-aged canines. Asthma occurs when the airways of the dog are obstructed.

• Diaphragmatic Hernia and Diaphragm Problems

  Chronic diaphragmatic hernia is not all that common because many dogs die from this condition if it is untreated. It would be best to have a surgical specialist repair this hernia if possible (the vet school will have several) because the diaphragm is a muscle and it loses its elasticity in chronic hernias, making repair difficult.

• Diagnosing Chronic Bronchitis in Dogs

  When suffering with chronic bronchitis, dogs display a number of clear symptoms. If the tubes that pass air from the trachea to the lungs get inflamed, the resulting condition is called bronchitis.

• Coughing in Dogs

  The most common causes of coughing in older small dogs are probably heart disease and collapsing trachea problems. Sometimes there are other problems, such as cancer or pneumonia. Cushing's disease can contribute to heart problems and could cause coughing to develop in that manner.

• Caring For Your Dog With a Collapsing Trachea

  Collapsing trachea is a common condition for a toy or small breed dog-- mainly Pomeranians, Maltese, Toy Poodles, Chihuahuas and Yorkshire Terriers-- that causes difficulty breathing. A collapsed trachea occurs if the cartilage that makes up the dog's windpipe becomes weak and doesn't stay open to allow air to pass through completely.

• Canine Asthma Symptoms

  Canine asthma usually affects middle aged dogs. When a dog has an asthma attack, he normally has trouble breathing.

• Ailing Dog? Kennel Cough Causes and Treatment

  Dog kennel cough is a variation of bronchitis that is rarely dangerous. Dogs with kennel cough usually retain a normal appetite and energy level despite their illness.

• A Guide to Dog Respiratory System Illnesses

  In the dog, respiratory disorders are usually caused by infection, immune-mediated reactions or inhalation of an irritant or toxin.

• 6 Canine Kennel Cough Recovery Tips

  Canine kennel cough happens when dogs are exposed to germs from other dogs in enclosed spaces. A vaccination is available, but if your dog happens to catch this illness, follow the tips below to help your dog recover:

• 4 Common Dog Nose Problems

  Dog nose problems range from nasal infections to tumors and discoloration. There are times when a problem is a serious fungal infection, or just a small case of kennel cough.

• 4 Causes of Dog Snout Swelling

  The swelling of a dog snout can cause respiratory distress and is often an indication of other medical issues. If swelling occurs, quickly identifying the source of the swelling will allow the appropriate treatment to be administered and may prevent serious complications.

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