Bronchitis treatment in dogs is very important for the health of your pet and not difficult to manage. Bronchitis is one of the most common airway diseases in dogs. It consists of an inflammation localized at the level of the respiratory tract (i.e. bronchial tubes and lungs). It can manifest both as an acute or a chronic disease. Treating bronchitis is important both for the comfort of the pet and to prevent further complications.
Dog Bronchitis Symptoms
The symptoms of bronchitis are various and not specific. Therefore, they can indicate several other disorders such as pneumonia, lung cancer, heartworm and lungworm infections or other diseases specific for the respiratory tract. Among the most common symptoms of bronchitis you can observe:
- Severe and frequent coughing
- Trouble breathing
- Secretion of high amounts of mucus
- Wheezing
- Appetite loss
- Fever
- Gagging
- Lethargy and depression
- Shortness of breath
It is important to visit your veterinarian for a correct diagnosis and most appropriate course of treatment.
Dog Bronchitis Treatment
There are three main factors that contribute to the treatment of bronchitis in dogs:
- Medication
- Environmental control
- Weight control
Both acute and chronic bronchitis have similar symptoms, but since the chronic form is an infectious disease, it needs special long-term treatment based on medication. The disease is diagnosed as chronic if the symptoms persist for more than 2 months. To help improve your pet’s state of comfort, it is also recommended to use a harness instead of the restraint collar.
Medication for Bronchitis
The treatments veterinarians usually prescribe are meant to deal both with the symptoms and the cause of bronchitis. Therefore, cough medication is prescribed to relieve the coughing and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to deal with the inflammation. For chronic bronchitis, the veterinarian can prescribe:
- Cough suppressants for dry cough
- Corticosteroids to control inflammation and mucus production
- Bronchodilators, when there are serious breathing problems and the dog does not respond to steroids
- Antibiotics if the dog has a bacterial infection
- Mucolytics, if the dog secretes considerable amount of mucus
The chronic form of bronchitis (CB) is not curable, but the condition can be kept under control.
Environmental Control
When diagnosed with bronchitis, it is important to keep your dog away from factors which contribute to the worsening of the disease. These factors include pollutants such as dust and smoke or other factors which cause problems breathing, such as vapors. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid areas full of dust, cigarette smoke or highly polluted areas in the city.
Weight Control
As in many diseases, weight control is very important as obese dogs are more predisposed to health disorders. In overweight dogs, the bronchitis symptoms are more severe, especially when it comes to breathing, which can be harshly affected.
Therefore, a special diet to lose weight is strongly recommended.