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Dog Asthma - Information on Causes, Signs, Symptoms and Treatment of Asthma In Dogs

Dog asthma usually affects dogs that are young and middle aged.

Studies have shown that asthma in dogs can be a common development. Dog asthma, as in the case of humans, results in the constriction and inflammation of the bronchial tubes. This makes breathing very difficult and laborious.

What then are the causes of dog asthma? Most dogs suffer from asthma because they are allergic to something. The asthma is a response to the allergic reaction. A dog asthma attack can be triggered off if the dog is allergic to irritants in the air – dust, cigarette smoke, perfume and so on.

Other causes include worms, bacterial and viral infections, and even cancer.

Signs and Symptoms of Dog Asthma

Some dog asthma symptoms you should be aware of are given below.

The initial symptom of dog asthma is coughing. This coughing is also often followed by wheezing. Your dog might also be breathing with his mouth open – this is a sign of respiratory distress and while rare, can be seen in dogs. You may also notice that your dog’s gum is turning shades of purple or blue. This is due to the lack of oxygen your dog is receiving because of breathing difficulties. Other signs of dog asthma could be your dog losing interest in physical activity, looking gloomy, and getting lazy and lethargic. Due to these dog asthma symptoms, your dog is most likely to start losing his appetite and this will lead to weight loss. Keep in mind that the above mentioned symptoms may also be due to other reasons and not asthma. Therefore it is vital that asthma be diagnosed by a vet.

Treatment for Dog Asthma

Dog asthma treatment can be started only after a vet has diagnosed the dog asthma and ascertained the reason behind it. Diagnosis is made after a chest x-ray and other tests such as blood counts, heart worm tests, bronchial lavage and so on. If the asthma is a result of allergic dog bronchitis, then it can be treated with antihistamines, steroids or antibiotics. If your dog has a severe asthma attack, he might even need oxygen. If your dog has an asthma attack and does not seem to be getting better, it is advisable to take him to the vet immediately. Bear in mind that if your dog stops breathing during an asthma attack, artificial respiration will have to be administered. If your dog’s heart stops beating anytime during the respiration, begin CPR.

Do remember that dog asthma can be treated if the cause is determined.

Submitted on September 29, 2011