Asthma in Dogs
Asthma is very common nowadays not only in human beings but in animals as well. Contrary to the popular thought that the illness only affects people it can actually affect your pets too. In past years asthma in dogs has become very common. The coughing, wheezing and overall feeling of shortness of breath can also affect dogs. In fact, there have been some cases of asthma in dogs that eventually led to the dog’s death.
What Is a Dog Asthma Attack?
Asthma in dogs is very similar to asthma in human beings. During asthma attacks, the airway passages of the dogs get inflamed and become constricted. Like human beings who are having asthma episodes, violent coughing, some wheezing and shortness of breath is also characteristic of asthma in dogs. If not treated properly, asthma in dogs can lead to respiratory distress and other complications. Medication should be give to the dog to help it recover from the asthma episode.
Asthma in dogs can cause loss of appetite and general lethargy. It is very common for dogs to stop eating and loose weight during an asthma episode. However, the good news is that after the asthma episode has passed, the dog will often regain its appetite and overall good health.
Bronchial Asthma in Dogs
Most people would associate bronchial asthma in dogs with triggers rather than a genetic predisposition and they would be right in most cases. Asthma in dogs can be caused by allergens. Allergic bronchitis is a type of asthma which causes the obstruction of the airways when the bronchi or the air passages of the lungs become filled up with mucous during an asthma attack.
Diagnosis of Asthma in Dogs
If your dog has been coughing for a while and has not been eating well it is a good idea to take them to the vet for a check-up. An x-ray of the dog’s chest should be taken to determine if there are any other medical problems in the dog. Coughing and general lethargy could sometimes mean that your dog is suffering from other respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, so it is always wise to get a chest x-ray to rule out other possibilities.
Do Dogs with Asthma Live Normal Lives?
Most dogs that have asthma can still lead an active life. Except for the times when it may suffer asthma attacks there isn’t really much difference between dogs without asthma and those which do not have asthma in terms of their activities.
