Dog Breathing Problem
Inhalation pneumonia is due to contamination of the lungs with dust, gases, smoke, and oily vapors which injure the delicate membranes. Treatment can do little more than prevent bacterial invasion. Drugs keep these organisms from taking hold and allow the injured tissue time to regenerate.
Another focus of inhalation pneumonia is that caused by improper medications. When an owner pours mineral oil, castor oil, or drugs in an oily base indiscriminately into the back of a pet’s mouth, the dog can easily inhale some of the liquid into the windpipe. When oil or other material difficult to expel stays in the lungs, tissue death may result and putrefactive bacteria multiply, causing death.
City dogs inhale so much dust that their lungs on postmortem examination show black mottling effects from it. Dogs kept about dusty factories and plants where stone dust fills the air may be victims of anthracosis; the lungs become impregnated with the fine powder, which stays in the tissue for life.
Edema of the Lungs
When the body has fluid retention the lungs may also fill up and develop edema. Shortness of breath is a symptom of this condition. Besides the pressure from abdominal distension, the fluid in the lungs puts a burden on the respiratory system and demands drastic withdrawal of fluids from the body with drugs.
Emphysema, as an aftermath of diseases of the lungs and from other unknown causes sections of the honeycomb lung tissue breakdown, allowing the formation of large pockets. These pockets often collect mucus. When many of these pockets are present, a great deal of the lung tissue is useless and the dog has to breathe faster and deeper to oxygenate the blood. This disease which in horses is commonly known as heaves. The symptoms are similar in both species.
There is no cure, but temporary alleviation of symptoms is possible. Treatment, however, should never be considered more than temporary relief.
Breathing problems can occur due to many reasons. Your dog may suffer from breathing problems if it experiences any form of heart failure or heart disease, lung disease, formation of tumor or cancer in the lung, or any cell development that causes hindrance in the easy flow of the air in and out of the lungs. The occurrence of pneumonia infections, trauma, fluid accumulation in the lungs or heart, or heavy bleeding of the lungs and chest are some of the causes behind the difficulty in breathing.
The incidence of tracheobronchitis, which is commonly known as kennel cough, the development of breast cancer or metastatic mammary carcinoma among non-spayed female dogs, and the prevalence of dyspnea among young dogs are the common causes behind the development of breathing problems.
There are certain breeds of dogs that are prone to developing breathing problems. Brachycephalic breeds or those who have short faces like bulldogs or Boston terriers suffer from breathing problems due to upper respiratory disorders. The Boxer or the brachycephalic breed dogs are prone to the development of tumors near the heart and the lungs area. Large breeds of dogs like the Doberman pinschers or Great Danes are often the victims of cardiomyopathy or congestive heart failure. Small breeds and toy breeds of dogs are exposed to tracheal collapse, bronchitis, and chronic mitral valve disease.
See more: Dog Bronchitis