Dog Verminous Pneumonia

Dog Verminous Pneumonia

Verminous pneumonia is common in puppies. A puppy has it to some degree when the larvae of roundworms and hookworms are tunneling ins the lungs. This type of pneumonia disappears with the elimination of the larval invasion. However, as there is always the possibility of bacterial pneumonia getting a foothold in the injured tissue, a few days’ dosage of an antibiotic may be advisable.

Dog verminous pneumonia can be caused by bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. An infection of the lower respiratory tract results in verminous pneumonia in dogs which is caused by several parasitic nematodes. Oslerus (fibroids) is one of the parasitic nematodes which causes pneumonia in dogs. Inhalation is a route of transmission of infection in dogs.

Major causes of dog pneumonia are dyskinesia, reduced clearance of inhaled debris from lungs, malnutrition, and aspiration of intestinal or gastric contents. Certain dog breeds such as hounds, working dogs, sporting dogs, and some mix breeds are more prone to pneumonia. Dogs from 2 months to 15 years of age are likely to get pneumonia infection.

Verminous pneumonia symptoms in dogs

Coughing is a notable pneumonia symptom in dogs. Here are some other symptoms of pneumonia seen in a dog

• Nasal discharge
• Frequent coughing with mucous secretions
• Breathing difficulty
• Abnormal breath
• High fever
• Wheezing or panting
• Loss of appetite
• Dehydration
• Lethargic behavior

Apart from the above symptoms, if the lips of a dog bulge outwards during breathing, he/she is said to be suffering from verminous pneumonia. The dog’s breath is rapid. As the lung tissues are filled with fluid, the dog may not get enough oxygen.

The lips tongue and gums of the dog appear bluish or gray which is called cyanosis. This indicates the reduction of oxygen supply in the blood. The body temperature of a dog is high. If the dog is untreated with good vet care and medications, pneumonia can lead to the dog’s death.

Diagnosis of pneumonia by a vet
The moment these symptoms are noticed in the dog, immediately take it to a veterinarian. The vet asks for a complete history and carefully examines the dog’s heart and lungs. The abnormal sounds from the lungs are noticed when the dog breathes.

The medical history of the dog covers any previous illness, exercise intolerance, appetite, weight loss, cough, and environmental exposure to dust, smoke, vapors, and therapy and its response to therapy. Certain medical investigations are performed for accurate diagnosis in dogs such as complete blood count, chest X-ray, cytology, tracheal wash cytology, and sensitivity. Some other tests such as bronchoscopy and heartworm tests are also performed to diagnose pneumonia in dogs.

A dog suffering from pneumonia can be in one of these three states

• Stable: The dog is eating well and is active. A nasty cough is the only symptom. This dog can be treated at home.
• Unstable: It has a poor appetite. It is inactive and needs hospitalization
• Critical: It is unable to get enough oxygen. These dogs require oxygen therapy and need to be hospitalized.

Treatment of dog pneumonia

Antibiotic treatment
Pneumonia causes difficulty in breathing. In severe cases, hospitalization is required. Intravenous fluids, supportive care, oxygen, and antibiotics are provided to dogs. They are treated with antibiotics for at least three weeks. They are also treated with plenty of fluids, warmth, humidified oxygen, and percussion of the thorax to reduce and remove the secretions in the heart and lungs.

Nebulization
Nebulization is similar to vaporization. This treatment is given with the help of a nebulizer. Nebulizer creates fine fluid droplets which are combined with antibiotics or dilators. These fine droplets penetrate down into the lungs of the dogs and help to decrease the infection. Once the dog is cured of verminous pneumonia and gets discharged from the hospital, follow the guidelines to make it fit.

• Avoid its exposure to extreme cold or wet weather. Use a vaporizer for 10 to 15 minutes for the total recovery of the dog.
• Provide the dog with proper medication as prescribed by the doctor.

Verminous pneumonia can be a serious health problem in a dog. It should not be neglected as it may result in the dog’s death. Provide it with the best medication for the dog’s future healthy life.

See more: Dog Shoulder Dislocation