Bronchial asthma in dogs

Bronchial asthma in dogs is a serious condition. It's found not only in humans but also in pets. What is this insidious disease? How does it manifest? What triggers the development of bronchial asthma in dogs? What causes attacks?

What is asthma?

Asthma is a disease of the bronchial tubes that makes breathing very difficult. The bronchial lumen narrows, making it difficult for the patient to inhale and exhale. The disease can be either congenital or acquired. Chronic bronchitis often leads to the development of bronchial asthma in dogs.

There's no preferred age for this disease. It affects babies, the elderly, and even adult pets. Allergens pose a threat not only to dogs of all ages but also to breeds. However, poodles are particularly susceptible.

First aid for choking in dogs

It's important for owners to know what to do during an asthma attack in dogs. Oxygen masks or special spacers with a therapeutic aerosol can be used to ease breathing.

After the initial examination, the pet is gradually trained to breathe through the mask, stimulating the process with treats. Seven to ten breaths are usually enough to normalize breathing.

During a new seizure, the animal should be placed in a comfortable and safe place. Then, allow the dog to breathe through a mask and, if necessary, administer an antispasmodic, such as No-shpa or Papaverine, to relieve the spasms.

Reasons

The most common causes of bronchial asthma in dogs are:

1. One cause of asthma in dogs has already been discussed: chronic bronchitis.
2. Attacks can also be triggered by changes in living conditions: humidity, low or too high temperature, pressure surges.
3. Excessively vigorous walking or strenuous exercise. If your animal is predisposed, don't play with fire.
4. Stress – increased heart rate can trigger oxygen deficiency.
5. Allergens. They are what trigger attacks in animals. Almost anything can be an allergen (pollen, dust, medications, plants, food, smoke, chemical fumes). Anything can trigger an attack. But this group is called non-infectious allergens. If your dog is prone to allergies, you'll have to take care to ensure nothing harms them.
6. But it's also worth remembering the infectious nature of the allergen. This includes viruses, fungi, mycoplasmas, bacteria, and parasites.

Diagnostics

Attacks usually occur spontaneously, making asthma difficult to diagnose. Your dog is panting at home, you rush to the clinic, the vet examines him, and upon closer inspection, he appears perfectly healthy.

Therefore, special tests have been developed to determine lung disease in dogs:

1. Primary data collection (determines overall health status, provides a clue for identifying the prerequisites for the disease):

• blood test for general condition;
• blood test that reveals chemical indicators;
• urine analysis;
• stool analysis.

2. Analysis for dirofilariasis (detection of heartworms - relevant for areas where the disease is widespread).
3. Chest x-ray (may show specific changes).
4. Windpipe lavage, lower respiratory tract lavage, cytology (allow detection of various microorganisms, helminths, fungi).
5. Auscultation. This technique involves listening to the lungs and assessing airflow through the airways. This often helps identify the location of the underlying pathological process, such as eczema that triggered the attack.
6. Tracheoscopy and bronchoscopy. These techniques involve visual examination of the trachea and bronchi using a microscopic camera located at the end of a flexible device inserted into the upper and lower respiratory tract.
7. Echocardiography or cardiac ultrasound. It is usually performed in conjunction with an ECG. This method can diagnose cardiac abnormalities, such as arrhythmia, which in severe cases can trigger asthma in dogs due to blood congestion in the lungs and subsequent swelling.

Sometimes, even after a thorough examination, the underlying cause of asthma in dogs cannot be determined. But even in such cases, many animals continue to live healthy lives if they receive proper medical care and a responsible owner.

Symptoms and treatment

Next, we will discuss the most common symptoms of asthma in dogs and prescribe treatment.

Symptoms

• The most obvious symptom of an asthma attack in dogs is wheezing. And the attack doesn't necessarily start immediately. Sometimes it can take several hours, less often, but sometimes even days. However, as soon as you hear this characteristic whistling or squeaking sound, you should act according to your veterinarian's instructions.
• The owner then notices allergy symptoms: runny nose and eyes, terribly itchy eyes, coughing, and sneezing. It's worth noting that the cough is usually dry.
• If you look closely at how the animal breathes, you'll notice that the inhalation is short and accompanied by abdominal contractions, while the exhalation is calm and slow. However, extraneous breathing sounds are audible even without a stethoscope from a distance.

• The dog sits and may try to catch its breath. If one of the symptoms is spasms, the animal may involuntarily wet itself. For a dog, the most dangerous period is the initial one. The animal literally gasps for air and may lose coordination. During this time, the pet may spread its legs wide, and its ribs may appear to be in a straightened position. The skin on the chest will be noticeably stretched. If desired, you can palpate the space between the ribs. The dog may also stretch its neck, hunch over, and open its mouth.

• A dangerous symptom of bronchial asthma in dogs is cyanosis (blueness) of the mucous membranes.

Treatment

How to treat asthma in dogs? Treatment of bronchial asthma in dogs always begins with identifying the cause of the attack.

The first step is to consult a veterinarian and describe all of your pet's symptoms in detail. This is necessary so the veterinarian can prescribe treatment based on the symptoms, experience, and even intuition, as there is no specific asthma medication for dogs. For example, if bronchial asthma occurs due to mucosal burns, partial pulmonary edema, or pneumonia, the veterinarian will prescribe medications to relieve the asthma symptoms while simultaneously treating the underlying condition. In most cases, addressing the underlying cause leads to asthma relief, and no additional therapy is required.

If asthma is caused by an allergic reaction, the triggering factor must first be identified. Asthma attacks will continue until the allergen is eliminated.

To identify a potential allergen, the owner is advised to keep an “allergy diary” for the pet, recording the date and cause of the attack, its duration, and possible allergens inhaled at that time.

The veterinarian will also prescribe medications to help the bronchi open again, which will normalize breathing. Adrenergic agonists and bronchodilators are prescribed for this purpose. Antihistamines (both anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy) are also helpful. Corticosteroids may also be prescribed.

1. Inhaled (oral) steroids will prevent the development of inflammation. Prednisolone is a popular choice for this purpose; in severe attacks, it can be administered intravenously.
2. Antihistamines – restore airway patency, reducing the reaction to certain types of allergens.
3. Bronchodilators help dilate the airways. This is achieved by administering the medication through a special spacer with a mask or by oral administration of theophylline in a daily dose.
4. Antibiotics are used in cases of exacerbation of the condition if a secondary respiratory infection is confirmed.
5. Oxygen masks are required if the dog is experiencing a particularly severe asthma attack, which requires additional oxygen supply using a mask.

All of these medications effectively and quickly manage incipient attacks. However, one should be aware of their side effects and the suppressive effect they have on the natural immune system. Synthetic medications should be used with caution and only as needed.

To stop seizures at home, owners use medications recommended by veterinarians:

• Ephedrine, Solutan (their effect is comparable to the reaction to adrenaline);
• Papaverine, No-Shpa (antispasmodics);
• Diphenhydramine, Suprastin (antihistamines);
• tonics (vitamins).

Forecast

Hereditary bronchial asthma in dogs cannot be completely cured. The same situation is observed with asthma of unknown cause. However, maintenance therapy helps stop new attacks and reduce the frequency of exacerbations.

Prevention

Preventing asthma in dogs can help reduce the number of attacks. To do this, owners must eliminate all possible allergens or at least minimize their pet's exposure to them. Homeopathy can be helpful in some cases, but it's important to remember that herbs can also trigger asthma attacks.

However, it's important to keep in mind that no matter how advanced the disease, they can eliminate the need for synthetic medications or help limit their use. Natural remedies can simply be an excellent complement to conventional asthma therapy. A homeopathic approach is more gentle, and treatment with natural remedies is more gentle than medical intervention. In any case, treating your dog's bronchial asthma with herbs won't harm their health, so it's worth a try.

Many people have herbs at home that could be useful for their beloved dog. If not, they can be prepared in the spring or summer. As a last resort, they can be purchased at a pharmacy.

For example, we often use the "famous" licorice root and marshmallow root to treat coughs, and we boost or restore immunity with echinacea (in tincture form) and a decoction of dried grape leaves. All these natural gifts will be gratefully received by a dog's body.

A chronic disease, even a progressive one, will not be life-threatening for a pet if the owners care for it with genuine love and regulate the healing process.

Does cardiac asthma occur in dogs?

Breeders who encounter bronchial asthma in their dogs cannot help but wonder whether their pet has this condition, but only a cardiac one. The answer is yes, such a condition exists. It stems from insufficient blood pumping due to left ventricular dysfunction. As a result, myocardial contractility decreases.

The symptoms of this condition are similar to bronchial asthma, but there are some differences:

1. In case of allergic bronchitis, the dog's mucous membranes will be purple in color; if the problem is in the heart, then they will be marbled white with a slight grayish tint.
2. If a dog is having an asthma attack, a certain rhythm may be noticeable, although it is long and labored; in case of heart failure, breathing will be intermittent and irregular, without a certain rhythm.

Moreover, cardiac asthma in dogs can manifest itself without any apparent allergen, most often at night. Unlike bronchial asthma, cardiac disease manifests itself in isolated cases. However, if your pet does become ill, be prepared to administer diuretics. You will also need to eliminate salt from your dog's diet, and keep an oxygen mask handy.

Generally speaking, asthma in dogs is less common than in humans or cats. After all, dogs have a more robust immune system and compensatory mechanisms. However, if you notice the first signs of asthma in your dog (choking, sneezing, discoloration of mucus, drooling, foaming, etc.), don't delay in seeking veterinary help. It's especially important to seek immediate medical attention if your pet is experiencing these symptoms for the first time.

Any questions? You can ask our website's staff veterinarian in the comments below, who will answer them as quickly as possible.

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