Dog breathing problem"Canine Illnesses"
A dog breathing problem should always be a cause for concern until you are sureit is not a serious issue. Here we will provide some information on variousbreathing problems that may be affecting your dog. The breeds with a pushed in face, (*Brachycephalic* breeds are the types of dogs with "snub"noses, such as the Pug, Pekingese, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Shih-Tzu, etc),are much more susceptible to these breathing problems. Special attentionshould be paid to their breathing patterns so you will be aware of anychanges in them. Here is a list of the dog breathing problem that can be present in your dog: Panting – Panting isa normal function in dogs. This is due to the fact thatdogs do not have an external cooling system like humans. A dog’s primarycooling system is through its respiratory system. However there are timeswhen panting can indicate another problem. If the panting is vary rapid andshallow this can indicate respiratory disorders, cardiovascular disorders,hematologic disorders, and neurologic disorders. If you see any ofthe below list in addition to the panting, a vet visit is extremely important. Associated coughing Difficulty breathing Cyanosis (blue tint tomucus membranes, lips, gums, etc.) Fatigue Weight loss Poor appetite Excessive drinking(leads to excessive urinating) Vomiting Diarrhea Gasping or Coughing– Gasping or coughing can mean a very dangerous dog breathingproblem. This could indicate your dog has inhaled a foreign object thatis blocking his airway, which you should *never *attempt to remove at home. Coughing is typically seenafter a visit to the vet or groomers or even afterboarding your pet. This is generally caused by an illness called kennelcough, which is exactly what it is; an illness contracted from exposureto other dogs that have it. There is an immunization you can get fromthe vet that is placed into the nasal cavity to be inhaled by your pet. Thisonly causes temporary discomfort. Sneezing - Sneezing isgenerally caused by the same thing that causes it inhumans. An allergen or irritant has been inhaled into the airway. Reverse Sneezing –Also known as "mechanosensitive aspiration reflex", can bepretty scary the first time you hear it. This action almost sounds like agoose honking, and there is a heaving of the chesttypically when this happens. This conditionis completely harmless and typically affects only flatfaced and small breed dogs.
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