Bronchitis is one of the most common diseases in dogs. This disease in itself is not fatal, but it can cause serious complications (for example, pneumonia and asthma). Consider the causes of bronchitis in dogs, symptoms, varieties, methods of treatment and prevention.
General information
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchi. This disease is widespread not only among people, but often overcomes and domestic animals. The bronchi are involved in the process of gas exchange in the body. According to them, oxygen from the trachea enters the alveoli. Bronchitis occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to the respiratory tract of irritants: bacteria, smoke, dust, moisture. When inflammation of the bronchi occurs, mucus begins to be produced, which interferes with the passage of oxygen, which causes the animal to cough. Due to coughing, the mucous membrane becomes inflamed even more, mucus is produced more, because the cough does not stop.
Varieties
Due to the occurrence of bronchitis it happens:
- primary;
- secondary (if bronchitis was the result of another disease).
By type of bronchial involvement:
- microbronchitis;
- macrobronchitis;
- diffuse pneumonia.
By type of discharge:
- purulent;
- fibrinous;
- catarrhal;
- putrefactive;
- hemorrhagic.
By the speed of the course, bronchitis is acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis occurs sharply and lasts 2-3 weeks, most often appears as a result of infection with viruses. If it is not cured, then it goes into a chronic form, which is practically incurable.
Chronical bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis most often appears as a result of not completely cured diseases of the bronchi and lungs, although it can develop as a result of constant exposure to irritants. In the course of its course, there are periods of remission and exacerbation. If untreated, the animal’s health is constantly getting worse.
Chronic bronchitis in dogs can occur in two forms:
- Simple. The dog has a dry cough or cough with sputum, ventilation is not impaired.
- Obstructive. The dog can hear wheezing in the lungs, there is shortness of breath. Serious impairment of ventilation occurs.
Usually, the owners are in no hurry to consult a doctor, since the first symptoms of chronic bronchitis in a dog may seem insignificant. In the acute form, the well-being of the animal changes dramatically, so the dog goes to a specialist almost immediately. The chronic form develops over time, while the mucous membrane expands, and the bronchi narrow. A simple form of bronchitis becomes more severe - obstructive.
Reasons for the appearance
We single out the main reasons for the development of bronchitis:
- Hypothermia. Walking in cold rainy weather can lead to a cold, which often turns into bronchitis. Dangerous for the dog: bathing in cold ponds, insufficiently dried coat after bathing, winter long walks. Shorthair dog breeds are especially susceptible to bronchitis.
- Poor conditions. Keep your dog in a warm, dry place with no drafts. The animal should not sleep on bare ground or floor.
- Incorrect feeding. The immunity of the animal directly depends on the balance and quality of the food that it consumes. Lack or excess of certain components leads to malfunctions in the body.
- The presence in the air of a large amount of dust, gases, tobacco smoke, toxic fumes.
- Allergic reaction. Allergens can be individual components of food, plant pollen, dust. Allergies cause inflammation in the airways.
- Infections
- Congenital and acquired pathologies of the respiratory tract.
- Infection with worms. Worms can affect not only the digestive system, but in advanced cases, migrate to the respiratory system. These parasites cause inflammation of the bronchi.
- Stress.
- Weakness of the body due to other diseases.
- Age. Puppies and older dogs are most susceptible to disease.
Symptoms
We highlight the main symptoms of bronchitis in a dog:
- The main symptom of bronchitis is a cough. The first few days it can be dry and painful, after which it becomes wet. The animal begins to cough up phlegm.
- Wheezing in the lungs.
- Decreased appetite, refusal to eat.
- Lethargy and apathy, lack of desire to walk on the street.
- Shortness of breath and shortness of breath.
- The gums, tongue, and mucous membranes of the eyes become pale or cyanotic due to oxygen starvation.
- Nasal discharge.
- Cough, accompanied by vomiting.
- Sometimes an increase in body temperature is possible.
With bronchitis in the animal during the day and night there are attacks of severe coughing. Also, coughing appears as a result of physical exertion, stress or pressure on the trachea. With bronchitis, the cough does not stop for a long time, while the condition of the animal is aggravated, the cough appears more often, and breathing becomes harder.
Diagnostics
How to determine bronchitis in a dog? Cough is a symptom of not only bronchitis, but also many other diseases. Therefore, to diagnose it, you must definitely consult a doctor. To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor must take the dog's sputum, blood and urine for analysis.
When listening to the lungs, wheezing and gurgling can be heard. Palpation of the bronchi leads to a coughing fit. An important part of diagnosing bronchitis is the chest x-ray of the animal. Coughing can be the result of tuberculosis, damage to the lungs by fragments of the ribs, infection with parasites and other pathologies. With bronchitis on an X-ray, a bronchial tree is clearly visible, which in a normal state is weakly noticeable.
Another way to diagnose bronchitis is bronchoalveolar lavage. With it, the bronchial tubes and lungs of the animal are washed with a special solution, which helps to determine the amount of mucus in the bronchi, to distinguish external, foreign bodies and infections.
During bronchoscopy, a special probe with a small camera at the end is inserted through the animal’s mouth into the bronchi. Thanks to this study, you can visually assess the condition of the bronchial mucosa. It depends on the accuracy of diagnosis than to treat bronchitis in a dog.
Treatment
Often, bronchitis does not need inpatient treatment. A sick animal needs to provide peace and a complete diet. Walking in humid cold weather should be avoided. A warm vest can be worn on the animal.
Methods of treating bronchitis in dogs depend on the causes of its appearance and the severity of the condition of the animal. Often, an expectorant drug is prescribed for the animal - Lazolvan, Bromhexine, Ambroxol. With nasal discharge, drops are prescribed. If the cause of bronchitis is infection with parasites, anthelmintic drugs are prescribed to the animal. In case of allergies, antihistamines are prescribed for the dog. At home, you can conduct physiotherapy. It is necessary to massage the sternum of the animal. You can also do inhalation with warm steam.
With a severe course of the disease, the doctor may decide on the use of antibiotics. The course usually lasts 7-10 days. In this case, the dog is given drugs that support the work of the liver and other internal organs.
Diet
During illness, the dog needs to be given warm food. Food should be enriched with vitamins and minerals, properly balanced and include all the necessary amino acids. Fatty foods should be discarded. It is dangerous at such a moment and overeating. The dog should be fed more often, but in smaller portions. Particularly difficult bronchitis is experienced by obese animals, therefore, at the time of the disease, it is necessary to strictly monitor the amount of calories consumed by the animal.
Forecast
With timely assistance, acute bronchitis can be completely cured. In this case, the prognosis for the animal is positive.
Treatment of chronic bronchitis in a dog is much more complicated, since often at the time of going to the doctor irreversible changes in the body have already begun. Treatment can stop the deterioration of the animal and further pathogenic changes in the internal organs. However, most often with chronic bronchitis, the animal still continues to periodically cough. At such moments, cough medications should be given. For sick animals you need to constantly monitor and with an exacerbation of the disease on time to show the doctor.
Bronchitis is not a fatal disease, it rarely leads to severe irreversible consequences for the body. But this does not mean that it can be ignored.
Prevention
The key to good dog health is good nutrition and the right conditions for keeping the animal. The dog's diet should be well balanced. Natural foods should include meat, vegetables, and cereals. When buying ready-made feeds, preference should be given to well-known companies that are advised by veterinarians and breeders.
The dog must not be kept in a dusty, gassed place. If the animal is kept in the apartment, you often need to do wet cleaning. Do not smoke in the room where the dog is located. The animal constantly needs to walk on the street, but for this it is necessary to choose the right weather, because for short-haired breeds long winter walks can end in a cold. In the cold season, special clothes and shoes can be worn on the dog.
There are vaccines for some infections that can trigger bronchitis. They need to be pricked at the age of 2-4 weeks. After the vaccine must be administered every year. Do not let the puppy out before vaccinations are given. Periodically, the dog should be given anthelmintic drugs. At least once a year, the dog must be brought to the veterinarian for preventive examinations. At the same time, the owner must monitor the health status of his pet. If the dog coughs frequently, this is a good reason to consult a doctor.
Thus, bronchitis in dogs is quite common. This is not a very dangerous disease, but in the absence of proper treatment, it can seriously complicate the life of the pet. If the dog coughs frequently, it must be urgently shown to the veterinarian.