Breathing difficulties in dogs

Written by Audrey Pavia Reviewed by Kristin Westafer, DVM

Overview

Just like humans, dogs can have breathing problems too. Coughing, sneezing, or raspy breathing are common symptoms owners may see and are usually caused by a respiratory virus or bacterial infection. Dogs can also suffer from respiratory allergies. Less common but more serious causes of breathing issues include heart failure, cancer or lung trauma. Dogs may also have breathing difficulties if they have brachycephalic syndrome, which is common in dogs with short noses like English Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs, and others.

Symptoms

Symptoms of breathing problems in dogs include:

Coughing
Sneezing
Nasal discharge
Excessive panting
Labored breathing
Rapid, shallow breathing
Blue tinged mucous membranes
Crouching posture with elbows pulled away from the body

Prevention

You can help keep your dog from developing breathing issues caused by viruses or bacteria by protecting him from contagious disease. Do this by following a veterinarian recommended vaccine schedule and minimizing exposure to unvaccinated dogs. It's especially important to have him vaccinated against bordetella, a highly contagious bacterial infection (also called kennel cough) and distemper. Before taking your dog to a kennel, training class, doggy day care or any situation where there will be multiple dogs, it is best to ask if the facility requires bordetella and distemper vaccinations. If your dog is exposed to another canine that is coughing, take your pet to the veterinarian right away for an exam.

Treatment

If your dog has a breathing problem caused by bacteria, your vet may prescribe a course of antibiotics. Breathing issues that are the result of a virus may be treated with supportive care, including bronchodilators and cough suppressants. Your veterinarian may also prescribe antibiotics to treat any possible secondary bacterial infection.

Allergies are treated with antihistamines and sometimes steroids. Dogs can be tested to determine the exact cause of their allergies. The best method for allergy testing involves multiple different allergens being injected in the area under the skin, also known as intradermal skin testing. This requires light sedation and the test results are available almost immediately. This test is usually only performed by a veterinary dermatologist. The information from a skin test can help you steer clear of known allergens and allergy shots are often created specifically for your dog's allergies. These are given for a period of months and serve to desensitize the body to the allergens, or lessen the body's negative response to allergens.

Recovery

Aftercare for your dog will depend on the cause of his breathing problems. Dogs suffering from viral or bacterial illnesses need daily medication until the infection has passed. Your vet may also ask you to minimize your dog's activity while he recovers. If your veterinarian prescribes medication, always give them as indicated and for the entire legnth of time instructed.

Breathing issues caused by allergies may require that you give your dog allergy medication daily, keep him away from known allergens (such as cigarette smoke and dust), possibly change his diet, and may require allergy shots to best control the allergies.