Causes And Concerns For A Wheezing Dog
A wheezing dog can often sound like a human who is having an asthma attack so it only make sense that if you hear your dog making this sound you may feel as though there is cause for alarm. Dogs have very sensitive and delicate airways. If your dog is healthy, its airways will expand and contract precisely to get the correct amounts of oxygen to the lungs. Therefore, if there is some sort of problem with your dog's airways that is causing them to contract a bit too much, the oxygen is forced to squeeze through which results in a wheezing dog.
Allergies
The most common cause for a wheezing dog is due to allergies. Just as humans are allergic to specific things, so are dogs. Of course, they could be allergic to medications, food, etc., but most commonly, dogs have issues with some type of airborne allergen. Prime examples would be pollen, dust and cigarette smoke. If you are a smoker, it is important that you never smoke around your dog, they can develop lung cancer from second hand smoke just as easily as humans can. Additional substances that are known to trigger allergic reactions that cause a wheezing dog are pesticides, chemicals, cleaning products and insect bites and stings.
Upper Respiratory Problems
Your wheezing dog can also be a result of something a bit more serious such as some form of upper respiratory problem which can irritate your dog's airways and cause chest congestion.
- Asthma – This is a bit more common in cats than in dogs but many dogs do develop asthma because of an allergic reaction to an airborne allergen. Wheezing of this sort is generally accompanied with sneezing or coughing.
- Kennel Cough – If your dog has kennel cough, it will probably be accompanied with a hacking, dry cough.
- Bronchitis – Dogs that have bronchitis will have a hacking, dry cough, similar to kennel cough but will also be accompanied by severe wheezing and gagging.
Heartworms
If you live in an area that has an abundance of mosquitoes, it is extremely important that your dog takes heartworm prevention medication or else your sick wheezing dog will be due to heartworms. If your dog becomes infected, he will become very sick. The heartworm larvae lives inside infected mosquitoes. If your dog is bitten by one of these mosquitoes, he will become infected. Within a few months, the larvae will travel to the heart and will then develop into long worms that block blood flow which ultimately means that the oxygen supply is reduced as well. This will cause a wheezing dog that will also experience fatigue, weight loss, shortness of breath and coughing.
When To See Your Vet
If the wheezing is not because of something serious, it will usually stop within a half hour. However, if it continues longer or if it is recurring, it could be something serious. You should take your dog to see the vet if the wheezing is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Loss of appetite
- Excessive panting
- Bluish or pale gums
- Nose bleeds
- Shortness of breath
Dry air is often an irritant to dog's airways so you may want to consider running a humidifier if you have a wheezing dog. This will help add a bit of moisture to the air, allowing for easier breathing. Also, dogs that have weak immune systems generally develop respiratory infections and allergies easy. It is helpful to strengthen your dog's immune system by offering them vitamin C and immune-boosting herbs including astragalus, garlic and echinacea.