What is pneumonia

Pneumonia is a serious disease involving inflammation of the lungs and lower respiratory tract. It also usually affects the upper respiratory tract - the nose, throat, trachea ("trachea") and bronchi. The lungs supply the blood with oxygen from the inhaled air and remove carbon dioxide from the exhaled air. Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, internal parasites, and other harmful substances that can enter the lungs when dogs inhale them. Fortunately, pneumonia is relatively rare in healthy adult dogs (young and middle-aged dogs). It mainly affects very young dogs, very old dogs and dogs with low immunity. Some dogs with pneumonia have no symptoms, but some dogs have shortness of breath and difficulty breathing due to insufficient oxygen in the blood. Symptoms include runny nose, coughing, sneezing, fever, loss of appetite, becoming weak, depressed, and listless.

Causes of Pneumonia

Pneumonia can be caused by a variety of factors, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and internal parasites. Before people and dogs develop pneumonia, other parts of the nasal cavity and upper respiratory tract send out early signs of infection. Pneumonia in adult dogs is always associated with chemotherapy drugs, chronic systemic disease, laryngeal paralysis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, respiratory tract tumors, giant esophageal tumors, malnutrition, stress, tumors, parasitic infections, inhaled foreign bodies, chronic bronchitis (bronchitis) inflammation), esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus), tracheal collapse, pyloric output obstruction, or long-term drug treatment.

Most bacterial pneumonias are caused by bacteria in the mouth (mouth) and pharynx (throat) that enter the lungs through the upper respiratory tract and colonize certain areas of the lungs through gravity. Pneumonia caused by bacteria that reach the lungs through the blood supply (hemopoiesis) usually spreads more widely throughout the lobes. Suspected bacterial organisms include E. coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Burnetii, and Pasteurella, among others. Bacterial pneumonia often develops secondary to viral pneumonia as the dog's immune system weakens.

Two of the more common viral pneumonias are canine distemper virus and canine influenza virus. Canine adenovirus type 1 and parainfluenza viruses can also infect the lower respiratory tract, and signs of pneumonia associated with these viruses are usually caused by secondary bacterial infection.

Aspiration pneumonia can be caused by any disease that negatively affects a dog's respiratory defense system or increases the risk of aspiration, including disease of the pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, or intestines. Laryngeal paralysis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, megaesophagus, tumors, paralysis of complex swallowing mechanisms, esophagitis, pyloric output obstruction and trauma, as well as vomiting, reflux, or general anesthesia-induced reflux of gastric contents into the lungs, are Risk factors for aspiration pneumonia. It can also be precipitated by inhalation of smoke, mineral oil, kerosene, gasoline or other corrosive chemicals. Diseases that cause altered consciousness or a chronic vomiting state can also predispose dogs to aspiration pneumonia.

Prevention of pneumonia

One of the key ways to prevent pneumonia is to address any predisposing conditions, such as gastric reflux disorder, laryngeal paralysis, or pyloric outlet obstruction. Other important recommendations are to prevent vomiting and aspiration of gastric contents and to fast for 12 hours before general anesthesia (antacids can appropriately reduce gastric reflux in dogs). Feed only when the dog's health requires it, and even then, use caution.

tip: Dogs with severe respiratory distress should not take cough medicine, because coughing is a normal reaction of the body, and coughing to clear the respiratory tract can help the dog breathe.