Dog Asthma: Signs and How to Help

Do you think your dog might have asthma? Are you thinking of adopting an asthma-prone breed? Do you want more information about this potential problem for your furry friend? If so, you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we will walk you through some of the most common signs and symptoms of asthma in dogs. From there, we will also discuss some of the ways you can help your dog and some treatments you might want to expect when you work with a veterinarian, too.

Symptoms of Dog Asthma

Some common symptoms of dog asthma include:

Heavy Panting

Your dog may pant heavily, usually with his mouth open, most of the time if he has asthma.

Coughing and Wheezing

Coughing and wheezing are some of the other most common symptoms of asthma in dogs.

Breathing Difficulty

Sometimes, dogs may have trouble breathing when they have asthma. However, this problem can be caused by a variety of other troubling issues, so it’s important to rule those out. If difficulty breathing occurs suddenly, take your dog to the emergency vet.

Blue Gums

If your dog cannot get enough oxygen, his gums will turn blue quickly. This is a serious emergency situation and requires immediate vet attention.

Loss of Appetite

Dogs with asthma may be less likely to want to eat because they don’t feel well. They may also feel that eating affects their ability to breathe well, so they may be put off of their food because of this.

Loss of Energy

If your dog’s asthma is flaring up, this may cause him to lose his energy levels. Since he isn’t able to get enough oxygen, he may become sluggish and may not want to be as active as he usually is.

Treatments for Dog Asthma

Potential treatments and ways you can help with dog asthma include, but aren’t limited to:

Rule-Out Diagnosis

First, your vet will need to rule out other potential problems that could be causing your dog’s symptoms. From there, the vet will be able to diagnose your pet with asthma.

Improving the Dog’s Environment

The next step is to improve the environment where your dog lives. Do not smoke around your dog, and make sure his spaces are free from mold and mildew. Do not use cleaning products around your pet, and try to limit his time outdoors on days with very high pollen count reports.

See an Emergency Vet

If your dog is having an acute asthma attack, you should always take him to the emergency vet right away. The sooner you react, the more likely it will be that you can help your dog get through the asthma attack successfully.

Steroids

If your dog is having a bad asthma flare-up, or if he suffers from his asthma almost all the time, the vet will likely give him steroids. These can be given orally or as an injection, depending on your dog’s individual needs. Your vet will give you more information about giving your dog steroids and what to expect in terms of side effects.

Inhalers

Some dogs are given inhalers for asthma. This is rare, but it can occur depending on your dog’s individual needs.

Go to the Vet if Your Dog’s Suffering from Asthma

Did you learn something useful about your dog’s asthma situation? Keep in mind that dogs with asthma will likely need assistance from the vet in order to live a happy, healthy life. You may not need to medicate dogs whose asthma isn’t very severe, but it’s important to work with a vet regardless to figure out what’s right for your pet.

Working with a quality and trusted veterinarian is crucial when helping your dog deal with any health concerns throughout his life. At The Village Vets, we understand how important your dog’s health and wellbeing is to you, because it’s important to us too. We’ll work with you on developing the best treatment and life plan for your dog if they’re suffering from asthma. For more information about this condition or to schedule an appointment, contact any of our locations and our team will be happy to help you.