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Aspiration Pneumonia in Dogs
Written By hannah hollinger
Published: 09/30/2015Updated: 11/24/2021
Veterinary reviewed by Michele K.
What is Aspiration Pneumonia?
Aspiration pneumonia is a condition in which the lungs become inflamed due to inhalation, or aspiration, of a foreign substance. This usually occurs after a dog vomits and inhales a portion of the regurgitated material, and it happens more commonly in young puppies. Preventing aspiration pneumonia is easier than treating it, but if notice your dog having difficulty breathing soon after vomiting, contact a veterinarian right away.
Aspiration pneumonia occurs when a dog inhales a foreign substance, leading to a bacterial infection in the respiratory tract. The severity and sharpness of aspiration pneumonia depends on the extent of the inflammation, as well as on any underlying conditions that may have caused the vomiting. Aspiration pneumonia can be life-threatening, especially if it is severe enough to restrict the flow of oxygen.Aspiration Pneumonia Average Cost
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Average Cost
$600
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Symptoms of Aspiration Pneumonia in Dogs
The signs of aspiration pneumonia include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Tachypnea, or rapid breathing
- Rapid heart rate
- Wheezing or coughing
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
Causes of Aspiration Pneumonia in Dogs
In the majority of cases, pneumonia is caused by a bacterial infection. Aspiration pneumonia occurs when a dog inhales fluid or other materials into the respiratory tract, leading to inflammation in the airways. Though a dog may inhale foreign material when vomiting, the act of vomiting itself does not directly lead to aspiration pneumonia. The condition only occurs when regurgitated materials are inhaled, which may be made more likely by a variety of reasons, including:
- Disease, such as laryngeal paralysis or inflammation of the esophagus
- Deformity, such as a cleft palate
- General anesthesia
- Presence of a feeding tube
Aspiration pneumonia is easier to prevent than to treat. Most veterinarians will recommend that a dog fasts prior to surgery to minimize the risk of regurgitation during anesthesia. When administrating oral medication, make sure that the medicine is given only at the speed that your dog can swallow to prevent inhalation into the respiratory tract. Young puppies, as well as dogs that are fed with a feeding tube, are at higher risk of developing the condition.
Diagnosis of Aspiration Pneumonia in Dogs
When you bring your dog to the veterinarian, be prepared to provide information about your dog’s signs and recent activity. The veterinarian will need a complete history in order to better diagnosis your dog’s condition. If your dog has vomited or regurgitated recently, let the veterinarian know, as many of the clinical signs associated with aspiration pneumonia are nonspecific. Knowing that your dog may have inhaled a foreign substance will help determine the necessity of a chest radiograph.
The veterinarian may perform several tests, including a physical examination and blood work, as part of the initial visit. This may help eliminate the possibility of other conditions, though aspiration pneumonia itself is typically diagnosed with thoracic radiography. A chest X-ray can confirm the presence of inflammation in the lungs. If your dog is stable enough, fluid can be taken from the lungs with a tracheal wash or endotracheal lavage, which will identify the bacteria present in the respiratory tract.
Treatment of Aspiration Pneumonia in Dogs
Treatment for aspiration pneumonia contains several components, the majority of which are focused more on support than on addressing the condition itself. Antibiotics will be administered to fight any bacterial infection present, with broad spectrum medication given in cases where a culture could not be obtained. Depending on your dog’s condition, the veterinarian may recommend different treatment, with potential components including:
- Fluid therapy - Proper hydration keeps the airway moist and encourages coughing, which helps remove pus and mucus from the respiratory tract.
- Oxygen - In more severe cases, oxygen therapy may be needed to ensure that your dog is receiving enough air.
In some cases, your dog will need to be hospitalized until he is stable enough to transition to homecare. If there is an underlying cause for the aspiration pneumonia, such as a cleft palate or a tumor, that condition will also need to be addressed in order to prevent a reoccurrence of pneumonia. The prognosis for aspiration pneumonia is generally good but varies depending on the cause of the vomiting.
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Recovery of Aspiration Pneumonia in Dogs
Once your dog has been released from the hospital, you will need to keep him quiet and calm during the recovery period. Be sure to outfit an area for your dog to rest comfortably, and make sure he has access to fresh water. You will need to monitor your dog’s cough, as well as watch for any changes in other clinical signs.
Depending on the extent of the pneumonia, you may need to bring your dog back to the veterinarian for a follow-up exam. The veterinarian may wish to conduct another chest radiograph to ensure that the inflammation is resolving and that your dog is recovering properly. If the vomiting was caused by an underlying condition, you might need to address the cause so that the aspiration pneumonia does not recur.
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Cost of Aspiration Pneumonia in Dogs
Each case of aspiration pneumonia is different as each can have a different cause. If there are any underlying causes of the vomiting (i.e. cleft palate, tumor etc.) then the cause would be treated as well. The veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics in order to treat the aspiration pneumonia if infection presents itself. Antibiotics can cost anywhere between $50 and $150. Fluid therapy may be administered if your dog is severely dehydrated from the vomiting. Your dog may also need oxygen support which can cost $120 to $140. The veterinarian may need to hospitalize your dog for observation and to ensure your dog is progressing. If your dog is hospitalized, the total cost of the above treatment options can run between $500 and $2000. However, without knowing the cause, it is difficult to know the complete total cost.
Aspiration Pneumonia Average Cost
From 114 quotes ranging from $300 - $6,000
Average Cost
$600
Top
Aspiration Pneumonia Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Great Dane
Fiend
2 Years
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Weakness
Vomiting
Lethargic
No Appetite
My dog vomited up live round worms in the middle of the night 11/20-21. I immediately started him on diatomaceous earth because montgs of vet treatments when he was a puppy, it was the only thing that finally got rid of his worms. He was lethargic through the day Monday, but still ate, drank, and eliminated normally, vomiting a few times. Tuesday, he didn't want to eat at all, and vomited a lot of bile. He wanted to drink plenty, but in order for him to keep it down, I had to limit him to an ounce or two, several times an hour.
By Tuesday evening he took a bad turn, couldn't keep even small amounts of water down, and was visibly dehydrated. He also started breathing very strangely, sounded like Darth Vader. Deep, slow, loud breathing through his nose, with long pauses between.
Wednesday morning, I got up early so we could be at the vet as soon as they opened. The dog had yellow-green mucus coming from his nose, and by the time we arrived at the vet, the mucus had turned bloody.
He was given subcutaneous fluids, treated with Strongid, got Panacure to take home, as well as a prescription for Clavamox. He perked up a little for a couple hours. He still refused food, but has been abke to drink more. He's only thrown up the water a couple times today. He was so weak last night, I wasn't sure he'd live through the night. I'm very scared that he has aspirated one of the worms. If he did, will the worming meds get into his whole system and kill them? Will the antibiotics take care of an infection caused by aspirating a worm?
5 days ago, this was a happy, bouncy, muscular, shiny coated, bright eyed puppy. Now he looks like he's been starved while living on the streets.
July 26, 2017
2 Recommendations
It is possible that worms were aspirated but we would expect a more violent cough with retching more often to try and clear the worm; more likely is that some stomach fluid is irritating his respiratory tract. The anthelmintics are systemic and will cover the lungs too and the antibiotics are broad spectrum and would treat most common bacteria that may be present. Diatomaceous earth is becoming a popular alternative (with some positive scientific literature supporting it) for parasite control; I would however also recommend treating with a prescription parasite medication to cover all bases. In order to get him to eat, mix some wet food with water (or mix dry food with water) until you get a runny semi liquid (like milkshake) and using a syringe feed him bit by bit letting him lick it up. If he keeps loosing body weight and is vomiting water back up, he may require hospitalisation for stabilisation with intravenous fluids and supportive therapy. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
$2,800 for a two night stay for my 10 pound dachshund. She now has it again, but not staying. She is home with us. Her O2 levels were good so it was only $400 for a visit, I wish what the article above Says about the cost of hospitalization for your pet for this was that price it’s way off
Aug. 6, 2018
Tara L.
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Labrador Retriever
Bud
12 Weeks
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Coughing
I think puppy got liquid wormer in lungs because he's started coughing since its been administered. Can he have baytril incase of infection?
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
Prevention is better than the cure. Baytril or another broad spectrum antibiotic would be prescribed by your Veterinarian as a preventative measure. I cannot suggest that you give any medication to Bud without first having an examination by a Veterinarian. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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Clyde
5 Weeks
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Loud Breathing
I am taking care of a 5 week old puppy. Its mother would not feed it and I was told its either take care of him or euthanize. Which I did not want to do right away. He is eating dry food but only after I have soaked it in water to create a mush, and then add formula to that. He eats so fast and get so excited when food comes out that he almost inhales it and we have had to work on ways to slow him down. After he eats he sometimes sneezes it out his nose and then looks a bit uncomfortable for a few minutes after. Should I be worried at all about this?
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question and I am happy to hear you took in Clyde. It is concerning that after eating Clyde is sneezing out some of his food. There could be a few reasons behind this; he might have a small cleft palate but this would have been evident when he was drinking milk, congenitally shortened soft palate or is inhaling food. You could try giving Clyde small portions and seeing if that helps, or slightly obstruct his food to slow him down when eating and see if the problem persists. I would recommend visiting your Veterinarian. When visiting your Veterinarian have him check his palate for any abnormalities that may be present. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
What are signs of pneumonia improvements. My dog is wheezing/coughing which he hasn't in several days after medication and hospital visit. Is he just clearing his lungs or is this bad
July 26, 2017
Scott R.
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Aspiration Pneumonia Average Cost
From 114 quotes ranging from $300 - $6,000
Average Cost
$600
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
