Bacterial Pneumonia in Dogs

Bacterial pneumonia in dogs is a very serious condition, and veterinary care should be sought immediately if it is suspected. Bacterial infection triggers an inflammatory response in the lungs that causes respiratory distress. Hounds, large mixed-breeds, and working or sporting breed dogs have a higher chance of developing pneumonia. Dogs with chronic immune deficiencies are most susceptible, but caught in time, antibiotic therapy and supportive care should be able to eradicate the infection.

• Cough
• Fever
• Lethargy
• Wheezing
• Difficulty breathing
• Runny nose
• Weight loss
• Easily tired
• Shallow rapid breathing or panting

Types

Bacterial Pneumonia is only one type of pneumonia that affects dogs. They can also suffer from:

• Aspiration Pneumonia
• Aspiration Pneumonia is a form of bacterial lung infection caused by inhaling stomach contents due to vomiting or choking. This is commonly seen in brachycephalic dog breeds with short noses, flat faces and wide heads, such as Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boston Terriers. Other factors that present risk include physical issues that impede swallowing or cleft palate deformity. This is normally treated with the use of a broad-spectrum antibiotic, but because of a high rate of recurrence the outlook for an animal with these predispositions is not encouraging. For this reason, it is advised never to try and induce vomiting from your dog.
• Fungal Pneumonia
• Fungal Pneumonia, or mycotic pneumonia, is caused by an inhalation of fungal spores from the soil, causing irritation and inflammation in the lungs. This type of pneumonia is usually indicated when the inflammation does not respond to antibiotics, and blood tests and x-rays would be needed to positively identify. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, it can be treated with anti-fungal drugs. This type of pneumonia is challenging to conquer, and may take 2 to 6 months to eradicate fully.

Many common respiratory bacteria cause bacterial pneumonia:

• Bordetella bronchiseptica
• Streptococcus zooepidemicus
• Pasteurella multocida
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Klebsiella pneumoniae
• E. coli
• Mycoplasma

This most contagious of these is Bordetella, or Kennel Cough. Kennel cough is an infection of the trachea and upper respiratory tract, but can spread lower into the lungs and develop into pneumonia. As it is very contagious through contact with other dogs, most kennels, trainers, and groomers require current Bordetella vaccinations. Viral infection from parainfluenza and distemper can also make the body more vulnerable to pneumonia.

Dogs with compromised immune systems or metabolic diseases, such as renal failure, Cushing’s disease, diabetes, and Addison’s disease are more susceptible to bacterial pneumonia. Environmental factors like exposure to smoke, smog, or other lung irritants can also cause a dog to be more likely to contract bacterial pneumonia.

Symptoms of bacterial pneumonia are very serious, and veterinary care should be sought immediately. Your veterinarian will do a physical exam, listening to the lungs with a stethoscope to determine if there is wheezing or crackling when your dog breathes.

A chest x-ray may be called for to determine the full degree of inflammation present in the lungs. The best way to determine the exact cause of the infection is a tracheal wash, where saline is flushed into the airway and then retrieved. That fluid collected can then be viewed under a microscope or cultured in a lab to identify the infecting bacteria and offer a more precise treatment plan. Blood and fecal material may also be sampled to test for parasites, as some of those present with symptoms similar to bacterial pneumonia.

Treatment will start immediately with a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Once the specific infecting bacterium is identified through lab testing, a more precise antibiotic may be prescribed. Other drugs may be prescribed for symptom control, including bronchodilators to ease breathing and expectorants to loosen mucus in their lungs. Short bursts of mild exercise will likely be encouraged if the dog is physically able, as this will help stimulate a productive cough that will help clear the animals’ lungs. In cases where the dog is not well enough to move around, they should be manually moved often, to keep fluid from settling on one side of the body.

If the dog is in acute distress, hospitalization may be necessary so that they may be monitored closely and given oxygen, nebulizer breathing treatments, and IV fluids.

Recovery from bacterial pneumonia can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. The dog should have follow-up x-rays every 2 weeks until the lungs are completely clear, and they made need to continue antibiotics for a week or two more after that to ensure that the bacterial infection is completely eradicated. Aside from the mild exercise to help clear their lungs, activity should remain restricted until your veterinarian has cleared the dog for normal life.