What are Bronchitis?
Although often viral bronchitis will resolve following supportive care, in some cases it may lead to conditions such as pneumonia. For chronic bronchitis on-going treatment and management are often required. In order to provide your pet with the best care it is important you contact a veterinarian if you suspect they may be suffering from this condition.
Bronchitis in dogs, the inflammation of the bronchial airways, can be acute or chronic in nature. Chronic bronchitis commonly affects middle-aged dogs who present with persistent coughing, lasting over two months. Acute bronchitis is a common disease that affects dogs of all ages, is caused by multiple infectious agents, and is characterized by a harsh cough.
Symptoms of Bronchitis in Dogs
The most common sign of bronchitis in dogs is a persistent cough. Other symptoms may include:
- Increased breathing rate
- Fever
- Wheezing while breathing
- Excessive mucous production or frothy saliva following coughing/retching
- Difficulty breathing
- Sneezing and nasal discharge
- In chronic bronchitis, syncopal episodes (the rapid loss of consciousness due to temporary deficiency of oxygen to the brain) following coughing may be seen
- In cases of viral bronchitis, a harsh, dry cough with sudden onset may be seen along with retching and gagging
- Anorexia and lethargy
Causes of Bronchitis in Dogs
Acute infectious bronchitis
Acute cases of bronchitis are often caused by viruses, following contact with an infected pet. The most common viral causes are kennel cough, parainfluenza, and distemper. Environmental factors such as stress, temperature extremes, and ventilation appear to increase the risk of contracting these viruses. Unlike chronic bronchitis there appears to be no age bias, although young and geriatric dogs often suffer from more severe symptoms.
Pets who have contact with areas with a number of other dogs, such as in dog parks, boarding kennels, and dog shelters, have higher incidence of contracting the disease. Known causes of acute bronchitis in dogs are:
- Canine adenovirus
- Canine distemper virus
- Canine herpes virus
- Parainfluenza virus
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
- Streptococcus zooepidemicus
Chronic bronchitis
Cases are considered chronic when the pet has suffered from coughing for over 2 consecutive months. Often the cause of chronic bronchitis is unknown, though the following may be predisposing factors:
- Previous respiratory tract damage, trauma or infection
- Prolonged exposure to inhaled irritants such as cigarette smoke
- Age
- Cardiovascular disease
Diagnosis of Bronchitis in Dogs
Your veterinarian will perform a full clinical examination of your pet and discuss his diet and history with you. Your veterinarian will auscultate the lungs and heart of your pet to determine his lung and cardiovascular health. The lung noises during respiration will assist your veterinarian in diagnosing the illness.
If your companion has a harsh cough and history of contact with other infected dogs, or environmental stress, it may indicate viral bronchitis. Your veterinarian may need to take radiographs of your pet’s thorax under sedation, this may show bronchial wall thickening that can indicate bronchitis. Other diagnostic tools that may be used are:
- Bronchoscopy to visualise the bronchial tubes
- Cytology and microbiology investigations may also be performed using a bronchial wash which may indicate the cause of the condition
Treatment of Bronchitis in Dogs
Supportive Care
For some animals, supportive care may be all that is required. To give your pet the best possible chance of improvement:
- Ensure his environment is free of irritants such as cigarette smoke
- In some cases, the use of nebulization may be beneficial for steam therapy to help loosen secretions
- Allow your pet to rest and limit exercise
- Provide excellent nutrition to support his recovery
- Provide a clean, warm and sanitary environment
- If your pet is obese, weight reduction can greatly improve the condition and quality of life for your pet; your veterinarian can discuss an on-going diet plan
Medication
In cases of bacterial infection, the result of a swab sample will allow your veterinarian to choose the most effective antibiotic therapy for your dog. He may require antibiotic treatment for 3-4 weeks. Glucocorticoids such as prednisolone can be used to reduce inflammation, however, this may have side effects such as increased appetite. It is vital that this medication is tapered, rather than stopped suddenly. Bronchodilators such as theophylline may also be beneficial for your pet, these may be given for a 2-week trial period and ceased if no improvement is seen.
Recovery of Bronchitis in Dogs
The prognosis for your dog will depend on the underlying cause of the bronchitis and his initial response to treatment. Your pet will need careful veterinary monitoring and regular revisits, if symptoms worsen it is essential your canine companion be seen by a veterinarian promptly. As infectious bronchitis is highly contagious it is important that your pet is kept away from other animals for the duration of the illness.
Bronchitis Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
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sir my dog is coughing,wheezing,sometimes vomit after a meal....he vomits white foam when he barks and coughs....rapid breathing sometimes it seems like his breath is catched and after 2-3 mins he breathes normal sir plz help me
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I have a 14 year old Jack Russell. Over the course of the last week he has developed a wheezing and a hacking dry cough after activity. I’ve checked for allergies or new plants or anything that could change in the environment but nothing. I also have another dog who seems to be fine. I. Thinking it’s brochitis but not sure. Any help would be grateful.
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My dog is having cough for more than a month, she took antibiotics and has been hospitalized already since she lacked appetite, but now she is active , eats well but still has the cough what to do?
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Please help!
My dog is sick for 6 weeks with coughing. I took him to the Veterinarian at 1 st week of sickness and the veterinarian told me it’s look like Kennel Cough. Put him on antibiotics for 10 days Clavamox
After 10 days of treatment it was not better and I brought the dog back for f/u .X-Ray was taken and steroids was proscribed, because X-ray showed that it’s Bronchitis .On day 4 I brought my dog for second opinion to different veterinarian.Another X-ray was made and confirmed that it’s Bronchitis.
It was another antibiotics proscribed Azitromicyn and Robitussin DM. We finished the antibiotics but the dog still coughing after walks.What is my next step?I’m very concerned because it’s very long time now.
Please help!!!
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My dog is not eating n drinking. Whatever he intake thoroughly vomit. Saliva is coming out . Not able to close his mouth n tongue is not not working and colur of tongue is also changed. Doctor is saying it’s bronchitis but his mouth is always open. Please tell me wjat it’s exactly is?
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Jayce Wyatt
My chronic bronchitis started out with post-nasal drip and a cough and I felt tired and turned in early. The next day the cough got worse and I felt lousy, so I called in sick. I felt steadily worse for another day, then on day three the fever started, and I couldn't sleep for more than an hour or so at a time for a whole week. When I went to the doctor I was given a Z-Pak, albuterol inhaler (the only thing that did me any good), oral steroids, cough pearls which didn't do any good, and was told to take Mucinex. In all, the fever lasted six days. I coughed so much I hurt my back and ended up in the emergency room because my back went into such spasms I couldn't move without extreme pain. They shot me full of morphine and prescribed valium and naproxen. I missed two weeks of work,my friend at work purchased a chronic bronchitis herbal remedy online from Dr George,I used the herbal remedy for 2 weeks,my chronic bronchitis disappeared. am back to work,living chronic bronchitis free all thanks to my friend and Dr George .contact Dr George for your cure (drgeorge @ goodhealthherbshome .com ).... www .goodhealthherbshome .com
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I think my dog might have bronchitis. I went to the vet and she said he might have a trachea 'infection' she gave me a prescription for cough suppressants and an antibiotics for the infection. He hates the antibiotics but the reason we took him to the vet was because he wheexes and stops breathing while he's frozen in one spot. Nothing comes out but he gets really tired afterwards. He hasn't done it since we started the medicine but recently in one evening he had three spells. We recently adopted him so I think he has kennel cough or bronchitis. Which one does he have and what can I do?
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Last week, I took my dog down to the keys, where on his first night, he had a slight few coughs. The next day, we took him to restaurant twice, where he developing a reverse sneeze. It worsened we got home and as the week pass, he also developed coughing. His symptoms are the worse when he’s sleeping and waking up. He also has constant itching that’s always been his symptom since I adopted him. He’s 6 months old. I believe he could have allergies or some sort of bronchitis.
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My dog has been itching and nibbling on his stomach and paws for the rest of his life. As soon as he turn 6 months, I took him down to Florida Keys where he had a few slight coughs at first before turning into reverse sneezes. It worsened when we got home and as the week pass, he also has developed coughing and retching. Something tells me it could be from allergies, but might also be bronchitis. I have been giving him benedryls, which sometimes work. The symptoms are the most active when he is sleeping and waking up (he usually sleeps on my bed).
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My puppy is a little over 4 months old. He has a dry cough and makes a hacking noise. It sounds like he is trying to cough up something but he keeps his mouth closed so it never comes out he is on 2 antiblotcs but they dont seem to do anything. He has been on the antibotics for 1 week but i see no difference. He has just threw up and is lying on the cold floor and wont move.
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I’ve been to the vet twice now he had a scan of his chest and been told it’s bronchitis, was given antibiotics and cortisone tablets I’ve gave him the first lot of treatment then as he still was the same went back and she gave me a second lot which he has now taken for over 2 months I’ve tapered down the treatment but it still seems the same, the cortisone tablets help with the cough but he still seems as bad as the first day. Don’t know whether to go back to the vet or get a second opinion from elsewhere. Thank you
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Thank you for your advice, I’ll get him checked out elsewhere. Thanks again!
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