Bronchitis in Dogs

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.