Hemorrhage of the Lung in Dogs
Hemorrhage of the Lung in Dogs - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost
What is Hemorrhage of the Lung?
A pulmonary contusion can be a life-threatening injury, depending on the severity of the hemorrhage so it is important to get your dog checked out thoroughly by your veterinarian if you suspect he has this injury. Since the pulmonary contusion is often caused by a traumatic injury, you should check your dog for other injuries right away. You should always be careful when moving your dog after a motor vehicle accident or any other traumatic injury in case of spinal injury or broken bones. A pneumothorax (collapsed lung from air in the chest cavity), hemothorax (blood in the chest cavity), broken ribs, and flail chest (2 or more broken ribs) can all be possible side effects from a pulmonary contusion, even if you do not see any visible injuries.
A hemorrhage of the lung (pulmonary contusion) is referring to lesions on the lungs that can happen after an injury to the chest wall. This can lead to hemorrhage and swelling which leads to the collapse of the lung. The pulmonary contusion is one of the most common wounds caused by a blunt chest trauma, which is most often from being hit by a vehicle or from a bite injury.
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From 42 quotes ranging from $500 - $8,000
Average Cost
$3,500
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Symptoms of Hemorrhage of the Lung in Dogs
  • Rapid breathing
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Loud breathing
  • Pain in the chest and abdomen
  • Coughing
  • Vomiting
  • Blue or pale skin and mucous membranes
  • Fainting
  • Collapse
  • Lung crackles
  • Bloody nose or blood in the mouth
  • Irregular heartbeat
Causes of Hemorrhage of the Lung in Dogs
  • Vehicular trauma
  • Bite from another animal
  • Animal abuse (usually by owners)
  • Falling from a high area
  • Gunshot
  • Stabbing or other wound that breaks the skin
Diagnosis of Hemorrhage of the Lung in Dogs
The first thing the veterinarian will do is make sure your dog is stable and has a clear airway while he does a thorough physical examination. This may require that your dog be sedated and provided with oxygen and fluid therapy so he may need to be hospitalized. As with any visit, you will need to provide your veterinarian will your dog’s complete medical history and any illnesses or changes in behavior. It is impossible to give a definite diagnosis of a pulmonary contusion with just a physical examination so your veterinarian will have to run some tests. These tests include:
  • Blood pressure
  • Complete blood count (CBC)
  • Blood gases
  • Urinalysis
  • Blood clotting test
  • Digital radiographs (x-rays) of the chest and abdomen
The radiographs may be enough to diagnose the severity of your dog’s pulmonary contusion, but it sometimes does not show the true damage, so the veterinarian may decide to do some more tests, such as:
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Electrocardiography (ECG) to check for arrhythmia or tachycardia 
  • CT scan for a 3-D assessment
  • Ultrasound to see the true extent of damage
  • MRI for further details
Treatment of Hemorrhage of the Lung in Dogs
The treatment plan will depend on the severity of the pulmonary contusion and any other injuries that your dog may have sustained. Your veterinarian will want to keep your dog on oxygen for some time to increase the oxygen in the blood that may have been lost. Many times, the damage to the lung does not completely show for 24-48 hours, so the veterinarian may want to keep your dog for one or two days for observation.
Pain medication such as Fentanyl or Morphine will be administered if your dog is in pain. The veterinarian may also prescribe corticosteroids to reduce swelling and antibiotics to prevent infection. Other treatment may be necessary for injuries sustained with the pulmonary contusion, such as:
Pneumothorax
If your dog has pneumothorax, the veterinarian will have to perform a thoracentesis, which means relieving the air from the chest with a needle. After three attempts to drain the air, a thoracostomy tube will be placed in your dog’s chest.
Hemothorax
In the case of a hemothorax, the blood between the chest wall and the lung causes the lung to be compressed, causing pain and shortness of breath. Your veterinarian will want to keep your dog in the hospital on oxygen and IV fluids for 24 to 48 hours for observation. If the blood continues to be a problem or increases, the veterinarian may want to do surgery to find the cause of the bleeding and fix it.
Broken Ribs and Flail Chest (Two or more broken ribs)
If your dog has one or more broken ribs, the veterinarian may want to wrap the chest to stabilize the ribs and help them to heal. Cage rest and a short hospital stay are necessary if the injury is severe.
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Recovery of Hemorrhage of the Lung in Dogs
The veterinarian will probably keep your dog for at least 24 hours for observation, and possibly longer if there are any complications or if your dog has surgery. Once you get home, your dog may be on cage rest for several days to keep him from hurting himself. You will have to take your dog on a leash to go to the bathroom when necessary. Be sure to follow your veterinarian’s instruction and do not miss your follow-up appointment. The chances of a full recovery for your dog is excellent if the damage was mild and was treated right away. Otherwise, your dog’s recovery depends on the severity of the damage and whether it could be treated in time.
Hemorrhage of the Lung Average Cost
From 42 quotes ranging from $500 - $8,000
Average Cost
$3,500
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Hemorrhage of the Lung Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
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Pomeranian
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Two Years
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4 found this helpful

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4 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
My five pound Pomeranian was resting under my dining room table bench. There were 3 guys sitting on the bench and it suddenly collapsed and they all fell on my dog. She ran as fast as she could but yelled in pain. I took her to the er right away and was told that she has a bruised lung and given strong pain meds. She was given some oxygen and I was told that I can monitor her at home and bring her back if the breathing gets worse. I don’t see her breathing getting worse but she is spitting up blood randomly and seems to fall when she walks. She is very weak. What should I do? Is there a chance
Jan. 8, 2021
Answered by Dr. Sara O. DVM
4 Recommendations
Hello, I would take her back to the ER vet. She may need to stay there overnight and kept on oxygen. There is hope I have seen dogs recover from amazing issues.
Jan. 9, 2021
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Labrador Retriever
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Thirteen Years
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2 found this helpful

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2 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Nose Bleed, Pneumothorax
Our dog was bit by a baby rattlesnake 8 days ago. She received 2 antivenom doses and was hospitalized for 7 days with low platelets, low RBC and high WBC. She received platelets on day 2, a blood transfusion on day 5 and was sent home with us on day 7. She had a severe nose bleed within hours and we immediately took her back and were told she has a pneumothorax and slight case of pancreatitis. She is receiving oxygen treatment, IV fluids and has been on prednisone since the bite occurred. RBC are holding at 26, normal platelets and slightly high WBC. Anything we should be asking?
Sept. 27, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
2 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. It sounds like they are doing a great job managing this difficult to control condition. I hope that she is fully recovered soon.
Oct. 14, 2020
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Yorkshire Terrier
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Mac
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3 Months
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0 found this helpful

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0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Short Of Breath
My 2-1/2 month Yorkie was dropped by my 8 year old. He landed on the kitchen floor chest first. He was bleeding from his mouth and nose, gasping for air. His breathing was extremely short & every 5 mins he was gagging. I got him to the vet within 40 mins of the accident. The vet said nothing was broken, but his lungs were bleeding inside. He was kept over night and put on oxygen and Meds to keep him calm. Please tell me my sweet Mac can survive this?
June 9, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Bruising of the lungs can be quite serious, and keeping Mac quiet will be extremely important with his recovery. He may need to be on oxygen until he is more stable, and your veterinarian can give you a better idea as to how he is doing, since they are monitoring him.
June 9, 2018
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Beagle
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Ezekiel
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10 Weeks
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1 found this helpful

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My puppy has been playing with a bigger dog who sometimes uses his big paws and has pushed on my puppy’s body . When my puppy kisses me I think I tast blood. I also feel like his breath smells sometimes like that smell of blood . I do not see any blood . He is not acting sick or shows any signs of pain. He breathes ok and still runs and plays . But I never heard a dog have this honking sound when they are crying . He cry’s normal but then I hear this low horn like sound come from his low chest. I do not let him cry for any length of time so it is not from crying I know this much.
May 27, 2018
1 Recommendations
Without examining Ezekiel, I cannot say whether or not there is anything to be concerned about; you should try to keep him calm for the time being and monitor him. Since he is still a small pup, you’ll be taking him to a Veterinarian for vaccinations and you can have them give him a thorough examination to be on the safe side. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
May 28, 2018
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Doberman Pinscher
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Nala
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2 Years
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0 found this helpful

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0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Fast Breathing
My girl was hit by a car 3 days ago. She was examined and has no broken bones or signs of internal bleeding however she is breathing at a faster pace than normal and has been since that day. She did see her regular vet for a follow up where they checked her heart rate and looked at the xrays. The vet stated her breathing was probably due to the pain and I shouldn't be alarmed. I am still not at ease, would heart rate let them know if there was a problem? Could it just be she is in pain?
Jan. 17, 2018

Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. Injuries related to traumatic injuries like being hit by a car can take time to show up, sometimes, especially lung injuries. If she had bruising in her lungs that started bleeding, she might need some help. If she is still painful, she may need more or different pain management than initially thought. It would be a good idea to follow up with your veterinarian, and possibly recheck her chest x-rays, to further evaluate her. I hope that she is okay.
Jan. 17, 2018
I have a question my doing was attacked by another dog who had recently attacked her about three weeks ago ND today it attacked her again but this time her breathing is very different her left side bounces up ND the bottom right looks swollen can u plz advice me
Feb. 14, 2018
Michelle C.

Also I notice it most while she is on her side, no bleeding from her nose and her gums are not white.
Jan. 17, 2018
Nala's Owner

Thank you for your speedy response! I am taking her in now for An xray and bloodwork.
Jan. 17, 2018
Nala's Owner

My 5 year old dog was shot by a bb gun while I was not home today. I am worried if it may have punctured something. The entry wound is on the left center side of her ribcage. She just walked inside and has been laying on the couch for hours when I noticed it after examining her because of irregular behavior. I do not have money to get her seen now though. Is there anything at home I could do for the moment? I have cleaned the area with water trimmed the hair around the wound to prevent more debris getting in.
Feb. 25, 2018
Jessica
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Hemorrhage of the Lung Average Cost
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Average Cost
$3,500
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