Your pet may not be able to vocalize that his throat is causing him pain; you may only become aware when you see visible signs such as coughing or a hoarse bark. This is a very common condition in dogs, though it can sometimes be indicative of a more serious problem.

Pharyngitis in dogs is an upper respiratory condition when the pharynx, otherwise known as the walls of your dog’s throat, becomes swollen from either a viral infection like distemper, cancer or an injury to your dog’s throat by a sharp object he was chewing on.

There are a handful of symptoms that your dog may experience with pharyngitis. Make sure that you keep track of your dog’s symptoms and their progression so your veterinarian can correctly diagnose him. 

There are many different types of diseases that can share the above listed symptoms. In order to correctly diagnose the problem, you will need to see your veterinarian so that she can rule out other conditions. Just a few of the conditions that may have similar symptoms are listed here. 

Because so many conditions share symptoms, your veterinarian may need to run multiple tests to ensure she has correctly diagnosed your dog’s health concerns. Your veterinarian will look at symptoms both collectively and individually to determine the exact problem your dog is facing. Any cultures that the veterinary team has taken will be used to identify the strain of infection affecting your dog. You can also keep track of your dog’s symptoms, noting when they started, how they have progressed, any changes in your dog’s behavior or eating habits, and any pain he may be having. By keeping an eye on your pet’s symptoms and changed behavior you will be able to give your veterinarian a better chance of knowing where to begin. Steps to the diagnosis may include:

Treatment for pharyngitis will depend on the exact cause. If for instance, the cause is a bacterial infection, your veterinarian will start a prescribed antibiotic regimen. Antibiotics can treat respiratory infection and sinus infections.

In other cases where an oral cancer is the cause of the pharyngitis, your veterinarian will treat that cancer in an appropriate manner. This could involve surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation. When a foreign object is found in your dog’s throat, surgery and antibiotics will be required.

For a tooth infection, your dog will undergo an extraction of the infected tooth, usually after being on antibiotics. Your veterinarian will also suggest a dental cleaning and removal of any plaque and tartar buildup so another infection doesn’t take place. 

Recovery of pharyngitis has a very good outlook and once the underlying cause has been treated, it is usually resolved fairly quickly . In cases where there are systemic illnesses, cancer, or autoimmune diseases, recovery and management may be more extensive and take longer.