Can Dogs be Congested?

Don't let your pooch suffer from congestion! Instead, be aware of what to look for, how to tell the signs, and what you should do if you suspect that your doggo is suffering from some serious congestion. These can be hard to detect, especially if your pup's lungs are congested! So, it's important to keep a lookout for the signs. 

How do you do that? We've got you covered! Check out our guide on how to tell the ways your pup is congested, what to do, and how to prevent it! 

There's no need to worry though, your puppy can't catch congestion from you! Instead, they can develop respiratory congestion from inhaling smoke, coming into contact with something they're allergic to, becoming infected with bacteria or viruses, and in even more serious cases, congestion could be a symptom from heart failure or Chronic Obstructive Pulminary Disease, but that's rare. 

There are plenty of signs that should signal that your dog is suffering from congestion. For example, you'll hear a hacking cough and your pup will struggle to breathe easily. You can probably spot discoloration around your dog's gums and lips, too. Your pooch will likely have a fever and will have mucus running from his or her nostrils.

In some cases, congestion can become life-threatening for pooches. If your pup has congestion, and in the process, his lungs become filled with fluid, this may result in a life-threatening state called respiratory distress. 

Take your pup to the vet immediately, as the dog-tor will need to use a syringe to remove fluid from your dog's lungs. Additionally, as isn't the case with humans, historically, doggo congestion can be a symptom or a tell-tale sign of congestive heart failure. Your vet will need to remove the fluid from your pup's lungs and will advise you to monitor your pooch heavily as well as change their diet and exercise regimen.

While it's impossible to narrow down without the help of a vet, it's important to know how to spot signs of congestion and to do that, you need a better understanding of what congestion is. 

Typically congestion is a sign of fluid in your dog's lungs and can result from conditions and diseases like infections, kennel cough, allergies, and like we said, heart failure. Like humans, dogs will get a runny nose, coughing symptoms, have difficulty breathing, and will often have a fever as well.

When teaching your pup to swallow pills, it's important to make sure they're used to and comfortable with the process. We suggest training your pup by either sneaking it into his food, using catch-and-eat tricks, or hiding it in a treat. Some pups might be able to just take the pills out of your hand! 

If you have to train your pooch to use a liquid medicine, we suggest syringe training. Start with water, and teach your pup how to calmly and confidently use a syringe for their medicine.