Signs and Symptoms of Aspiration Pneumonia (AP)
Aspiration pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs and it affects dogs just like it affects humans. Regardless of the cause, pneumonia has the potential to be life-threatening unless it is treated quickly. Recognizing the symptoms of aspiration pneumonia in dogs can help you take action if your pet becomes ill.
Coughing
Coughing is a sign of irritation or inflammation in the lungs. It may start out fairly quietly, but it will become more severe with time as the condition of the animal worsens. Coughing on its own, especially in puppies, might be a sign of minor bronchitis, but coughing should be taken seriously when paired with other symptoms of pneumonia.
Rapid Breathing
Because the lungs are inflamed in pneumonia, they are not processing oxygen the way they should be. This means that the dog’s body needs to work harder to get the oxygen that it needs and the result will very quick, shallow breaths.
Fever
Fever is the body’s way of fighting off infection. A fever tries to kill the invading viruses or bacteria with heat, and because of this, your dog’s temperature will rise. Test for fever using a thermometer. A dog’s normal rectal temperature will be between 100.5 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit and a dog’s normal ear temperature will be between 100 and 103 degrees Fahrenheit.
Listlessness
One common sign of pneumonia is listlessness. Fighting off pneumonia can take a great deal of energy away from your dog. The dog may be uninterested in playing or in moving, and he might spend most of his time sleeping.
Loss of Appetite
Because of the shortness of breath and the aching that results from coughing, a dog might be uninterested in food. If your dog is not interested in its favorite treats and it is manifesting one or more other § signs of pneumonia, you should take her to a veterinarian for diagnostic tests to include blood tests and chest x-rays (top and side view)
Tips & Warnings
- Provide your dog with a relaxing environment. When your dog is recovering it’s important to minimize stress. Move his bed to a quiet corner of the home and remind children that your dog is healing.
- Don’t waste any time getting treatment. Aspiration pneumonia can be fatal.
- Your dog may need to spend several days at the hospital before coming home.
My dog has AP, how can I help?
Take your dog to a vet immediately once you see of pneumonia. Don’t wait or try to perform treatment on your dog before going to see a vet. The vet will perform a physical exam and listen to your dog’s lungs. Also, the vet will need to take x-rays of your dog’s lungs and inspect for a respiratory illness that is causing the pneumonia. Your vet should also do a Complete Blood Count (CBC) to look for an elevated white blood cell count.
Treat your dog at home as advised by the vet. For example, you must give your dog the prescribed antibiotic(s) for four to six weeks by adding the pills to food or a treat if necessary. Injectable antibiotics work well since your dog may throw up/regurgitate pills. Most vets prescribe 2 antibiotics. Some vets recommend administering some antibiotics with a nebulizer. Most importantly, you must watch your dog closely for signs of improvement and to monitor that the dog is eating and drinking normally.
Return your dog to the vet if problems persist; especially if your dog is not eating or drinking. Severe cases of pneumonia may require the dog to be hospitalized, where the dog may be hooked up to an IV to give it the nutrients it has been lacking or to receive oxygen. Continue with checkups at the vet until the respiratory infection is completely cured. Your vet should perform another set of x-rays to confirm that the pneumonia has cleared before coming off of antibiotics.
Coupage for Dogs with Pneumonia Coupage or percussion therapy is beneficial for a pet with pneumonia as it helps to dislodge secretions and fluid that’s accumulated in the lungs. These secretions enter the airways after dislodgement and are expelled through coughing from these airways. The lungs can then retain more air and ease the breathing difficulty experienced by the dog. Coupage should be performed several times a day to your pet irrespective of whether he is suffering from a mild form of pneumonia or is in critical condition.
How to Perform Coupage
- You should stand your pet on a table so that you can work comfortable. Hold your hands cupped so that there is a pocket of air between your palms and your pet’s body when you hold your hands against his chest. If you have a big pet, you should use both palms. For a small pet, coupage should be done with only one hand.
- You should pat your palms on your pet’s chest so that it sounds like a galloping horse. You should be firm enough to dislodge the secretions from his lungs but gentle enough not to hurt him. The entire chest area should be covered. You may work on one side of the chest and then alternate to the other side if you are using only one hand.
- You must ensure that both sides of the entire chest area are patted firmly and fairly rapidly. Coupage should ideally be done after nebulization and when the dog is coughing so that he can expel the mucus easily.
- Coupage should be continued till your dog is cured of pneumonia. The veterinarian’s instructions should be followed and all medications should be administered as prescribed in order to ensure that your pet does not suffer from a relapse.
Nebulizers
A great way to help improve your dog’s breathing.