[SOLVED ] Q. I think my puppy has asthma? What do I do besides taking him to the vet ti make him feel better?

Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :

A. Asthma in puppies is extremely rare and I recommend you get his breathing problems investigated as soon as possible. Worms, allergies and infections can all cause respiratory signs in puppies, as can anatomy problems if he is very young.

How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced pet care professionals :

A dog having an asthma attack may seem panicked and unable to calm down. If they normally have a pink tongue and gums, they may also turn a bluish color, which is due to a lack of oxygen. If you notice this symptom, you should seek medical attention for them as soon as possible.

Asthma attacks occur when a dog has an allergic reaction to an irritant. The airway becomes inflamed, resulting in constriction and spasming of the lungs` small airways. The disease has typically been seen in middle-aged dogs and some young dogs.

Symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and constantly being out of breath are strong indicators of asthma. These things can come with certain colds and flus, but if they are chronic then your animal may have the condition. In any case, if your pet is showing these signs, even in the short-term, you should see your vet.

How to treat asthma in pets. Once diagnosis of asthma is confirmed — a process in animals done by ruling out other respiratory conditions via chest x-ray¹ — treatment is similar as it is for humans. Inhaled steroids, bronchodilators, and antihistamines are available for your pet to take if they have asthma.

Hypoallergenic pets and asthma

Certain breeds of cats and dogs are believed to be hypoallergenic and therefore safe for people with asthma. Although it`s true some animals produce less allergens than others, all animals produce the dander, urine and saliva that can be responsible for triggering asthma symptoms.

If your dog is making wheezing noises, it can certainly be alarming. The sound is different than a cough or sneeze, and sounds very similar to a wheezing sound a human would make. A wheezing dog will make a high-pitched whistling sound when breathing, usually on an exhale.

When it comes to diagnosing feline asthma, a picture is worth a thousand words, so veterinarians employ radiographs (X-rays), computed tomography (CT), and bronchoscopy to see inside a cat`s lungs and evaluate their condition.

To diagnose asthma, veterinarians will take radiographs (X-rays) which usually have a characteristic pattern in the lung fields, where the inflammation in the airways is visible. Many veterinarians think the thickened edges of the bronchi look like railroad tracks or thick donuts.

Why Are Pets a Trigger? Pets have a protein in their saliva (spit), urine (pee), or dander (tiny flakes of dead skin) that can set off a person`s asthma or allergy symptoms.

Cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, horses, mice and rats can all trigger asthma and/or allergies in some people. But avoiding pet allergens can be difficult if the source is a much-loved furry family member. As allergens are stuck to the hair and skin of pets, the allergens become airborne when the pet sheds their hair.

Respiratory therapy is often recommended by veterinarians for pets that have an infection (bacterial or fungal) in the lungs or upper airway, or to loosen phlegm that accumulates due to chronic in- flammation of the respiratory tract. The purpose is to provide humid air for a dog or cat to inhale.

Carrots and apple slices are two healthy snack options for dogs, especially when it comes to teeth and breath. Carrots and apples make great healthy snacks and treats, and keep breath fresh. They`re also a great treat for teething puppies! Pop carrots in the freezer for a cool treat.

Unfortunately for animal lovers, pet dander can also trigger asthma. It can be devastating to find out that your family pet is the cause of an asthma attack, but rest assured, there are ways to live with pets and prevent asthma attacks caused by pet dander.

It can be difficult to determine whether your dog is breathing normally or not. Healthy dogs have a breathing rate of between 15 and 30 every minute, and their breathing should never be laboured or a struggle. Any persistent change in breathing pattern should be checked.

If your dog is gasping for air, he needs to see a veterinarian right away. Breathing difficulties are emergencies, and he may have a heart of lung condition, or he may have something caught in his trachea.

A dog can be allergic to a myriad of things, but some of the most common substances that cause coughing and wheezing are pollen, mold, dust mites, and cigarette smoke. Asthma can also occur with allergies, which will cause a dog to wheeze due to constricted airways.

Asthma-detecting service dogs can be trained to notice changes in their owner`s breathing. “It`s not magic. It`s very simple.

Patients who are diagnosed with a respiratory disease such as severe asthma or COPD can benefit from a medical alert dog. Medical Alert Dogs in these cases can be trained to remind a client to check his/her oxygen level, shortness of breathe, or medication levels.

Spirometry. This is the recommended test to confirm asthma. During this test, you breathe into a mouthpiece that`s connected to a device, called a spirometer, or to a laptop. It measures the amount of air you`re able to breathe in and out and its rate of flow.

CT utilizes specific airway and lung density measurements to identify severity of disease and pathology, hyperpolarized gases are used as MRI contrast media to identify small airway disease, and positron emission tomography (PET) can help identify and target lung inflammation. (See the images below.)

Coughing is the body`s way of trying to remove whatever is irritating the lungs. While people with asthma often experience a whistling or wheezing sound in the chest in addition to coughing, there is a form of asthma in which the only symptom is a chronic cough. This is known as cough-variant asthma.

While it`s more common in cats than dogs, any animal may experience asthma. Smaller dogs breeds are more at risk for asthma, and animals with flat faces are more likely to have breathing problems.

If pet dander is so easily spread, how do you get rid of it? You can get rid of pet dander by grooming the pet to reduce the amount of dander produced, vacuuming frequently, using a HEPA air filter, Austin Air makes an air purifier just for pets, use anti-allergen sprays, and limiting where the pet goes.

Diuretics, intravenous fluids, colloids, anti-inflammatories and antibiotics are all common treatments for dogs suffering from noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. Your vet will recommend the best treatment for your dog, and book followup appointments to monitor your pup`s condition as they recover.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Q. My puppy is urinating a lot. And the lady I gave one of the puppies to said she thinks her puppy has diabetes could my puppy have it to

ANSWER : A. It is not likely that either one of these puppies has diabetes. It is very uncommon for a puppy that young to have diabetes. If your puppy is straining to urinate or is urinating very small amounts frequently and cannot seem to wait for very long between urination, he may have a urinary tract infection. It is quite possible that your puppy is completely normal. I would suggest an exam with your veterinarian and discuss the behavior with them. They may suggest a urinalysis. Your puppy should be going to the vet at 3 week intervals for vaccinations at this age, so you can discuss it when he has his next set of vaccines. The other person with the other puppy should also be taking hers to a vet for proper immunizations and she should also discuss her concerns with her vet.

Read Full Q/A … : When my dog goes pee it is dark and thick. – Questions …

Q. How do I get my dog to stop chewing on things? I kennel her when I leave for a few hours, but I can’t go to the mailbox without her eating something.

ANSWER : A. If she’s young, then this is just normal puppy behavior. Don’t worry about it. The thing about puppies is, they explore using their mouths. If your puppy grabs a coat hanger, or a slipper, you should roll up a newspaper, and smack yourself on the head with it for leaving those things out.. your puppy is going to explore things, that’s normal! It is 100% up to YOU to keep those things away from your puppy when your puppy is unsupervised… even for just a moment.

Remember to never scold your puppy for grabbing these things. They are just curious little cuties, and they don’t chew things up to bother us.. Dogs do not have intentional thought, so they aren’t ever doing anything ON PURPOSE to us.. The most important thing you can do when your puppy is chewing something you don’t want her to be chewing is TRADE her the inappropriate item with a toy of hers, so she understands “no honey, that isn’t what puppies chew on… THIS is what puppies chew on!” and then begin playing with her using her toy to show her that TOYS ARE FUN.. Way more fun than a boring ol’ coat hanger.

Another helpful thing you can do is have two bags of toys. In each bag is many different kinds of toys. Lots of chew toys, lots of soft squeaky toys, lots of rope-type toys, a bunch of balls.. All kinds of things! For one week you have bag#1’s toys out for your puppy to play with.. At the end of the one week, you collect those toys, and you bring out bag#2! The toys will be more interesting/feel like new to your puppy, which will in-turn, make her chew less inappropriate things. Her toys are too fun to care about that dumb Wii-mote that you left laying around.

Hope this helps!

Read Full Q/A … : Stop Dog Chewing – Put A Stop To Your Dog's Or Puppy's …

Q. I think my puppy has asthma? What do I do besides taking him to the vet ti make him feel better?

ANSWER : A. Asthma in puppies is extremely rare and I recommend you get his breathing problems investigated as soon as possible. Worms, allergies and infections can all cause respiratory signs in puppies, as can anatomy problems if he is very young.

Read Full Q/A … : What to do if you're allergic to your pet – CNN.com

Q. My dog doesn’t eat, what should I do?

ANSWER : A. If this is a puppy, see a veterinarian immediately. Puppies should want to eat. Common causes for anorexia in puppies include viruses (parvo is a big one), parasitism, and foreign bodies. They need immediate care – go to an emergency vet if yours isn’t open. Puppies can get low blood sugar and dehydration very quickly.

If this is an adult dog and you observe other concerning signs, such as diarrhea or decreased energy, you should see a veterinarian.

If the dog seems otherwise bright and stable, try offering different types of food: wet food, canned tripe, or cooked chicken and rice. Some dogs will go for canned baby food: chicken, turkey, or beef as the main ingredient. Make sure there are no garlic or onions in the ingredients!

Causes of anorexia in adult dogs can range from less serious to severe. Younger dogs are more likely to get into trouble- they tend to eat things they shouldn’t, and can get foreign bodies from eating things like socks, or stomach upset from getting in the trash. Any dog may stop eating due to stress, or just being a picky eater. Middle aged dogs can stop eating when they’re stressed and also have Addison’s disease, which can be fatal. Older dogs tend to stop eating when they develop cancer or renal disease.

There is no one-size-fits-all recipe to know when the right time is to take your dog to the vet. The moral of this story is, if it’s not getting better, your pup feels bad, or you’re worried – go see the vet!

Read Full Q/A … : My Dog Won’t Eat

Q. My dog should have had her puppies by now. It doesn’t appear to be a false pregnancy to me, however I can’t really tell. Any tips?

ANSWER : A. The standard length of a pregnancy in dogs is about 60-63 days post-breeding. If your dog is nearing that date, it could be that she is having a gestation that is longer than normal. Dogs that are first time mothers can commonly have a longer pregnancy, which may shorten as they have more litters. Signs of an immanent labor include an increase in nesting behavior, discomfort such as pacing or laying funny, “waxing” of the nipples where a waxy pre-milk substance (called colostrum and important in puppy immune function) appearing, or visible contractions rippling along the side of the abdomen (more visible in short-haired dogs).

If you are concerned about the puppies being stuck or the wrong size, you can have your local vet take an X-ray of your female. This is typically done by vets involved in breeding (called theriogenologists) and is used to determine how big the puppies are and how many to expect. Knowing this information is great for making sure there are not puppies stuck in the birth canal, and for knowing if they are premature or not. The X-ray may also show if no puppies are present, which can confirm a phantom pregnancy.

Read Full Q/A … : Canine False Pregnancy – Dogs – LoveToKnow – Dog food

Q. My puppy has a hard time staying by herself, she cries and chews her crate. How can I make her more comfortable being alone?

ANSWER : A. Crate training is an extremely slow process, so you should be taking baby steps:

First, lure her into the crate with high value treats and close the crate door, then toss several treats inside the crate. During this process do not make eye contact, speak to, or hand-feed her. Toss in more treats and stand up. Then, toss in some more treats and take one step away. Return to the crate, toss more and take a few steps away. Return, toss treats, take 5 steps away. Return, toss treats, take 3 steps away. The key is to randomly change up the length of time you are gone, slowly adding and subtracting seconds. Slowly work your way out of sight. Then, quickly return, and walk out of sight but stay out of sight a few seconds. Return, toss treats, walk out of sight a few more seconds, etc. Take it slowly.

Finally, when you let her out ignore her, don’t make a big deal of it.

Read Full Q/A … : If Your Dog Hates His Crate

Q. My cat is still purring but he’s coughing and what sounds like hiccups, he isn’t drinking, not sure if I need rush to vet or be ok he’s still himself?

ANSWER : A. Erring on the side of safety, any time there is change in how a kitty is breathing, it is best to get them into a vet clinic.

Coughing can be caused by innocuous things like allergies, but in a cat his age, there are concerns for things like feline asthma, pneumonia, or a condition like congestive heart failure.

Cats not only purr when they are feeling content, but they also can purr when they are frightened or feeling pain or illness. Combined with the fact that he’s not drinking, it sounds like your boy is feeling pretty icky. Cats are masters at hiding illness to keep themselves from being hunted by larger predators, so when it becomes noticeable to you, it means he’s ill enough that he’s no longer able to keep it hidden.

Your vet should be able to check him out and narrow down what’s going on and treat it as necessary. Good luck, and I hope he gets to feeling better soon!

Read Full Q/A … : Canine Coughing – The Dog Daily

Q. What solid food should I start 4 week old Pit Bull puppies on?

ANSWER : A. A puppy food designed for large breed puppies can help with rapidly growing bones and joints and can be given in a wet form easily to puppies learning to eat solids. You can also provide a dry kibble for them to try and should moisten it with water or some formula to make it easier for the puppies to eat and digest. As the puppies grow and their teeth come in, they will begin to eat and explore more of the solid food on their own.

Mom should also be on a Puppy formula while nursing her puppies as it will provide extra nutrients to both her and babies while they are in a very rapid stage of growth!

Read Full Q/A … : When to Start Feeding Puppies Solid Food? – Pets