Canine Respiratory Disorders – Breathing Problems, Nasal Discharge or Gagging

Respiratory disorders in your dog can be alarming at times and they should be treated as a potential problem. As I always tend to say, your dog can not tell you when something is wrong. Having breathing problems is a sign that something is not right and should be treated as such.

Sneezing / Nasal Discharge: Sneezing is not uncommon in dogs. They often sneeze when they wake up, or at other times like if they are laying on their backs. However, an allergic sneeze is different from an infectious sneeze. The infectious sneeze will often cause puss. If you notice blood coming from one of your dogs nostrils this could be a sign of a tumor or a foreign object lodged in his nasal cavity.

If your dog is displaying any symptoms other than the normal sneezing you should consult with your veterinarian right away to find out what the problem really is. Allergic sneezing can be treated by removing the cause of the allergy or by antihistamines. If it is an infection that is causing the sneezing your vet can give you the proper medications to treat the infection. In the worst case if there is a tumor your vet will likely need to operate, while if it a foreign object it can be removed once it has moved forward enough in the nasal passage to be easily reached.

Abnormal Breathing: If you notice that your dog is showing some abnormal breathing you should act quickly. If the breathing is distresses or unusual it can signal a life threatening situation or a major issue with your dog’s health. Coughing blood or a puss discharge along with a lack of energy is also something that should be looked into without delay. Last but not least shallow or rapid breathing can also be a sign of a serious problem.

If your dog is displaying any of these breathing problems then your veterinarian should be consulted right away. This is not something that should be delayed just because no physical injury is obvious. The fact that your dog is having trouble is evident by his breathing so make sure that you take care of it immediately.

Coughing or Gagging: This could be caused by a heart problem, a windpipe that is collapsed, bronchitis or perhaps even a parasite. If fluid is building up in your dog’s lungs this could cause it to gag. Typically the coughing or gagging gets worse with time and may be more noticeable after exercise.

If your dog is having problems then you should seek a veterinarian’s advice immediately. He may have to help the dog to breathe by inserting an artificial windpipe, with medication or with surgery. If the coughing is heart related and you are able to improve his cardiac function then this should relieve the coughing.