Wheezing is a common symptom of respiratory disease in dogs, which can be caused by many different things. But you don’t need to panic—wheezing isn’t always as serious as it sounds. Here’s what you need to know about wheezing in dogs, and what to do if your pup starts making this worrisome noise.
The first thing you should do when your dog starts wheezing is take them to the vet. While many causes of wheezing are benign, some can be serious, so it’s always best to err on the side of caution.
Some possible causes of wheezing in dogs include:
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Congestive heart failure
• Parasites
While some of these conditions are more serious than others, all can cause your dog distress and should be treated by a veterinarian.
If your dog is active and playful, you can help it by providing extra water and a cool place to rest.
If your dog is generally active and playful, it probably just has a mild reaction. In this case, you can help it by providing some extra water and a cool place to rest. If your dog loses too much fluid through excessive panting, it could lead to dehydration.
If you know that your dog has allergies, wheezing may be caused by allergens in the air. In this case, you can try to limit the allergens in your home by vacuuming regularly and using an air purifier with a HEPA filter. Your vet can also prescribe medications that will help suppress allergies during peak allergy season (typically springtime).
Mild wheezing isn’t usually serious; however, if your dog starts wheezing immediately after running or playing hard, it’s possible that its trachea (windpipe) has collapsed. This is a medical emergency—take your pup to the vet immediately!
If your dog is wheezing at night, it’s probably caused by allergies.
If your dog is wheezing at night, it’s probably caused by allergies. This can be frustrating for you and miserable for your dog, but the good news is that there are a few simple things you can do to treat the problem.
Let’s start with the most common cause of canine wheezing: allergies. Whether they’re seasonal or year-round, breathe-related allergies (what veterinarians call allergic bronchitis) are very common in dogs.
Allergic reactions tend to be triggered by pollen, dust, cigarette smoke, and other airborne irritants; if one of those things gets into a dog’s lungs, an inflammatory reaction can occur that causes congestion and labored breathing. Often this sort of allergic reaction will clear up on its own within a few hours—but if not, oral Benadryl is generally effective at treating symptoms including wheezing.
If your dog has been around dust or pollen, you can give him Benadryl to help with his allergic reaction.
Benadryl is an antihistamine, which works by blocking histamines from entering your dog’s body. It will help with allergic reactions if your dog has been around dust or pollen. Benadryl is safe for dogs, but it’s not recommended for puppies.
The general rule of thumb when it comes to giving Benadryl to a wheezing dog is about one milligram per pound of body weight, so a 25-pound dog would get 25 milligrams of the drug.
If your dog is wheezing after running, its windpipes may be collapsed.
If your dog is wheezing after running, its windpipes may be collapsed. Contact your vet right away and have them examine your dog. If it’s impossible to get to the vet straight away, keep your dog calm and quiet until you can seek treatment as any further exercise may harm your pet.
It should go without saying that treating a collapsed windpipe is an emergency situation that should not be taken lightly; contact your vet immediately if you think this might be the cause of your dog’s wheezing.
FAQs
This is a common question asked by many dog owners. There are many reasons why your dog might be wheezing all of a sudden, and it’s important to identify the cause in order to treat the issue with your pet. One of the most common reasons dogs wheeze is because they have allergies or asthma. While this condition is rare in dogs, it can happen and it can make breathing difficult for them.
You should be worried if your dog is wheezing. The most common reasons for a dog to wheeze are allergies or asthma; however, there can be other causes as well. Some of the more serious causes for wheezing include heart disease and collapsed trachea.