Apart from these short sessions, your dog's activity should be restricted. Due to this inflammation, excessive fluid and mucus accumulates within the lower airway, causing difficulty breathing. Because there have been rare, isolated reports of sick dogs infecting cats, ferrets, and guinea pigs, sick dogs should be safely isolated from other pets in the home. ASPCA Logo, Copyright 2021, ASPCA. For instance, your veterinarian may prescribe NSAIDs to reduce fever and cough suppressants to help break up mucus secretions. But can it be passed on to you? If you have multiple dogs in the home, you will need to separate the healthy ones from your sick pooch. It can cause significant inflammation in the dog’s lungsand can lead to severe breathing difficulties or worse if left untreated. Mycoplasmas are a family of many species of bacteria that are found in some healthy If your dog has respiratory distress or is dehydrated or anorexic (complete loss of appetite), hospitalization for oxygen therapy and/or intravenous fluids and medications may be necessary. Both forms are characterized by symptoms such as a hacking, dry, non-productive cough, and gagging that you might think is vomiting but it is not. C&F and Crum & Forster are registered trademarks of United States Fire Insurance Company. I do think that it may be a good idea to get a second opinion (even if you get it from the same vet) because pneumonia is usually responsive to therapy -- though not always. How to Treat Dogs With Pneumonia. Neuromuscular disorders affecting your dog's nerves and muscles and disorders of the esophagus can also cause the condition. But, neuromuscular disorders that cause difficulty swallowing or paralysis of the esophagus can also lead to aspiration pneumonia. Dogs can also catch pneumonia as a secondary infection. These air sacs, called alveoli, can fill with fluid or pus, causing a serious cough and fever. If it looks like it could be pneumonia, your veterinarian may “wash” the trachea with fluid, which allows them to collect and identify the type of bacteria that may be causing the infection. These may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID) for fever and pain, as well as bronchodilators and expectorants for coughing and difficulty breathing. Since the results of culture and sensitivity testing will not be available immediately, your veterinarian may begin treatment with a broad-spectrum antibiotic, such as doxycycline or amoxicillin, while awaiting the test results. More information available at checkout. Dog flu is caused by a virus that can be transmitted to other dogs, but there are currently no cases where it has spread to humans. ANSWER: More specifically, most cases of pneumonia in dogs are caused by a bacterial infection. As stated above, frequently boarded dogs, dogs that compete in shows, go frequently to grooming stations, toy breeds and stray dogs are most at risk. Complete Coverage℠ reimbursements are based on the invoice. For any type of pneumonia, your veterinarian may prescribe medications to help control the symptoms. You should also thoroughly clean all bedding, bowls, and gear, such as leashes, collars, and harnesses, to help avoid spreading the disease. This most commonly occurs with disorders that cause regurgitation or vomiting. The veterinarian must put together findings from the history, physical examination, and possibly response to initial therapies to decide if radiographs should … Coughing can have many different causes. I don't know about the beagle issue, but, I would say if one kind of dog can get pneumonia, then all of them could. Dogs can inhale fungal spores that can get into their lungs and cause a pneumonia. Restricting their activity and making sure they get lots of rest. If the risk factors cannot be resolved, recurrent infections may occur. Other things can cause a dog to have a wet cough, though. Your veterinarian will choose the appropriate antibiotics for your dog's particular situation. The germs that can cause pneumonia are usually breathed in. Typically dogs who get pneumonia are ones whose immune systems are weak, such as very young pups or older dogs. Before reaching a diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia, your veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical examination and recommend a series of diagnostic tests. The prognosis depends on the severity of disease and whether there are any predisposing factors. In dogs, the bacterial organisms Bordetella bronchiseptica and Streptococcus zooepidemicus are the primary bacterial causes of pneumonia. 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