The Sick Dog Blog

My latest article on Suite101 discusses pneumonia in dogs, including the symptoms of pneumonia in a dog, the causes and how to treat pneumonia in dogs.

Pneumonia is a serious and potentially deadly respiratory problem in dogs, cats and other pets. A dog with pneumonia will have a combination of inflammation, infection and fluid in the lungs and bronchi (the tube that leads to the lungs.) Pneumonia symptoms in a dog may include coughing, wheezing and “rattling” breathing,  non-stop panting, sneezing, and refusal to eat and drink (among other symptoms, discussed in more detail in the related article.)

Causes and Types of Pneumonia in Dogs – Aspiration Pneumonia, Infection, Fungi, Parasites and Dog Allergies as Causes of Respiratory Problems

This article discusses the different types and causes of pneumonia, which can include:

• Aspiration pneumonia – The dog aspirates, inhaling food or fluid into the lungs, causing a lung infection that develops into aspiration pneumonia.
• Pneumonia due to fungus or parasites – Inhaling fungus or certain types of parasites can cause pneumonia in a dog.
• Dog pneumonia from bacteria, infection and virus – A dog’s pneumonia can be triggered by a virus or it can result from bacteria, that leads to a lung infection. In some cases, a dog’s upper respiratory infection — associated with symptoms like sneezing, coughing, nasal discharge and breathing problems in dogs — may be left untreated. An untreated upper respiratory infection can spread into the lungs, leading to pneumonia.
• Pneumonia from a dog’s allergies – Allergies in dogs can cause pneumonia, particularly forms of pneumonia involving significant lung inflammation and mucus.

Owners will also find out what to expect when diagnosing and treating pneumonia in dogs. Respiratory infections can be very serious and potentially deadly, so it’s important that dog owners are educated on the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory infections in dogs. Allergies and minor upper respiratory infections (URIs) in dogs are fairly common, with sneezing, wheezing, coughing, and discharge among the more common symptoms. But if a pet owner does not recognize the symptoms or if the owner mistakenly believes that the problem will resolve on its own, the dog may develop pneumonia, which can ultimately lead to hospitalization and even death.

To learn more about dog pneumonia symptoms, causes, diagnosis methods and how to treat a dog with pneumonia, read Mia Carter’s article titled, Dog Pneumonia Symptoms, Causes and Treatment: Canine Respiratory Infections Caused by Aspiration, Virus, Parasites.

Wondering, “Is my dog sick?” Checking the dog’s capillary refill time (CRT) is one way to tell if a dog is sick. Pet owners can check a pet’s capillary refill time when checking the dog’s gum color.

Capillaries are tiny blood vessels situated near the skin’s surface. When you press on the skin, the capillaries momentarily empty; measuring a dog’s capillary refill time can be used to determine if a dog is sick.

A dog with a slow capillary refill time may have low blood pressure, a low heart rate and this can be indicative of a dog’s heart problem and illnesses/conditions affecting the dog’s circulatory system. Slow capillary refill time may also be observed in a dog who’s going into shock.

How to Check a Dog’s Capillary Refill Time

Here’s how to check capillary refill time on a dog’s gums:

1. Press your finger onto the dog’s gums with a good amount of pressure for 5 seconds.
2. Release your finger – the spot where you applied pressure should be significantly paler than the surrounding skin. If it’s not, then this indicates very pale gums and low blood pressure – this is a veterinary emergency and the dog will need to be transported to the veterinary clinic immediately.
3. If the spot where you applied pressure is paler than the surrounding skin, this is a good sign. Repeat step 1.
4. Release your finger after applying pressure for 5 seconds and immediately start counting (one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand, and so on). Count until the the spot has returned to normal color; the same color as the surrounding skin.
5. Normal capillary refill time in a dog or cat is 1.5 seconds. If it takes longer, this indicates a serious medical problem like shock. The longer it takes for the capillaries to refill (and the skin to returns to its normal color) the more serious the pet’s condition.

How to Check a Dog’s Gums, Photos of Pale Dog Gums and Photos of Healthy Dog Gums

Pet owners should also assess the check the dog’s gum color. To learn more, see The Sick Dog Blog’s related articles, including  how to check a dog’s gums, how to check a dog’s gums if he has black gums, and what it means if a dog’s gums are pale, brick red, blue, etc.

Dog owners may also want to check out The Sick Dog Blog’s article with photos of normal dog gums and photos of pale dog gums.