Why does my dog have a wheeze? Cause and Cure
Do your dog’s breaths have a whistling sound to them? Is the whistling recent, or has it been occurring periodically for some time? The dog is wheezing if it whistles while breathing. There are many different causes of wheezing in dogs, some of which are benign and others of which are more problematic.
Causes of bronchitis in dogs with wheezing
The lower airways of a dog’s lungs are affected by canine chronic bronchitis. Inflammation in bronchitis causes the airways to expand and create mucus, which eventually narrows the airways. The primary sign of bronchitis is coughing, which is an effort to clear the airways. As the illness develops, however, dogs may have trouble breathing and start to wheeze when exhaling.
1 — Broken Trachea
In dogs, a chronic illness known as a collapsed trachea affects the trachea, which is the windpipe. A dog’s airway can become mildly to severely obstructed when the supporting rings surrounding the trachea collapse due to weak cartilage. This condition’s symptoms include a honking cough or unusual breathing noises, such as wheezing.
2 — Allergies
Pollen, mold, and dust are examples of airborne allergens that can make a dog wheeze. When these allergens get into the dog’s airways, an allergic reaction could make breathing difficult by causing the airways to enlarge.
3 — Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection that irritates the airways. The most common sign is a chronic dry cough, although exertion can also cause or make breathing problems like wheezing worse.
4 — Infections
Wheezing in dogs can result from upper respiratory tract infections, which are comparable to the common cold or flu in humans. Coughing, sneezing, breathing issues (including wheezing), and a reduced capacity for exertion are typical signs of these infections.
5 — Heart Condition
Wheezing can be brought on by a number of heart conditions, including cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, or mitral valve disease, in elderly dogs and occasionally in younger dogs. Lethargy and activity intolerance brought on by these illnesses may make it harder for dogs to breathe, which may result in wheezing. Read More…