How do you know when your dog has pneumonia? Surprising Answer

How To Help Your Dog Recover From Pneumonia

Your vet will provide you with specific instructions for caring for your dog as they recover from pneumonia. Those instructions may include:

Restricting your dogs activities

Keeping other pets and small children away in order for your dog to rest

Supplying plenty of fresh water to help keep your pet hydrated

Providing your dog with a steam treatment by running a hot shower while you sit with your dog in the bathroom

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pets condition, please make an appointment with your vet.

Home Treatments for Pneumonia in Dogs

Your veterinarian can recommend the best way to care for your sick dog at home. They may suggest:

Restricting their activity and making sure they get lots of rest.

Offering them plenty of fresh water to help keep them from getting dehydrated.

Sitting with your dog in the bathroom with a hot shower running for around fifteen minutes a few times a day. The steam and humidity can help thin out mucus so it can be coughed up more easily.

While your dog needs rest, they may also benefit from short bouts of exercise that can loosen mucus secretions and help your dog cough out debris. However, follow your dogs lead and dont force them to exercise if theyre not up for it.

As with canine influenza, youre not likely to contract pneumonia from your dog. However, bacterial and viral pneumonia can be transmitted easily between dogs, especially if they are very young, older, or have a compromised immune system. If you have multiple dogs in the home, you will need to separate the healthy ones from your sick pooch.

You should also thoroughly clean all bedding, bowls, and gear, such as leashes, collars, and harnesses, to help avoid spreading the disease. In addition, be sure to wash your hands after handling your sick dog and consider wearing a protective garment over your clothing to help avoid spreading the disease that way.

How is pneumonia in dogs treated?

Veterinarians will typically prescribe medications for diagnoses of aspiration or bacterial pneumonia.

Medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain and fever, and bronchodilators and expectorants for coughing and breathing issues may be necessary.

For a severe case of pneumonia, your dog may need to be hospitalized and given supplemental oxygen, fluid therapy or intravenous antibiotics.

PNEUMONIA IN DOGS – Signs, Symptoms and What to Do –

Like their people, dogs can develop pneumonia. While pneumonia can be serious in dogs, treatment is available and most dogs recover well. Heres more from our Bartlett vets about the signs and symptoms of pneumonia in dogs, and how this condition is treated.

Pneumonia is a condition that affects the respiratory system, including the lungs and airways and interferes with your dogs ability to breathe normally. With treatment dogs typically recover well from pneumonia, however if the condition is left untreated symptoms may become severe and more serious conditions could develop.