Your dog is part of the family and keeping it healthy is important. Paying attention to their actions and appetite can help you know if they are having any issues. Your veterinarian plays a major role in keeping your canine friends happy and healthy. Just like you, your dog needs to see its doctor for regular health checkups.
Dogs can experience asthma just like humans. Asthma is often triggered by being exposed to allergens and irritants. Exercise and excessive barking can also trigger asthma. This condition in canines is also referred to as allergic bronchitis.
Sadly, pets are unable to communicate with us about how they are feeling. Even so, there are some warning signs that you can spot. If your dog begins to display any of the following symptoms, they may be dealing with asthma. Call your vet right away for a check up and diagnosis.
The symptoms of canine asthma are identical to other conditions so your veterinarian will need to run tests to rule out other causes. Some other conditions that have similar symptoms are infections, heart disease, and lungworm.
There are ways that you can help prevent your dog from having an asthma attack.
Once your vet determines that the symptoms are due to canine asthma, they will decide what treatment is best for your dog. Treatment will depend on the cause of asthma attacks. With proper treatment, asthma is typically an easy condition to manage.
Possible asthma treatments may include:
If your dog is experiencing asthma due to allergies, your vet will probably prescribe antihistamines. As with humans, antihistamines can reduce and block histamines that can flare up.
Steroids will be prescribed if the asthma is caused by inflammation in the bronchial tubes. The use of steroids will reduce future asthma attacks.
Bronchodilators are comparable to human asthma inhalers. They reduce inflammation during an attack allowing your dog to breathe easier.
The use of oxygen during an attack can help your dog recover quicker. When the attack occurs, your dog is being deprived of oxygen. This lack of oxygen will scare your pooch and make them panic, which makes things worse. Using oxygen will help calm your dog and relieve symptoms.
Watching your dog experience an asthma attack can be scary, but you need to stay calm. If they are experiencing an attack:
It is possible for your dog to quit breathing or for their heart to stop. If this happens, you will need to perform emergency CPR. When your pet needs CPR, it may be too late to do online research. Quick action is critical and can mean the difference between life and death, so learn the steps now from your trusted vet or qualified technician.
If you believe that your dog is experiencing canine 
asthma symptoms, call us today. Your furry friend needs to be examined to find out the exact cause of the problem. Don’t wait until it’s too late. The use of medications can help prevent asthma attacks and give your dog a better quality of life.
Call Dr. Ron’s Animal Hospital & Emergency at 805-306-0633. We are located at 1376 Erringer Road, Simi Valley. We proudly treat clients from all surrounding areas, including Simi Valley, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Chatsworth and areas nearby Ventura County.