Dog Digestion & Lung Health Problems

The dog's respiratory and digestive systems are very likely to suffer from problems and irritations as well as from hereditary and infectious diseases. As both of them contain vital organs, these problems must be treated with special attention. Learn here about Dog Digestion & Lung worms causing Health Problems in dogs.

UPPER BREATHING PASSAGES

They include the olfative organs, the throat, trachea, and bronchial tubes and among the most frequent problems are the following:

The Kennel Cough
It produces dry coughing and even when it can be mild; it should frequently be treated with antibiotics. It is extremely contagious, so it is mandatory to avoid contact with other dogs.

Strange objects in the Throat
Many people assume that there is a strange object in the dog's throat when they listen to their dogs coughing. However, if that would have happened, the dog would be very uncomfortable and distressed; the dog would dribble, try to vomit and wouldn't be able to swallow absolutely anything. When this happens, it is usually necessary to anesthetize the animal in order to examine inside its mouth and take the stuck object out. dog t shirt

Nostrils
The sneezing and the nasal secretions can be caused by many reasons, as allergic reactions, presence of strange bodies on the truffle, tumors and viral, bacteriologic or mitotic infections. The nasal tumors are very frequent in old dogs and they turn to be malignant only in a few cases. It would be convenient to practice all the necessary tests in order to detect a possible cancer on time.

Excessive Length of the Soft Palate
If the soft palate is prolonged more than normal, it can block the larynx, what frequently occurs in the breeds with shortened snouts as the Pug and the Bulldog? The space available on the back side of the mouth is too little to lodge that much soft tissue that it ends up getting into the larynx. In serious cases, it is necessary to shorten the palate through surgery.

Dog LOWER BREATHING PASSAGES

They include bronchial tubes and lungs. When they get sick, the dog coughs, get fatigued when it tries to make exercises and has problems breathing. No treatment is normally prescribed before getting a thoraxic radiograph, with the dog sedated, to determine the exact origin of the problem.

Pneumonia and Pleurisy
They are serious diseases that require an intensive treatment with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory. Pneumonia affects the pulmonary tissue, while pleurisy affects the membranes that cover the lungs. Pneumonia can be caused by an infection or a liquid that has found its way in through the lungs. If you have to force your dog to swallow liquids, then it is necessary to make sure that it is getting in the trachea and not in the esophagus.

Pulmonary Oedema
This disease, frequently lethal and very common in dogs, can be caused by the metastasis of a tumor originated in some other part of the body (secondary tumors) or by primary tumors originated on the pulmonary tissue itself.

DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS in Dogs

Dogs are usually attracted so putrid substances or substances that may cause indigestion. A radical change in the diet can also provoke digestive problems.

Gastroenteritis
Bones and other hard objects can get stuck in the esophagus, stomach or intestines and may require a surgical extraction. If a dog vomits frequently, it can get very weak and dehydrated, in which case it will be necessary to provide it with serum in order to recover lost fluids. To find out the causes, a blood test is usually needed and a gastroscopy.

Dog Diarrhea
Diarrhea doesn't necessary cause a very quick dehydration if the dog continues drinking water normally. In mild cases, it can be controlled just by changing to a soft diet (cooked chicken with rice, for example) for a couple of days and then gradually going back to the habitual diet, you can also provide oral serum to prevent dehydration. However, if the dog is a puppy or the diarrhea is intense and hemorrhagic this disease can be lethal.

Colite
Inflammation of the large intestine sometimes caused by an alimentary allergy and some others to more serious causes, in which case, a long treatment with drugs is needed. The dog makes a lot of effort to defecate and the excrement is soft and mixtures of blood and mucus appear in it.

INTERNAL Dog PARASITES The most frequent intestinal parasites in the dog are the following: Tapeworm (ascaris) They look like very thin and whitish earthworms and they can reach up to 10 cms of length. Their eggs are deposited in the earth along with the excrement and they are ready for infest a guest a few weeks later. A child could ingest the eggs by accident, this is why the adult dogs should be de-parasite preventively every six months and the puppies and pregnant female dogs more frequently. Tapeworm Long intestinal parasites in the shape of a band. The last segments of their bodies can detach from the rest of the body and sometimes can be seen in the hair located around the anus or in the excrement. They can be transmitted by fleas or eating meat of an infected animal. You can find many types or multipurpose substances that exterminate or prevent tapeworm available at veterinary clinics. If you suspect that your dog has parasites, the veterinary may ask you for an excrement sample to have it analyzed in the laboratory.