Dog wheezing: causes & solutions

5. bronchitis & asthma

One bronchitis often develops from a delayed cold. The dog's mucous membrane is then inflamed and its ability to breathe is severely restricted. As a result, the animal begins to wheeze and a strong cough is also often observed.

If left untreated, such an inflammatory disease can quickly develop chronic become. Once this point has been reached, many animal lovers don't speak of it quite correctly Canine asthma. The dog then wheezes constantly, although it is usually no longer possible to establish a connection between the original disease and shortness of breath.

6. Allergies & Intolerances

A second clinical picture, which is often incorrectly referred to as asthma, concerns allergic reactions. This is actually a mistake on the part of the immune system: it evaluates a substance that is actually harmless as harmful and then tries to throw it out immediately.

Breathing is also constricted and the dog wheezes accordingly. The reaction is often short-lived; dog owners then commonly refer to it as an “asthma attack”.

Allergies are innate. If the dog has developed an intolerance to something over time, it is called an intolerance Intolerance. However, the symptoms can hardly be distinguished from one another.

Allergic dogs do not always react with shortness of breath. Very common reactions that are often only recognized at second glance include itching, gastrointestinal problems and ear infections.

7. Foreign body

Also comparatively common foreign body, that are picked up by the dog. This is actually anything that gets into the body without being eaten.

Many foreign bodies go unnoticed and are quickly excreted. If the dog is unlucky or the object is too big, they can also block airways, the dog then wheezes. Gagging, vomiting (often without sputum), flatulence and cramps can also often be observed.

Foreign bodies become acutely life-threatening if they completely block the windpipe. An intestinal obstruction is also a possible emergency caused by these objects.

8. Parasites

Also certain ones Parasites can cause shortness of breath and provoke rattling. This is also very common in this country Lungworm. Unlike most other worms, it is not a gastrointestinal parasite, but rather attacks the respiratory organs directly.

It is mainly transmitted by eating infected snails. Even just sniffing the mollusk's mucus can lead to an infection. There are also other parasites such as dog and fox tapeworms, which initially put a strain on the digestive tract, but can then migrate to other organs.

9. Change of teeth

Your dog is still young and is currently transforming from a puppy to a pubescent rascal? Then it may also be that Change of teeth is responsible for the rattling.

The transition from milk teeth to permanent teeth usually occurs between 4 and 9 months of age. When the new teeth come in, the little ones regularly have to struggle with inflammation and swelling. The latter sometimes cause shortness of breath, which is noticeable through rattling.

The good thing about this cause is that it harmless and is only short-lived.

10. excitement

When your four-legged friend is very happy or otherwise excited, their breathing rate increases. This can also be observed with (too) much movement. Sometimes the dog takes in more air than the nostrils can process – to us it sounds like a rattle.

If “just” excitement and arrogance are the cause, you don’t need to worry too much.

11. swelling

Swelling can not only occur when teeth change: they often also have other causes that affect breathing. Then the four-legged friends can't get enough air and wheeze.

To confirm or rule out this cause of rattling, a look into the four-legged friend's mouth is often enough.

12. Heart problems

However, rattling can also have profound reasons. If the dog is under heart problems, e.g. changes in the heart valves, the blood flow is permanently disturbed. The mitral valve is often damaged.

If this occurs, the dog will regularly suffer from shortness of breath. In addition to rattling, this is also the cause strong cough typical. Heart failure often occurs in old age, although some dogs are affected earlier for genetic reasons.

If you have chronic heart disease, your dog is significantly less resilient. He is tired more often or even faints, panting frequently and breathing at a higher rate than before. In advanced cases, pale or blue mucous membranes can also be observed.

13. Lung diseases

But also those lungs themselves may be affected. If it is damaged or otherwise diseased, the dog will find it difficult to breathe. As soon as he can no longer breathe, at least temporarily, he begins to wheeze.

Often this is one Pneumonia, which usually results from a spread infection. Poisoning – such as inhaling toxic fumes or cigarette smoke – can also permanently damage the organ. Unfortunately, there are also four-legged friends who suffer from lung cancer.

14. obesity

Also obesity often manifests itself in breathing problems. The body is not designed for the additional ballast that the dog has to carry with it, so the respiratory system has to work harder and reaches its limits.

This then manifests itself in rattling. Other organs such as the heart are then placed under excessive strain. Excess weight also weakens the four-legged friend's musculoskeletal system.

15. Growth disorders

In very few cases there are also Growth disorders responsible for frequent shortness of breath with rattling. Then certain organs that are responsible for breathing have not developed as they should. They are often too small and the air supply is then disrupted.