Most noted in small-breed dogs, collapsing trachea is a condition where the cartilage of the trachea is weakened. Especially if the wheezing is accompanied by facial swelling or hives, a dog should be evaluated by a veterinarian immediately. Seasonal respiratory allergies are not as common in dogs as they are in humans, and wheezing during an allergic reaction in dogs is concerning because that could be a sign of anaphylaxis. Mild cases of infectious respiratory disease, where your dog is still eating, drinking, and sleeping well, may not need medical intervention, but prolonged clinical signs, change in appetite, or any of the above symptoms warrant a vet visit and likely chest X-rays to make sure antibiotics and other supportive options aren’t necessary. Heartworm can also affect how the heart functions and lead to symptoms of heart failure. Infections can cause inflammation and thicken the airways (bronchitis), but wheezing can also occur when mucus and phlegm buildup near the vocal cords. Viral (e.g., influenza), bacterial (e.g., kennel cough), and parasitic (e.g., heartworm) infections can lead to wheezing. Wheezing and decreased activity levels/lethargyĬauses of Dog Wheezing Wheezing Related to Infectious Disease Wheezing accompanied by appetite decrease Wheezing accompanied by blue or purple color change of the gums or tongue Wheezing that does not improve as your dog calms down or rests However, if the wheezing is constant, prolonged, or accompanied by any signs of distress or discomfort, it may indicate a medical emergency.Ĭheck your pet’s symptom Concerning Symptoms of Dog Wheezing There are a few benign causes of wheezing, such as a sudden increase in activity (especially during the summer) or stress that causes your dog to breathe hard enough to wheeze. Air flow can be obstructed by inflammation, thickening of the airways, or by a foreign object or mass. Most often heard as a dog exhales, a wheezing sound usually indicates that there is some sort of blockage of the air flow in either the trachea or the larynx. As a dog inhales normally, air flows into the mouth, through the larynx (the area of the throat that contains the vocal cords and is the upper opening of the trachea), then through the trachea before dispersing into the smaller airways of the lungs. Wheezing, also known as stridor, is a high-pitched, raspy sound made by turbulent air flow through the trachea, or windpipe.
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