FYI: we may earn a commission for qualified purchases made through the links in our articles (learn more).
Quick Summary
- To treat pneumonia in dogs, most vets prescribe medications for coughs and breathing issues such as expectorants. To treat the fever, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also needed for aspiration pneumonia in dogs.
- Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by bacteria that enters the body from the air or through direct contact with other bodily tissues.
- Symptoms of pneumonia in dogs include moist and bubbling cough, wheezing, loud gasping or excessive panting, coughing up mucus, nasal discharge of thick mucus, and more.
You finally find the perfect pound pup, but then the staff tells you she has kennel cough. No worries, you think – it’s no worse than a human cold. Antibiotics will take care of it and she’ll be better in no time.
In most cases, you’re right. But what if her kennel cough worsens and becomes pneumonia? Now you’ll have to know exactly how to treat pneumonia in dogs. Most vets will prescribe medications to treat the fever, cough, and breathing issue your dog might have. However, I advise you to learn more about this disease to give your dog the best possible care.
Read my guide below for more information on what pneumonia is, the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments.
What is Pneumonia in Dogs?
Pneumonia is a viral or bacterial infection that affects the respiratory tract, mainly the lungs. That can affect dogs of any age, breed, or sex. There are several types of pneumonia, but the most common is bacterial infectious pneumonia. Bacteria that enter the respiratory tract cause inflammation and fluid accumulation in the air spaces of the lungs are responsible for bacterial pneumonia. Dogs with bacterial pneumonia may cough up yellow, green, or blood-tinged pneumonia. pneumonia is often accompanied by fever and difficulty breathing. Early intervention is key in preventing serious health complications from this viral infection.
With proper treatment, the prognosis for a full recovery is excellent. But if it is left untreated, pneumonia can be as fatal to dogs as it is to humans – your dog’s breathing will become more labored and painful, weakening her heart and other vital organs.
Symptoms of Infectious Pneumonia in Dogs
The most common symptom of dog pneumonia is coughing. The cough is usually moist and bubbling, a sign that there is fluid in the lower respiratory tract or lungs.
Other signs of the disease include:
- Wheezing, loud gasping or excessive panting
- Coughing up mucus
- Nasal discharge of thick mucus
If your dog shows any of the following signs of a severe case, you should take her to a veterinarian immediately:
- Loss of appetite
- Listlessness
- Bluish tint to the tongue, gums and lips – This is caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood (called cyanosis)
- Sitting with her head extended and elbows turned out – This posture allows for greater expansion of the chest and improved air flow
If your dog is displaying any of the following symptoms, it is important to take them to a veterinary hospital as soon as possible: coughing, difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, blue-tinged gums, lethargy.
Causes of Pneumonia in dogs
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by bacteria. The bacteria may enter the body via the ventilation system or through direct contact with other bodily tissues. The treatment and management, then, is focused on killing this bacteria.
When the bacteria enters the body through inhalation, it will cause inflammation of the lungs and bronchi. Experts also suggest that other causes of pneumonia can be viruses, fungi or even parasites.
The most common types of pneumonia in dogs are inhalation or aspiration pneumonia which happens when the bacteria comes from inhaled or “aspirated” vomit or food; and chemical pneumonia which is caused by inhalation of smoke and other harmful chemicals like gasoline.
Dogs with acid reflux are at an increased risk for developing pneumonia because stomach acid can travel up the esophagus and damage the lungs.
Pneumonia in dogs is often a secondary disease, meaning it results from some other problem, such as a kennel cough virus. It is most common in dogs less than a year old and senior dogs, or adult dogs with weakened immune systems due to chemotherapy, chronic illness or other reasons.
Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Dogs
To diagnose pneumonia, your vet will likely do the following:
- Perform a physical exam and use a stethoscope to hear your dog breathing.
- Take X-rays of your dog’s lungs.
- Check for signs of another disease (such as a cold or dog flu) and respiratory parasites.
- The vet may culture your dog’s lungs using a tracheal wash, which retrieves sample fluid from deep in the lung. The culture will identify the organism so the vet can prescribe the correct antibiotic. Your dog must be stable enough for the mild sedation this procedure requires.
Treating Pneumonia in Dogs
If your dog is stable (able to eat and drink, as well as not listless), treating her pneumonia is straightforward and may be done at home. However, it will take several weeks to completely remove it.
If your dog has pneumonia, you should not give her a cough suppressant. She needs “productive” coughs; otherwise the pus and mucus that are making her sick will dry up and stay in her lungs. Your vet will prescribe antibiotics, which you will need to give your dog for at least three weeks. He may administer them by injection to ensure they are fully absorbed.
The type of antibiotics will depend on the type of pneumonia. According to the Mar Vista Animal Medical Center website, a “four-quadrant” approach is often used that kills bacteria classified as gram negative, gram positive, aerobic and anaerobic. “This typically involves two antibiotics used in combination to synergize one another and covers almost every possible bacterial organism.” Even if your dog appears to be feeling better, do not stop giving her the antibiotics without your vet’s approval.
Pneumonia Recovery in Dogs
To help your dog breathe easier and facilitate productive coughs, you can do the following:
- Make sure she drinks lots of water. This will keep her hydrated and moisten her respiratory secretions so she can cough them up. An IV may be required if your dog refuses to drink.
- Gently tap your dog’s chest to encourage coughing. Coupage, or percussion therapy, is the term for this treatment. To do it properly, ask your vet to demonstrate or watch a video.
- Bring your dog into the bathroom with you when you take a shower so she can inhale the steam.
- Make sure your dog stays warm and dry. If you can, keep her inside where she won’t be exposed to wet weather or cold temperatures.
- Your vet may advise you to rent or purchase a nebulizer, which is a device similar to a vaporizer. It dispenses antibiotics in the form of a mist that your dog inhales. Unlike droplets from a vaporizer, which mostly just penetrate the sinuses, nebulizer droplets are small enough to penetrate deep down into your dog’s lungs.
After your dog completes the course of antibiotics, the vet will take follow-up chest X-rays to see if the lungs are clear. In severe cases of pneumonia, your dog may need to be hospitalized where she will be administered IV fluids for hydration and placed in a cage with 40-percent oxygen to help her breathe.
Supplemental oxygen can help dogs with pneumonia recover more quickly. In severe cases, your veterinarian may recommend hospitalization and supplemental oxygen therapy. It is also important for puppies, as they are particularly prone to developing pneumonia. For pneumonia cases coupled with severe dehydration, fluid therapy is also recommended.
My Dog’s Better Now – How Do I Keep Her Healthy?
One of the most serious health conditions a dog can experience is pneumonia. Dogs with the compromised immune system are particularly susceptible to developing this deadly disease. After your dog recovers from pneumonia, keep her healthy by feeding her a nutritious, well-balanced diet. Also make sure your dog lives in a warm and cosy place. You can boost her immune system with vitamins and supplements such as Green Tea, which contains polyphenols that enhance immunity and help to reduce the incidence of disease.
Sandra Zippe says
My beautiful Meliah just died because she got pneumonia and I did not know about how to care for her until grieving her passing. It is too late for us but not you, Reading and knowledge help you maintain the life expectancy of your pet. I gave Meliah everything a pet could want except this knowledge. I was caught unaware and only got her to an emergency care facility after it was too late. I will always miss her and feel guilty because I did not know anout pneumonia and what can happen to a pet soon after being put under sedation for another health procedure or surgery.
Brad says
So sorry for your loss Sandra. My thoughts are with you.