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How to House Train Your Dog Effectively
House training is one of the first and most important steps in raising a dog. We explain how to start from day one, how to use puppy pads, how to make the move to outdoor walks, how to train an adult dog, and when toileting problems may actually be a sign of illness.
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Pregnancy in Dogs: How to Give the Mother-to-Be and Her Puppies the Best Care
A dog's pregnancy lasts around two months and calls for special attention from the owner. The Zviropolis team explains how to recognise pregnancy, which tests are needed, how to adjust feeding, how to prepare for whelping and when to call the vet without delay.
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Fruit Traps: Which Treats Are Safe for Your Dog?
Fruit can be a healthy addition to your dog's diet, but not every kind is safe. We explain which fruits you can share with your pet without worry, which ones can cause poisoning or kidney damage, and how to introduce fruit into the diet the right way.
What does breathing difficulty look like in dogs and cats?
How can you tell that an animal has a breathing problem?
Breathing difficulty can look different depending on its cause, as it may originate in the respiratory system, the circulatory system or a breed predisposition.
It is essential that owners always pay attention to the way their pet is breathing.
The most common signs of breathing difficulty include:
Breathing difficulty is divided into inspiratory and expiratory dyspnoea, and the type of problem is one of the key pieces of information in reaching a diagnosis.
Inspiratory dyspnoea is typically accompanied by sounds such as wheezing or rattling. It usually originates in the upper airways and may be caused by an infection, an allergic reaction or cancer. This is the picture we often see in brachycephalic dog breeds, whose anatomy makes breathing harder.
Expiratory dyspnoea is characterised by resistance when breathing out. It can be seen, for example, in allergic bronchitis, when excessive secretions are produced that make exhaling difficult. It is often accompanied by a characteristic puffing or laboured breathing.
What causes breathing difficulty in animals?
As described above, breathing problems can stem from the respiratory system, the circulatory system, anatomy or environmental factors.
Left-sided heart failure is a particularly dangerous problem, because blood backs up in the pulmonary vessels, leading to pulmonary oedema.
Polyps are another common reason why an animal may have trouble breathing. Polyps are growths that form on the lining of the nose or throat and restrict the flow of air. Tumours have a similar effect.
Another cause of laboured breathing is so-called extreme breeding, which gives us dogs with very flat noses. Brachycephalic breeds often have a muzzle that is too short, nostrils that are too narrow and a soft palate that is too long. Together, these make every breath a struggle.
A further anatomical defect, which may be genetic, is tracheal collapse, often seen in small-breed dogs.
What should you do when your pet is struggling to breathe?
Whatever the cause, as soon as you notice anything abnormal about your dog’s or cat’s breathing, take them to a 24-hour veterinary clinic as quickly as possible. Time is critical here, because the longer the condition persists, the harder it is to reverse. Clearly, an animal in respiratory distress can deteriorate suddenly, and the situation can quickly become life-threatening.