Aspiration Pneumonia in Dogs

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

Aspiration Pneumonia in Dogs

By: Dr. Bari Spielman

Section: Overview

Aspiration pneumonia is an inflammatory lung disorder that occurs when your dog inhales a foreign substance. This most commonly occurs with disorders that cause regurgitation or vomiting. But, neuromuscular disorders that cause difficulty swallowing or paralysis of the esophagus can also lead to aspiration pneumonia. Dogs are more often affected than cats, and depending on the underlying cause, different ages and breeds are affected.

Causes

Oropharyngeal (mouth and throat) disorders

Cleft palate

Diseases of the larynx or laryngeal surgery

Brachycephalic syndrome – upper airway obstruction that occurs in short nosed breeds of dogs

Esophageal disorders, such as esophageal obstruction from foreign bodies or masses, inflammation of the esophagus, or paralysis and enlargement of the esophagus (megaesophagus)

Polyneuropathy – a dysfunction of many di

fferent nerves

Polymyopathy – an inflammatory or immune disorder of the muscles

Decreased mentation or alertness causing a decrease in the swallowing reflex, caused by general anesthesia, sedation, head trauma, or a seizure

Accidental administration of medications, fluids, or foodstuffs into the wind pipe rather than the esophagus, especially during force feeding or tube feeding

Vomiting, especially chronic vomiting

What to Watch For

Coughing

Respiratory distress, with rapid breathing and a high heart rate

Cyanosis (blue color to the mucus membranes)

Exercise intolerance, weakness

Nasal discharge

Fever

Depression

Loss of appetite

Diagnosis

A thorough physical examination with auscultation of the chest (listening to the chest through a stethoscope) and palpation of the abdomen are very helpful in detecting changes that could indicate the presence of aspiration pneumonia. Additional tests may include:

Your veterinarian may choose to run some laboratory tests such as a complete blood count (CBC), biochemical profile, and urinalysis to search for evidence of infection and the presence of an underlying cause.

Chest X-rays can show changes in the lung that may indicate aspiration pneumonia.

Fluid may be retrieved from the lower airway and lungs for examination under the microscope, and it may be cultured to isolate causative bacteria and identify a proper antibiotic to use in treatment.

If the animal is in respiratory distress, a blood gas analysis may be considered.

Various other tests may be needed to identify an underlying cause of vomiting, regurgitation, or dysfunction. Such tests include abdominal X-rays, an esophagram or barium swallow, and fluoroscopy ( a video X-ray) to assess the esophagus in motion.

If a megaesophagus is discovered, then further testing is indicated to search for the cause of the esophageal paralysis.

Treatment

Severely ill patients may require hospitalization with oxygen, intravenous fluids, antibiotics and supportive care. Mildly affected pets that are well hydrated and eating properly may be treated as outpatients, with frequent follow-up examinations to monitor the progression of the infection. Additional treatments may include:

Cage rest or exercise restriction

Loosening of secretions. This can be done with a humidifier or by thumping the chest wall (coupage).

Bronchodilator therapy to help open up the airways

Bronchoscopy to remove a foreign body if present

Surgery. In a handful of cases, removal of the affected lung lobe, foreign body, or tumor may be done.

Treatment or correction of any underlying problem

Home Care and Prevention

Aspiration pneumonia, particularly of stomach contents, can be a serious, life-threatening condition. The animal may require several days in intensive care before it stabilizes, and some animals have great difficulty recovering from this condition, particularly if the underlying problem is due to paralysis of the esophagus. Once the animal is discharged from the hospital, administer all medications as directed by your veterinarian. Return for follow up examinations, blood work, and radiographs as recommended by your veterinarian.

Many times, aspiration pneumonia cannot be prevented. However, treating and controlling the underlying disorder can greatly reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia or prevent the condition from recurring.

Printable Version

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

Share this Article with a Friend Email To:

Have a Pet Question?

Send Your Pet Question to Dr. Jon
and His Staff of Veterinarians

Dr. Jon's Newsletter

Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...

Search Over 15,000 articles

1 Esophagitis in Dogs
Esophagitis is an inflammation of the esophagus that can occur from a variety of causes. Frequent vomiting, reflux of gastric juices or ingestion of corrosive chemicals are the most common causes.
Read More
2 Megaesophagus in Dogs
Megaesophagus is a condition of the esophagus where there is decreased or absent movement. This can be caused by a variety of nerve or muscle diseases and most often causes regurgitation.
Read More
3 Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia gravis is a disorder characterized by muscular weakness that is aggravated by activity and relieved by rest. It is caused by an impairment of transmission of nerve impulses to the muscles, which...
Read More

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

Dogs & Puppies

Dog Breeds

labrador retriever, golden retriever, yorkshire terriers, german shepherds, beagle, boxers

Dog Medication

dog allergy medication, dog pain medication, dog anxiety medication, dog flea medication

Dog Products

dog bowls, dog crates, dog toys, dog beds, dog ramps, dog food storage, dog tags

Dog Symptoms

dog vomiting, dog limping, dog diarrhea, dog bad breath, dog coughing, dog seizures

Dog Health

dog cancer, dog diabetes, dog epilepsy, dog hip dysplasia, dog health, sick dog

Dog Care

dog vaccination, dog microchipping, dog grooming, dog neutering, dog spaying, dogs mating

Dog Training

dog aggression, dog barking, dog chewing, dog behavior, dog jumping, dog whisperer

Dog Pictures

puppy pictures, funny dogs, cute dogs, dog breeds, sleeping dogs, silly dogs, small dogs

Cats

Cat Breeds

persian, siamese cats, devon rex, ragdoll cats, sphynx, maine coon cat

Cat Medication

cat flea medication, cat heartworm control, cat tick medications

Cat Products

cat litter box, cat food, cat bed, cat flea collar, cat carrier, cat urine odor

Cat Symptoms

cat vomiting, cat limping, cat diarrhea, cat bad breath, cat coughing

Cat Health

cat health, cat liver cancer, cat diabetes, cat scratch fever, cat aids, sick cat

Cat Care

cat vaccination, cat grooming, cat microchipping, cat neutering, cat spaying

Cat Behavior

cat urine marking, cat furniture scratching, cat litterbox training, cat toilet training, cat fears

Cat Pictures

cute cats, funny cats, playful cats, fat cats, jumping cats, lazy cats, sleeping cats, cute kittens

1 Megaesophagus in Dogs
Megaesophagus is a condition of the esophagus where there is decreased or absent movement. This can be caused by a variety of nerve or muscle diseases and most often causes regurgitation.
Read More
2 Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia gravis is a disorder characterized by muscular weakness that is aggravated by activity and relieved by rest. It is caused by an impairment of transmission of nerve impulses to the muscles, which...
Read More
3 Esophagitis in Dogs
Esophagitis is an inflammation of the esophagus that can occur from a variety of causes. Frequent vomiting, reflux of gastric juices or ingestion of corrosive chemicals are the most common causes.
Read More

Aspiration Pneumonia in Dogs

Aspiration Pneumonia in Dogs

Related Articles

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles