Section: Overview
Respiratory distress, often called dyspnea, is labored, difficult breathing or shortness of breath that can occur at any time during the breathing process, during inspiration (breathing in) or expiration (breathing out). When your dog has trouble breathing, he may not be able to get enough oxygen to his tissues. Additionally, if he has heart failure, he may not be able to pump sufficient blood to his muscles and other tissues. Dyspnea is often associated with accumulation of fluid (edema) in the lungs or the chest cavity (pleural effusion). This fluid can lead to shortness of breath and coughing.
Causes
Heart disease or heart failure
Lung disease
Tumors or cancer in the lung or which press on the airway
Infections such as pneumonia)
Obstructions that occlude the airway
Trauma
Bleeding into the lungs or chest
Abnormal fluid accumulation in/or around the lungs from various causes including heart and lung disease
Infectious tracheobronchitis (kennel cough) is common in dogs that have been boarded or kenneled, and intact (non-spayed) female dogs are predisposed to breast cancer (metastatic mammary carcinoma). Younger animals are more likely to develop lung infections. In addition, certain breeds are predisposed to some of the conditions that cause dyspnea. For example:
Brachycephalic breeds (short faced breeds such as bulldogs and Boston terriers) are predisposed to upper airway problems, such as narrowed nostrils, laryngeal paralysis, and elongated soft palate, where they have trouble getting air into their airways. Of course, brachycephalic breeds often have noisy breathing because of the shape of their face and neck, but respiratory difficulty may be exacerbated and become serious when the animal is exposed to the stress of hot or humid weather, undergoes anesthesia, has a fever and/or is excessively excited.
Boxer and bracycephalic breed dogs are predisposed to tumors that arise near the heart (called heart base tumors) and lung tumors.
Large and giant breed dogs (e.g. Doberman pinschers, Great Danes) are predisposed to acquired cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure (CHF).
Small breed dogs are predisposed to tracheal collapse, chronic bronchitis and chronic mitral valve disease, which is a condition in which the heart valves do not function normally.
Toy breeds are predisposed to tracheal collapse.
What to Watch For
Coughing
Shortness of breath
Difficulty breathing
Weight loss
Fatigue
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Laryngeal Paresis and Paralysis
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Pleural Effusion in Dogs
Pleural effusion is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, which is the cavity between the lungs and the thoracic wall. Normally, some fluid is present in the pleural space to lubricate...
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The diaphragm is the muscle that separates the abdominal organs from the heart and lungs, and a defect in the diaphragm allows abdominal organs such as the liver, stomach and intestines to enter the chest...
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Pneumothorax is the abnormal presence of air within the chest cavity, which restricts the lungs from inflating normally during inhalation. Air is normally confined to spaces within the lungs.
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