Unusually hoarse and noisy breathing may be the result of air passing through narrowed airways or partial blockage of the airways: nasopharynx, pharynx, larynx, or trachea. Sounds indicating blockage or narrowing respiratory tract, can be heard even without the help of a stethoscope.

Types of Noisy Breathing

Stertorous breathing characterized by the presence of a noise heard when inhaling. He is low wheezing resulting from vibration of liquid or soft tissue, creating an obstacle to the passage of air through the pharynx.

Stridor(wheezing) different high sound, which produces air passing through relatively hard tissue and causing it to vibrate. This occurs as a result of partial or complete blockage of the nasal passages or larynx, or collapse of the upper trachea (cervical tracheal collapse).

Predisposition

Noisy breathing is common in dog breeds with short noses and flat muzzles.(brachiocephalic breeds). Siberian Huskies, Bulldogs, Dalmatians and Bouviers des Flandres have a hereditary laryngeal paralysis known as bulbar laryngeal palsy.

Acquired laryngeal paralysis most often suffer giant and large breed dogs, for example, St. Bernards and Newfoundlens, as well as Irish setters, Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers and others.

The first symptoms of difficulty breathing in short-nosed dogs with hereditary laryngeal paralysis appear in the 1st year of life. As for acquired paralysis, it is detected at a later age. It has also been found that males are 3 times more likely to suffer from hereditary laryngeal paralysis than females.

Symptoms:

partial blockage of the upper respiratory tract, characterized by an increase in the sound of breathing and a subsequent change in breathing;

unusually loud breathing that may continue for several years;

Breathing sounds can be heard from a distance without the aid of a stethoscope;

the nature of the sounds can be different: from excessively loud and vibrating sounds to a high-pitched squeak, depending on the degree of narrowing of the airways;

You may notice signs of difficulty breathing - for example, the dog may stretch its head and neck, panting heavily with its mouth open.

Causes:

pathology of the respiratory tract in short-nosed flat-faced dogs, known as brachycephalic airway syndrome, is characterized by the following symptoms:

narrowed (stenotic) nostrils;

soft palate too long;

part of the larynx is turned outward (everting of the laryngeal sacs), which leads to a decrease in the space for the passage of air;

collapse of the larynx (laryngeal collapse);

swelling of the larynx;

narrowing of the back of the nose and throat (stenosis) of the nasopharynx;

laryngeal paralysis (laryngeal paralysis) - both acquired and hereditary;

malignant and benign

inflammatory damage to the larynx (granulomatous laryngitis);

reduction of the trachea in diameter during breathing (tracheal collapse);

narrowing of the trachea (tracheal stenosis);

tracheal tumor;

foreign bodies in the trachea or other part of the respiratory tract;

Doctor Davydov V.B.

One of the common reasons for an urgent visit to a doctor (orthopedic traumatologist or neurologist) is attacks of acute pain in dogs. An animal exhibits pain in a variety of situations and for a variety of reasons. The first question facing the owner and the doctor is what is its location, or more precisely, where exactly does it hurt. To understand the cause of pain, observation is very helpful, since often it is the characteristics and conditions of pain that often or in most cases lead to a correct diagnosis rather than an examination. It is important to understand that dogs squeal only if the pain is acute and intense; with chronic, constant and less pronounced pain, animals show it differently: they become less active, lie down more, refuse to make previously performed movements (but these symptoms are no longer too specific, like a sharp squeal).

Let's consider the most typical scenarios for the manifestation of squealing as a sign of acute pain.

Dogs yelp when rising from a lying or sitting position. After standing up and doing some activity, the pain may not appear. Often this type of pain occurs at night when the dog lies motionless for some time and periodically changes position, which is accompanied by pain. The opposite situation is when a dog walks and cannot lie down or sit down, this occurs due to the complexity and painfulness of changes in the curvature of the spine.

The dog squeals when picked up. This feature applies more to small breeds of dogs, which are picked up much more often than others. Moreover, dogs can squeal even if you lightly touch it (this could be the head, lower back, thoracic region). In this case, the pain is not caused by your light touch, but in the dog’s motor reaction to this light touch, as well as an increase in the sensitivity of skin receptors due to neurological diseases (so-called hypersthesia). The dog may walk with its head hanging down and not raise its head due to neck pain.

All of the above situations of acute pain and squealing in their external manifestations are associated with diseases of the spine and/or spinal cord. And much less often in other disorders, such as kidney, liver, and heart diseases.

Diseases most often manifested by squealing and acute pain:

1., discospondylitis (usually bacterial inflammation of the intervertebral disc and adjacent bone tissue of the bodies of two adjacent vertebrae), (lumbosacral syndrome, occurs as a result of a congenital malformation sacral region spine). It is more common in large dogs and causes pain when standing up and lying down.

2. Instability of the first and second cervical vertebrae (atlanto-axial instability and other types of malformation of the occipital bone and first vertebrae). Typical for small and miniature breeds of dogs ( Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, Toy Terrier, etc.). As a rule, the pathology manifests itself in dogs up to one year old.

3., as a rule, of the first type (according to Hensen I). Pain occurs when the animal moves or when picked up. Typical for dog breeds prone to chondroid disc metaplasia (dachshund, French bulldog, spaniel, poodle, Pekingese, etc.). Type II hernias (Hensen II) rarely cause pain, but more often cause slowly developing neurological damage.

4. . Typical for small and miniature breeds of dogs (Yorkshire terrier, Chihuahua, toy terrier, etc.). As a rule, the pathology appears after 2 years of age, but it also occurs in young dogs.

5. Myelitis, often in combination with encephalitis. The same as with the diseases indicated in paragraph 4, it is typical for small breed dogs (Yorkshire terrier, Chihuahua, toy terrier, etc.).

6. Tumors and other compression and inflammatory diseases of the spine and spinal cord.

Sometimes other reasons such as gallbladder disease or intestinal problems can lead to this, but this is very rare.

It is important to understand that most of the listed diseases require, if not emergency surgical care, then the attention, first of all, of a neurologist. And with complete paralysis of all four or only the hind limbs, in which the pain often disappears, help is required in the coming hours.

The main methods for diagnosing the above diseases, which make it possible to detect spondylosis and discospondylitis, are a set of methods such as myelography, MRI, CT, radiography (allows us to detect spondylosis, vertebral neoplasms). The most informative method is MRI with a contrast agent. The sequence, methods and area of ​​examination for diagnosis are determined by the doctor. A visit to the doctor is necessary before the examination, since it is very important to determine the area in which the pathological process is localized and, if you independently decide to perform an MRI, there is a danger of examining an unaffected area, which means that a diagnosis will not be made.

Dogs, like people, can suffer from neck pain. Causes of neck pain range from a harmless muscle strain to cervical discopathy, meningitis, or neurological disorders such as syringomyelia. Treatment for neck pain in a dog will depend on the specific symptoms, so it is important to get the correct diagnosis. Take your dog to the vet as soon as possible if you notice signs of neck pain.

Steps

Treatment of neck pain caused by injury

Assess the dog's injury. A dog is equally likely to suffer a spinal injury or a simple sprain. Your pet's neck pain can be caused by anything from suddenly braking a car while transporting the dog to shaking its head while playing fetch or running with other dogs.

Schedule a visit to the vet. Your veterinarian will examine your dog and may order an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI to rule out any serious problems. It is important to rule out these serious problems, as well as many debilitating diseases and infections that lead to neck pain and require prompt medical treatment. A serious spinal injury may require surgery.

If your dog is suffering from a neck strain, your veterinarian may prescribe muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory medications to relieve pain and ease movement. Give your dog plenty of time to rest and recover.

• Do not try to give your dog human painkillers yourself unless prescribed by a veterinarian, as they should be administered under the strict supervision of a veterinarian.

Treatment of neck pain caused by cervical discopathy

1. Identify the symptoms of cervical discopathy. Cervical discopathy is commonly known as prolapsed disc, which is common in aging dogs. Typically, a disc "falls out" in one of two ways: disc extrusion, in which the nucleus pulposus falls out of the center of the vertebra and puts pressure on the spinal cord, or disc bulge, in which the annulus fibrosus around the vertebra thickens and creates painful contact with the spinal cord. Symptoms of cervical discopathy include the following:

   Only a veterinarian can accurately diagnose cervical discopathy. To do this, he will probably order an x-ray of the neck and back to understand that the dog’s pain is caused by one of the types of intervertebral disc prolapse.

   Provide your dog with proper care. Unless your veterinarian recommends surgery to correct a prolapsed disc, the best treatment for cervical discopathy is supportive care only.

Treatment of neck pain caused by Wobbler syndrome

Identify the symptoms of Wobbler syndrome. Wobbler syndrome is a painful affliction of many large breed dogs, such as Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes and Mastiffs. The syndrome may be caused by a prolapsed or bulging disc or a bone deformity in the spinal cord. Wobbler syndrome got its name from English word"wobbly" refers to the unsteady gait of dogs affected by this syndrome. Typical symptoms of Wobbler syndrome include:

Get an official diagnosis from your veterinarian. Most likely, your veterinarian will order an x-ray, CT scan, or MRI to refute or confirm Wobbler syndrome. Depending on the severity of your dog's condition, your veterinarian may recommend surgery.

Provide your dog with supportive care. Unless your vet recommends surgery, the best thing you can do is keep your dog comfortable. Give her medications prescribed by your veterinarian to treat inflammation and swelling in the neck and back. You will also need to reduce your dog's activity. Some veterinarians recommend keeping dogs with Wobbler syndrome in crates so that they can rest and have limited movement.

Consider using physical therapy. Some veterinary clinics may offer aquatic therapy and acupuncture to your dog for global rehabilitation. Consult your veterinarian about what is best for your dog.

Treatment of neck pain caused by canine distemper

Recognize the symptoms of canine distemper. Dogs are usually vaccinated against this disease, but dogs with gaps in vaccination can contract this debilitating infection. Common symptoms of canine distemper include the following:

Get an official diagnosis from your veterinarian. The veterinarian will take a blood test from the dog. He may also do a polymerase chain reaction test (which tests the viral RNA), and may need to do a spinal tap to test the cerebrospinal fluid for the presence of plague antibodies.

Provide your dog with supportive care. Some veterinarians believe that the only way to recover from distemper may be if the dog has an immune system that can fight off the virus. As your dog recovers, your veterinarian may recommend supportive care to relieve symptoms and promote a speedy recovery.

Serious health problems are indicated by shortness of breath in a dog that occurs during slight physical exertion or at rest. If your breathing becomes faster after a long run or weight training, there is no need to worry.

Symptoms of shortness of breath

As a rule, breathing is disrupted in three parameters at once (frequency, depth and rhythm) - this is how the body signals a lack of oxygen.

Signs of respiratory failure:

• noticeable effort on inhalation or exhalation;
• the appearance of additional sounds (wheezing, whistling);
• open mouth breathing;
• excitement followed by depression;
• unusual posture (an anxious animal stretches its neck and spreads its front paws, but cannot lie down);
• paleness or cyanosis of the gums and lips.

Important! You need to know that external respiration is closely related to the activity of the circulatory system: that is why failure of breathing always leads to increased work of the heart muscle.

Causes of shortness of breath in dogs

They are grouped into 3 large categories, within which there is a more detailed classification:

• respiratory;
• cardiogenic;
• pathologies of the central nervous system.

Respiratory

These are injuries, diseases (including infectious ones), as well as dysfunction of internal organs.

The catalysts for this type of shortness of breath are:

• mechanical damage, for example, chest fracture;
• pneumonia;
• pleurisy;
• neoplasms (benign/malignant);
• fluid accumulated in the sternum.

Respiratory shortness of breath does not always indicate that a pathological process has started in the body. Sometimes the culprit is a foreign object stuck in the respiratory tract.

Breathing problems also occur with anemia, when all tissues of the dog’s body do not receive enough oxygen. With low hemoglobin levels, it is difficult for a dog to breathe even in a state of complete rest.

Cardiogenic

This group includes all causes related to a weak heart or poor circulation. This kind of shortness of breath occurs when walking (the animal often sits down/lies down, it lacks air) and running (in the vast majority of cases, running is impossible).

Cardiogenic shortness of breath is caused by various ailments, including:

• heart failure (acute or chronic);
• heart disease;
• cardiomyopathy.

Important! Often, the provocateur of cardiogenic shortness of breath is pulmonary edema, the appearance of which is to blame (in a vicious circle) for the weakness of the heart muscle.

Pathologies of the central nervous system

Certain breeds (so-called brachycephalics) suffer from shortness of breath due to the anatomical structure of the muzzle. Brachycephalic syndrome is noted in dogs with flattened noses, such as, and. The position of the tissues of the soft palate becomes an obstacle to their proper breathing.

A natural defect can at any time be superimposed with an additional risk factor in the form of physical activity, stress, heat or inflammation, ultimately leading to a deterioration in health and even the death of the dog.

In addition, difficulty breathing due to the fault of the central nervous system often occurs as a complication after:

• hematomas;
• electric shock;
• head injuries;
• brain tumors.

The central nervous system is also to blame for postpartum shortness of breath, which is acceptable and goes away on its own. If difficulty breathing is accompanied by bleeding, fever, loss of coordination and vomiting, urgent help is needed.

Responsibility for respiratory failure is also placed on the central nervous system if the animal has:

• severe stress;
• obesity;
• pain shock;
• high body temperature.

In a stressful situation (a fight, a threat to the life of the owner, any danger), adrenaline (fear), cortisol (anxiety), norepinephrine (rage) and other hormones are released into the blood, causing the heart to beat faster. It is logical that the acceleration of blood flow requires oxygen replenishment - which is why dogs begin to breathe rapidly with their mouths open.

First aid for shortness of breath

If breathing becomes difficult due to strong emotions (stress), the animal should be taken to a cool, quiet place and try to calm it down. When the coat is moistened, wipe it with a soft cloth, not forgetting to stroke the chest.

Important! A dog that has experienced deep stress should not be put down and forced to eat/drink against its will. Drinking cold water can cause pneumonia, swelling or collapse of the lungs (due to the difference in water temperature and “hot” internal organs).

If it is impossible to put the dog down, do not insist: perhaps his lungs are oversaturated with oxygen, and lying down threatens to rupture the lung tissue. If shortness of breath is caused by other reasons, an influx of fresh air and rest will also not interfere (an open window, a fan, a split system).

Experienced dog breeders, especially those whose pets have difficulty breathing, have emergency medications in their first aid kit. Approximate algorithm:

1. Give any decongestant medicine, for example, Suprastin at the rate of half a tablet per 5-8 kg of dog weight. It is crushed and rubbed under the tongue.
2. Rub your back, chest and ears vigorously.
3. Enter an immunostimulant (Gamavit or another), determining the dose according to the instructions. The solution is injected into 4 paws (intramuscularly).
4. If potassium chloride is available, administer 3-15 ml intravenously (based on the size of the dog). This injection is given very slowly and carefully.
5. In extreme cases (if you know how), perform a closed heart massage.

If there is noticeable deterioration, you will need a doctor. Call him at home or take the dog to the clinic. To restore breathing, the doctor removes foreign bodies, applies an oxygen mask, and sentences more severe patients to artificial ventilation or operates.