Just like in humans, the lung tissue of dogs can become inflamed. Medically referred to as pneumonia, this condition is also a serious illness in dogs and can lead to death if left untreated.
In most cases, pneumonia in dogs is caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. However, other causes include physical stimuli (toxins, gases), metabolic disorders, or tumors. Circulatory or blood flow disorders caused by heart failure or blood clots (thromboembolism) can also cause pneumonia.
Swallowing foreign bodies, food, or liquids as a result of diseases of the esophagus or after anesthesia can lead to aspiration pneumonia. Pneumonia often occurs as a result of a weakened immune system following general infectious diseases (distemper and other viral infections). Weakened animals or animals that are exposed to a high risk of infection (e.g., in animal shelters) have an increased risk of developing the disease.
Typical signs of pneumonia include a painful cough (dry at first, then wet), wheezing, nasal discharge, sometimes high fever, fatigue, and general malaise. The severity of symptoms depends on the course and stage of the inflammation. If the disease is not treated in time, the breathing problems worsen and oxygen deficiency develops, which manifests itself in the form of bluish-colored mucous membranes.
Even though pneumonia often starts with a harmless cough, it is always advisable to consult a veterinarian to determine the cause and take prompt action. Progressive pneumonia further weakens the immune system, making the dog more susceptible to further infections and increasingly weaker.
The veterinarian will examine your dog clinically, which includes listening to the lungs and bronchi, and will ask you to provide a detailed report on the onset and progression of the symptoms. They will then be able to make a preliminary diagnosis. To confirm the diagnosis, they will usually take X-rays. Occasionally, an ultrasound examination may also be used. However, bronchoscopy, an endoscopic examination of the bronchi and parts of the lungs, is more informative. This allows the veterinarian to directly assess the mucous membrane and any secretions and take mucus samples for examination.
A blood test is also almost always part of a comprehensive diagnosis. The blood count can provide valuable information about possible (infectious or non-infectious) causes and the dog's circulatory status.
If known, the cause of the pneumonia must be determined and treated in the first instance. Since most cases of pneumonia are bacterial in origin or involve bacteria, antibiotic medication is very often used successfully. The veterinarian may also prescribe mucolytics or cough suppressants to support treatment. It is particularly important that the duration and dosage of the medication prescribed by the veterinarian is adhered to in order to prevent relapses. Depending on the severity of the inflammation, supportive measures may also be necessary to compensate for fluid loss and immune deficiencies.
The chances of recovery depend greatly on the cause of the pneumonia and any underlying conditions. Bacterial pneumonia is easy to treat and usually clears up without any problems. Viral infections, on the other hand, are often more serious and therefore have a poorer prognosis.
This muscle disease, which was only discovered in recent years, occurs primarily in Quarter Horses and cold-blooded animals and is characterized by the storage of excessive amounts of glycogen (animal starch stored in cells) in the horse's muscles. It is known as polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM).
This infectious disease, medically known as foal septicemia, is often fatal and affects newborn foals up to 4 weeks of age. The pathogens enter the bloodstream in various ways and can spread throughout the entire organism. However, the disease most commonly manifests itself in the joints, which is why it is colloquially known as foal paralysis.
Dogs and cats can go blind for various reasons. However, this does not mean "the end" for our beloved four-legged friends. Dogs and cats in particular, who live together with us humans, are very good at compensating for their loss of sight with other senses and can continue to lead almost normal lives.
Syncope refers to fainting or circulatory collapse that occurs suddenly without warning and leads to a temporary loss of consciousness in animals. The dog collapses suddenly and shows no signs of life. After a short time, it regains consciousness and behaves as it did before the syncope.
Ectropion is a malposition of the eyelid that mainly affects the lower eyelid. The outer edge of the eyelid is turned outward and hangs down, which is why it is also referred to as a "drooping eyelid." This malposition prevents the eyelid from closing normally, leaving the eye permanently slightly open.
Tracheal collapse is a condition in dogs that causes the windpipe (trachea) to collapse. It mainly affects small breeds such as Yorkshire terriers, miniature Spitz, poodles, and Pekingese. The condition often manifests itself in the first few months of life, sometimes with severe breathing problems.
This term refers to a deforming disease of the spine. It occurs mainly in large dogs and involves spur-like or bridge-shaped bony growths on the underside, side, or, in rare cases, the top of the vertebral body.
The topic of deworming is a recurring discussion among horse owners. For anyone wondering whether it is necessary to deworm their horse, the answer is yes. Anyone who has ever seen how vast numbers of worms can completely block parts of the small or large intestine during colic surgery will no longer ask this question. Without treatment, worm infestation can become life-threatening for horses. Initially, a noticeable increase in tail rubbing may be an indication of this. As the infestation progresses, internal organs can be damaged and colic can occur. The horse loses weight despite being fed adequately. The parasites weaken the horse more and more. Regular deworming is necessary to reduce the infestation to a level that is tolerable for the horse's organism. It is almost impossible to completely rid the horse of worms, as new infections will always occur through the environment. There are two methods of deworming: strategic and selective deworming. You should avoid alternative deworming methods.
The air sacs of horses are part of the upper respiratory tract. They develop in foals as a mucous membrane protrusion on both sides of the Eustachian tube (the connection between the middle ear and the nasopharyngeal cavity), each with a capacity of approximately 300 ml. Air sacs are found exclusively in equines and some other odd-toed ungulates, making them a unique feature. There are various theories about the function of the air sacs. The most likely is that they serve to cool the brain. There is a connection between the horse's throat and the air sacs, which is why infections of the upper respiratory tract can also spread to the air sacs. The most important diseases of the air sacs are described below.
Sticker's sarcoma is an infectious tumor of the external genital organs of male and female dogs. It is also known as transmissible venereal tumor or venereal sarcomatosis. The disease occurs worldwide, but is primarily found in tropical and subtropical countries (Mediterranean region, Africa, Eastern Europe, South America) where there is a large population of stray dogs.
Botulism is a serious neurological disease caused by the ingestion of botulinum toxin (a poison) from contaminated feed. Even the smallest amounts of this toxin can cause severe poisoning in horses, leading to death.
Endoscopy is an imaging, minimally invasive procedure in which body cavities and hollow organs can be viewed and examined using an endoscope. Endoscopes are either rigid or flexible and have a light source and a camera at the front that transmits the image directly to a screen.
