 The Short Answer is: |
As long as the dog’s condition remains stable, you can certainly do the treatment at home without a veterinarian’s intervention. Firstly, you need to feed him the right type of food, preferably those rich in antioxidants, such as apples, beans, berries, plums, cooked potatoes, barley grasses, as well as broccoli. Vitamin C is another essential nutrient that your dog needs to improve his immunity. Add foods like blueberries, pomegranate, ginger, and grape seed extract to this list. In addition, making sure your dog is well-hydrated is very important. It is highly recommended that you provide him with purified water. |
In this article you will know the answer to the query “Pneumonia in dogs Are there home treatments?“.
A person with pneumonia is usually treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. I know you must be wondering if there is any way you can deal with the situation at home. Do you fear veterinarians? Do you just want to treat your dog organically?
You should know that pneumonia is a treatable condition despite the fact that it can be worrisome. I will explain below what pneumonia is what its causes and symptoms are and most importantly what the best home treatments are.
What Is Pneumonia?
Simply put pneumonia is an ailment that affects the lungs especially the air sacs. As a result these tiny portions become infected or inflamed filling up with pus and fluid. This causes dogs to have difficulty breathing.
It can affect any breed of dog regardless of age or breed but experts say young puppies are particularly vulnerable to the disease.
What Are the Causes?
Pneumonia in dogs can be caused by many things including:
Irritants
As with humans dogs can get pneumonia if they are exposed to irritants such as aerosol sprays and air pollutants. If they inhale tobacco smoke the same thing will happen.
Additionally some irritants can enter the lungs through aspiration and cause inflammation which can lead to pneumonia.
Diseases
If a dogs immune system is weakened by other illnesses it will be more prone to respiratory infections which can then lead to pneumonia.
Trauma
Canine lungs can also become inflamed due to injuries particularly in the chest region. Getting hit by a vehicle or falling off could result in this trauma.
Viruses
Canine distemper parainfluenza canine influenza and canine flu as well as adenovirus types 1 and 2 can all cause inflammation of the air sacs in a dogs lungs.
Bacteria
Bacteria such as Escherichia coli Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bordetella bronchiseptica Streptococcus zooepidemicus Pasteurella multimedia and Klebsiella pneumonia are the most common causes of pneumonia in dogs. Dogs can contract them from one another like viruses.
What Are the Symptoms?
It is simple to tell if your puppy has pneumonia if you have suffered from it before since the symptoms are the same.
In addition to coughing hyperventilating difficulty breathing fatigue loss of appetite and short or shallow breaths the dog may also experience fever. After your dog coughs there may also be yellowish or greenish mucus coming from the nose.
All of these symptoms are indicative of pneumonia in dogs. You must act immediately if you see any of these symptoms so that the illness does not worsen.
Home Treatment for Pneumonia in Dogs
In the same way as we stated above dogs with pneumonia can be treated. As long as the dogs condition remains stable you can certainly do the treatment at home without a veterinarians intervention.
As long as you know what you are doing opting for natural remedies is not bad at all. However it is important to remember one thing: if you choose home treatment for your dog suffering from pneumonia you should act as soon as possible.
There are several things that you can do at home to relieve your dogs condition:
Strengthen the Dog’s Immune System
Keeping your puppys immune system strong is the best natural defense against pneumonia. If he has a stronger immune system he will recover faster.
Firstly you need to feed him with the right type of food preferably those rich in antioxidants such as apples beans berries plums cooked potatoes barley grasses as well as broccoli. Vitamin C is another essential nutrient that your dog needs to improve his immunity. Add foods like blueberries pomegranate ginger and grape seed extract to this list.
In addition making sure your dog is well hydrated is very important. It is highly recommended that you provide him with purified water.
Keeping his toys and bowls clean is equally important. Maintain as much stress-free an environment as possible since stress can aggravate his condition.
Hydrate the Airways
In a clinical setting veterinarians usually administer fluids intravenously to help hydrate the airways. However since you are trying to treat your dog at home you can utilize a humidifier. You can keep your dogs airways moist with this.
Keep a hot shower running while you keep your puppy in the bathroom (not under the shower) in order to hydrate your puppys airways. In doing so steam will fill the room which will then enhance your pets hydration as he or she breathes. Once or twice a day spend about 10 to 15 minutes with your pup doing this.
Perform Percussion Therapy
The purpose of percussion therapy also called coupage is to dislodge or loosen up mucus and other respiratory secretions. Following vaporization or nebulization percussion therapy is usually administered. It is important to note that if your dog coughs excessively this type of therapy should not be used as he may cough even more as a result. In addition coughing is enough to expel mucus.
The proper way to do coupling is as follows:
The ribs are located in the chest area.
For small dogs you may want to let them sit next to you on your couch bed or even the floor. In contrast if your pup is medium or large in size then you would be better off standing over him.
Begin by cupping your hands. You will then be able to keep your hands between your dogs chest and the air between them. One hand for a small dog should be sufficient. On the other hand two hands are needed for a bigger dog.
You should thump your chest on both sides in a rhythmical manner (just like when you drum). You must be firm in order to effectively dislodge the secretion. Be gentle however as you do not want to hurt your puppy.
With a little puppy you would not need to move your cupped hands around. With larger dogs you need to slowly move your cupped hands from one section to another to ensure that the entire area is massaged.
It is important not to feed your dog before nebulization/vaporization and percussion therapy to reduce the risk of food aspiration into the airways.
Control the Temperature
Pneumonia symptoms in dogs may be aggravated by extreme temperatures. Because of this keep your pooch away from areas that are too hot or too cold. You should keep him indoors and keep the temperature at a reasonable level.
Taking him out for moderate physical activities or exercises such as walking will strengthen his immunity when the weather permits.
Avoid Giving OTC Cough Suppressants
Several cough suppressants are available over-the-counter but you should avoid them. The coughing can help expel mucus which will help flush the infection out of your dogs body
Allow Your Dog to Get Plenty of Rest
Get plenty of rest when you are sick according to your doctor. This also applies to your ill puppy. Make sure he gets enough rest so he can regain his energy. Make sure his surroundings are clean and find him a comfortable place to sleep. Additionally you should monitor him if he has a fever.
If he does not want to engage in physical activities do not force him to do so as that will only stress him out.
How Long Does It Take for a Dog to Recover From Pneumonia?
The course of pneumonia will be determined. Nevertheless your dog will fully recover from it naturally within two to three weeks. Since there are no antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications involved during this period you should focus on boosting your pets immunity as well as vaporization and percussion therapy. It may take some time but the dog will undoubtedly recover. Improvements should begin to appear soon enough.
Getting back to his normal activities and showing cheerfulness are signs that he is getting better.
Conclusion
The treatment of pneumonia is usually done with the assistance of a veterinarian and prescription medications but it can also be done at home naturally. In case you are not comfortable taking your pet to a vets clinic or do not want to give your pet chemical-based medications you can choose home treatments like vaporization and coupling. It can only be done effectively on dogs that are in good health or if you have caught pneumonia in your puppy early enough.
You should consult a medical professional if his condition does not improve within 2 to 3 weeks.
Amanda (Author)
With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.
Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)
Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.
