18 Common Causes of Dog Wheezing

1. Allergies

Some dogs even react to some environmental factors like pollen, dust, or mold. Allergens of this nature can be reacted to by the respiratory system, resulting in wheezing.

You may see that your dog's wheezing is specific to the seasons or the environment. If you know exactly what a dog is allergic to, you can take steps to minimize exposure and alleviate the symptoms. Consultation by a veterinarian may mean allergy testing and correct management that allows your dog to breathe easily.

Allergy-induced wheezing can be managed with medications and environmental changes. Keeping your dog's living area clean and devoid of known allergens is a surefire way to reduce their discomfort significantly. Regular monitoring and season change adjustments keep allergy symptoms at bay.

2. Asthma

Asthma in dogs is a chronic inflammatory condition in the airways that constricts air passageways in the lungs. The constriction of airways makes breathing difficult and is therefore often associated with wheezing, particularly during exercise.

If your dog is wheezing and also experiencing coughing, shortness of breath, or lethargy, asthma may be at play. It’s essential to consult a veterinarian to properly diagnose this condition and establish an appropriate treatment plan. Use specific vet-recommended medications to effectively manage the symptoms and enhance your dog’s overall quality of life.

Asthma triggers are very wide-ranging, so note what may be triggering the symptoms in your dog. In that respect, changing his environment will go a long way in helping to manage this condition by keeping him away from dust and smoke.

3. Kennel Cough

Kennel cough is a very contagious respiratory disease that often triggers wheezing in dogs. The disease is easily transmissible in areas where lots of dogs congregate, like in kennels, dog parks, and grooming salons.

The wheezing that comes with a kennel cough typically has a dry, hacking quality to it. If your dog has recently been socialized or exposed to other dogs and suddenly develops a wheeze, kennel cough is quite likely to be the culprit. In addition to isolation during outbreaks, vaccination can help to reduce the spread of the disease.

Treatment most commonly involves rest, although antibiotics are sometimes prescribed if a secondary infection has developed. While your dog is recovering, it's important to keep him separated from other dogs to stop the kennel cough from spreading.

4. Heart Disease

It can also lead to fluid accumulation in the lungs, consequently causing wheezing and other breathing challenges in dogs. When the heart is less effective at pumping blood, fluid congestion in the lungs and airways ensues.

If your dog has wheezing that persists and is combined with lethargy or a cough, the causative agent may have heart disease. Early detection and treatment can ensure that heart disease is controlled and your dog's prognosis is improved. Regular check-ups and monitoring can also help to help in catching this condition before it gets too far.

Some of the medications and changes to lifestyle that include low-sodium diets can help greatly in the management or reduction of heart symptoms. In addition, regular exercise accompanied by a balanced diet will keep the heart healthy, thereby reducing the risks of wheezing.

5. Respiratory infections

Respiratory infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, can trigger bad wheezing in dogs. These diseases are reported to inflame your dog's airways, which over time progress to difficult breathing.

If your dog is wheezing, and in addition has fever, lethargy, or nasal discharge, it might be symptomatic of respiratory infection. Early presentation to a veterinarian is important to establish an appropriate diagnosis and initiate treatment. With appropriate antibiotics and supportive care, most dogs can recover and breathe a lot more comfortably.

Keeping your dog current with vaccinations can prevent many types of respiratory infections. Keeping them warm and dry during cold weather can also help greatly reduce the incidence of respiratory conditions that can lead to wheezing.

6. Collapsing Trachea

It is a condition wherein the trachea, or the windpipe, weakens in diameter and turns narrow in diameter, causing breathing problems and wheezing. It mostly affects small and toy breeds and can worsen with age.

If your dog's wheezing worsens during excitement or just after drinking water, it could be a collapsing trachea. A vet can diagnose the condition by using X-rays or other imaging techniques. There is no cure, but treatments such as weight management and avoiding irritants can help manage the symptoms.

Severe cases may require surgery to relieve pain. The use of a harness in place of a collar to decrease the pressure on the trachea may also help in reducing the episodes of wheezing.

7. Chronic Bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is an inflammatory airway disease in which older dogs develop wheezing and coughing. There is speculation that it may be exacerbated by smoke and dust in the environment.

If your dog has a chronic, long-term cough and wheezing is present, then this could be from chronic bronchitis. It is best managed with medications and environmental modifications. Cleaning and removing irritants from your dog's environment can often make a significant difference in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life.

Regular veterinary check-ups are essential for monitoring chronic bronchitis and making changes to treatment as needed. With proper care, most dogs can enjoy comfortable lives despite this condition.

8. Foreign Bodies in the Airway

Dogs possess a natural curiosity, and occasionally, this leads them to inhale or swallow foreign objects that may become stuck in their airways. Such obstruction can result in abrupt wheezing and trouble breathing.

If your dog suddenly wheezes, acting very distressed, he could probably have a foreign object trapped in his airway. In such cases, it would be incumbent to go see a vet for the safe removal of the object. Prevention of access to small objects and minimizing the risk by staying alert during walks could help.

If your dog loves to pick up things, train him to drop items on command. This training can prevent dangerous situations and reduce the likelihood of wheezing due to airway obstruction.

9. Brachycephalic Syndrome

Problems with Pugs and Bulldogs are more likely to be due to the shape of their head leading to them having difficulty breathing i.e. Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome that holds stenotic nares, extended soft palate, and other structural problems. This makes your brachycephalic dog wheeze, snore, or appear out of breath after walking.

Avoiding heavy exercise, staying at an appropriate weight, and maintaining a healthy diet are treatment options that you can do on your own to prevent symptoms. On occasion, surgical procedures are needed to eliminate wheezing and provide a clearer passage for breathing. Brachycephalic breed owners need to know the severity of their dogs' breathing difficulties and take steps to make it easier for them, too.

10. Parasites

Wheezing is often an indication that your dog has a parasite like lungworms. The dog inhales larvae, which then ends up in and around its lungs where they cause inflammation leading to obstruction.

If your dog is wheezing, coughing or lethargic, this could be a sign you have an infestation of parasites. Regular application of an efficient dewormer and a visit to the veterinarian will help you in detecting early signs of such parasitic infection. Even staying away from places where parasites are found, like stagnant water, can help to prevent such a risk.

Treatment typically involves medication that kills the parasites, though symptoms are usually treated through supportive care. Additionally, the vast majority of infections with these organisms can be eliminated by simple measures such as basic clean living and hygiene practices.

11. Smoke Inhalation

Dogs wheezing is quite serious when they breathe smoke, whether it is a fire, a cigarette, or even some other source, results in exposure to irritants in their airways leading to inflamed and reactive (constricting) airways causing difficulty breathing.

This directly leads to long-term respiratory problems caused by chronic smoke in which anyone living or working around a constant source of wood fire will have their whole life. They should be well aired to cut the exposure over time, and smoke must not accumulate in places where your dog may live.

These can be avoided by taking them somewhere with fresh air and visiting the veterinarian. It may simply go further to save them from having a whizzing by keeping all of them coming from used smoke among other poisons.

12. Obesity

Health issues associated with dogs include canine obesity, which can lead to both wheezing and fast breathing in some cases. Fats put more stress on the respiratory system and produce a struggle in breathing which further led to many complexities during physical activities.

Weight management plays a crucial role in managing obesity in dogs. A vet would prescribe a diet and exercise program tailored for your dog, which of course will lead to weight loss. Just like in straightforward tracking, gradual changes will also develop a safe and efficient weight loss experience.

Eating well-balanced and consistent meals and drinking lots of water throughout the day longs make sure that obesity-induced wheezing is pushed aside. Feeding your dog a balanced diet in the correct portions is what helps keep them healthy.

13. Heatstroke

Hyperthermia is an elevated body temperature condition that may be deadly as it causes severe and life-threatening heat in the dog due to extremely high levels of ups. This wheezing can also cause marked respiratory distress when the body is attempting to cool down.

When it is hot and your dog starts gasping, heavily panting while bearing itself in bed motionless, that could be heatstroke. If unattended and left to run its course, it requires too-quick cooling for veterinary help in time, or which is likely going to kill your dog.

Thus, protecting a dog from suffering through heatstroke entails having plenty of water and shade available as well as reducing exercise on the hottest days of summer. By constantly checking the temperature of your dog, it will maintain a cool body and keep you hydrated which would prevent heatstroke. It saves their body from getting too hot.

14. Anaphylaxis

In dogs, anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can cause rapid wheezing and reduced breathing status. Which could potentially be lethal and will need vet treatment.

If your dog randomly starts wheezing, puffing up, or showing signs of distress after coming in contact with a presumed allergen, he could be going into anaphylaxis. Immediate rather than proper care that necessitates the supervision of antihistamines. Prolonged precautions include avoiding known allergens and being equipped with medications in emergencies.

Anaphylaxis is extremely sudden and can happen in the blink of an eye, so knowing what to look for and having a plan is crucial. Removing allergens from the patient's environment, which in most cases was probably your dog, will decrease this deadliest of allergic reactions.

15. Nasal Blockage

If the size of a nasal blockage tumor is possible, your dog develops new wheezing, especially with nasal discharge, sneezing, or swelling on one side of the face. In general, diagnostics would involve a simple X-ray and CT scan to see if this sort of tumor was present. Its characteristics may determine whether surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy are the best treatment options.

Getting regular checkups and watching for signs of changes in your dog's breathing can help them find it early. Timely intervention can improve the outcome of wheezing and reduce some other factors that are responsible for causing breathing problems in your beloved canine buddy.

16. Fungus

In dogs as well as humans this wheezing and other respiratory anomalies are due to fungal infection but particularly it is because of the species Aspergillus. Most commonly, dogs inhale spores, which introduce fungal infections into their respiratory system.

However, wheezing is associated with nasal discharge, lethargy, off food, etc. the possibility of a systemic fungal infection is real/false. Let your veterinarian know right away, and he or she will start an appropriate antifungal to lessen these kinds of infections.

However, fungal infections can be difficult to treat if they persist unchecked, so the condition must be picked up early and treated properly. It is very important to make sure your dog lives in a clean, dry area that is fungal-free.

17. Laryngeal Paralysis

In laryngeal paralysis, an animal cannot properly move its air around the larynx (voice box) due to a loss of normal muscle movement. This leads to inflamed airways and wheezy breathing, most common in older large-breed dogs.

An example of this is if your dog's condition seems to become worse with exertion or excitement, as it would suggest laryngeal paralysis. A physical examination, which would most likely be done during the dog's visit with the veterinarian, where it is diagnosed and one of several treatment options may be recommended such as surgery or medication.

Maintaining a healthy weight and reducing stress in your dog can help lessen side effects. Provide a less stressful environment for your dog and help eliminate the force of exercise resulting in less wheezing.

18. Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure is a condition where the heart cannot pump blood as it should, and fluid accumulates in the lungs. This may or may not be accompanied by wheezes. The dogs most commonly affected are elderly and of certain breeds.

The dog may also have a cough, appear lethargic, or find it difficult to breathe. The goal of catching CHF early on is to provide appropriate management so that your dog has the best possible chance at a good quality of life. This can usually be managed with medication, diet, and veterinary care.

Regular monitoring routines to evaluate your dog's heart's healthy standing could help in the earlier identification of congestive cardiac arrest. In addition, proper diet and routine physical exercise would favor a healthy heart thereof reducing the probability of panting.