Chronic Bronchitis in Dogs

Chronic bronchitis, also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), occurs when the mucous membranes of the bronchi (the airways that transport oxygen from the trachea to the lungs) become inflamed.

Chronic bronchitis is usually due to some degree of allergy in the first place, although once it’s been going on long enough, there can be some permanent damage to the airways which leads to a reduced ability of the lungs to get rid of mucus and dust, etc., on their own, so a dog has to actively cough it up. Unlike chronic bronchitis, acute bronchitis is associated with reversible changes in the structure of the airways.

This disease in middle-aged and older dogs may become worse following sudden changes in the weather or other environmental stresses. Animals with foreign bodies in the airway or developmental abnormalities such as deformities of the larynx may tend to develop bronchitis.

Chronic Bronchitis occurs in all breeds of dogs, but may be more common in small-breed and toy-breed dogs such as West Highland White Terriers and Cocker Spaniels. It most often affects middle-aged and older dogs.

Causes of Chronic Bronchitis in Dogs

No definitive underlying causes of COPD have been determined. However, long term airway inflammation may result from exposure to inhaled irritants such as tobacco smoke, air pollutants or allergens, bacteria associated with dental disease, or from recurrent infections of the respiratory system.

Symptoms of Chronic Bronchitis in Dogs

The most common signs of chronic bronchitis include daily coughing, difficulty breathing or wheezing for two to three months or longer. Coughing is often more pronounced initially upon awakening and then reduces in frequency while awake and active. Episodes of coughing can mimic vomiting; you may think that your dog is vomiting when in fact your dog is having a coughing fit followed by retching.

Some severely affected dogs may have extreme exercise intolerance. These signs are not specific for bronchitis and can also be seen with many other diseases. This involves including heart failure, pneumonia, allergic lung disease and lung cancer.

Diagnosis

The veterinarian’s diagnosis is made from the history, physical examination, clinical signs and by ruling out other causes of coughing. Diagnostic tools include chest x-rays, use of an endoscope to view the bronchial tubes (bronchoscopy). Also the collection of biopsy and swab samples for laboratory analysis.

Treatment of Chronic Bronchitis in Dogs

Unless life-threatening symptoms develop, most dogs do not require hospitalization. Otherwise, your veterinarian will typically recommend medication and oxygen therapy to be administered at home. Corticosteroids and bronchodilators, for example, are commonly employed. Their facts reduce airway inflammation and dilate the airway passage to facilitate breathing, respectively. Antibiotics, meanwhile, are usually prescribed to dogs in case of lung infections.