Frequent veterinary rechecks should be performed to make sure the pneumonia is resolving – this will include recheck of chest x-rays approximately once a week for several weeks. Once a dog can breathe without the support of oxygen therapy, treatment at home includes antibiotic therapy for 3-5 weeks.

Also, drugs that suppress the immune system (e.g., cyclosporine, prednisone) typically should not be used as they can prevent the body from fighting the infection within the lung. Treatment should not include diuretics (e.g., water pills) that can dehydrate the patient or cough suppressants (which can prevent the pus in the lungs from being coughed up). Once your dog is more stable, diagnostics such as blood work and x-rays should be performed.

Nebulization and coupage (your veterinarian will explain).

Anti-vomiting medication (e.g., maropitant).

Treatment includes oxygen therapy, intravenous (IV) catheter access, IV fluids, and IV antibiotics. If you notice any of the clinical signs of aspiration pneumonia, immediate treatment at your veterinarian is necessary. This is often important to help rule out otherĬauses of pneumonia, such as other bacterial causes (e.g., kennel cough pneumonia secondary to Bordatella bronchiseptica), fungal causes (e.g., Blastomycoses), or even cancer. This is a “fluid wash” where fluid is flushed into the lung and then taken back for culture testing.

Sometimes, a transtracheal wash or endotracheal lavage is necessary to diagnose the underlying bacterial infection within the lung. Pulse oximetry or an arterial blood gas to measure the oxygen level within the lungs or blood.*.Baseline blood work to make sure the kidneys, liver and other organs are working appropriately and to see if the white blood cell count is elevated.Abdominal x-rays (to look for the cause of vomiting).Additional tests to diagnose aspiration pneumonia include: The diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia in dogs typically starts with a thorough physical examination by your veterinarian (including careful auscultation with a stethoscope for abnormal lung sounds). Clinical signs of aspiration pneumonia include: Persistent right aortic arch (seen in puppies)Īlso, if your dog had recent sedation or anesthesia for surgery, has an underlying medical condition that predisposes him to aspiration or gets sick after vomiting, he may have aspiration pneumonia.Medical conditions that make a dog more likely to aspirate vomitus into their lungs include 1,2: A diagnosis of an underlying medical condition that predisposes the dog toward aspiration.What could cause my dog to have aspiration pneumonia?ĭogs that develop aspiration pneumonia typically have a history of 1,2: Aspiration pneumonia is typically a life-threatening emergency that warrants an immediate trip to your veterinarian or emergency veterinarian. Due to this inflammation, excessive fluid and mucus accumulates within the lower airway, causing difficulty breathing.

This results in a secondary inflammation and infection of the lung. Many of these risk factors occur in critically ill hospitalised patients, so regular monitoring for changes in respiratory function is paramount.Aspiration pneumonia happens when gastrointestinal contents have been inhaled into your dogs' lungs. Aspiration pneumonitis and aspiration of contaminated material can both lead to aspiration pneumonia, the term used to describe the presumed secondary infection ( Tart et al, 2010).Īspiration pneumonia is usually associated with an underlying disease and there are several predisposing risk factors: Aspiration of gastric acid is an aseptic injury, but this adversely affects the lung's defences against infection, predisposing the lung to secondary infection ( Tart et al, 2010). Aspiration of contaminated material can cause aspiration pneumonitis, which is the pulmonary injury that occurs after an aspiration event. It is caused by the inhalation of foreign matter (such as gastric contents, hydrocarbons, chemicals or water) into the larynx and lower respiratory tract. Aspiration pneumonia is a disease that can occur in both canine and feline patients, however it is far more common in canines.

Aspiration pneumonia lung sounds