{"id":50070,"date":"2022-03-28T09:30:13","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T13:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=50070"},"modified":"2023-05-08T10:02:14","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T14:02:14","slug":"dog-asthma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/dog-asthma\/","title":{"rendered":"Can dogs have asthma?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prevalence<\/a> | Causes<\/a> | Symptoms<\/a> | Diagnosis<\/a> | Dog asthma attacks<\/a> | Prevention<\/a> | Treatment<\/a> | Treatment costs<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Asthma<\/span><\/a> is a common condition in humans\u2014especially children. It affects the lungs and causes airway inflammation. Common symptoms include wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness. If untreated, asthma attacks can be life-threatening. It can be triggered by a variety of things including exercise, allergies, irritants, weather, smoke, illness, poor air quality, and even cold air.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though you may think of asthma as a human disease, it turns out your furry best friends are also susceptible. Read on to learn how to spot symptoms of asthma in dogs, how to treat it, and how to prevent attacks. Catching asthma early can help your pets live their lives to the fullest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Asthma in dogs<\/h2>\n

Asthma can occur in dogs of all breeds and sizes, but some breeds are more likely to have asthma than others.\u00a0 \u201c<\/span>Small dog breeds seem to be more susceptible to asthma than larger breeds,\u201d says <\/span>Chyrle Bonk, DVM, a veterinarian working with <\/span>Hepper<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More specifically, Megan Conrad, BVMS, a veterinarian with<\/span> Hello Ralphie<\/span><\/a>, says: \u201cSome statistics indicate that small and toy breed dogs, as well as flat-faced breeds, can be more prone to this condition.\u201d <\/span>Their particular genetic makeup and shape of their airway makes these types of dogs more likely to have asthma or other respiratory issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Causes<\/h3>\n

While asthma in humans can have various causes, in dogs, asthma attacks are usually triggered by external irritants.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>Asthma in dogs is also called allergic bronchitis, as it\u2019s an allergic reaction to an environmental substance. The allergen causes inflammation in the dog\u2019s respiratory system,\u201d says Dr. Conrad. When the airway muscles constrict, dogs can have trouble breathing or being as active as they otherwise would be.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your dog may have allergies that affect their skin, but when it comes to asthma, it \u201c<\/span>is an allergic condition caused by allergens that are inhaled,\u201d Dr. Bonk says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Common triggers include:<\/span><\/p>\n