Chihuahua Respiratory System Diseases

Chihuahua Respiratory System Diseases

Chihuahua Respiratory System Diseases

What the respiratory system does

The respiratory tract (system) consists out of the nasal passages, the larynx, the trachea, the lungs and all the connections between these. Its main function is to regulate the supply of oxygen to the body and to get rid of the nitrogen. The organs in the body need oxygen in order to function, the heart pumps oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body.

Symptoms

If your Chihuahua show one or more of the following symptoms it might have an issue with its respiratory tract: Chihuahua Respiratory System Diseases

  1. Coughing
  2. Panting
  3. Secretion through the nose
  4. Sneezing
  5. Throwing up
  6. Choking
  7. General weakness

Diagnosis

In order to diagnose respiratory diseases you need to consult with your local vet. He has the right tools to determine the reason why your Chihuahua is showing certain symptoms:

  1. A blood test to check for anemia or an infection
  2. Invasive examination of the respiratory tract under anesthesia
  3. X-ray scans of the affected area
  4. Endoscopy of the chest area
  5. Smear of the throat and/or nose

Treatment

The good new is that if your Chihuahua suffers from respiratory problems is that they are often relatively easy to solve:

  1. In case of an infection the vet will more often than not prescribe antibiotics
  2. Anti-inflammatory drugs and cough medecine can help supress the symptoms
  3. Drugs to widen the airway can ease with breathing

Types of Chihuahua Respiratory system diseases

Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment
Object stuck in nose Sneezing and secretion contains blood Visual examination of nose Manual removal with tools
Nasal tumors Sneezing and secretion contains blood MRI-scan Operative procedure
Infection Fever and nasal secretion Analysis of secretion swab Anti-inflammatory drugs
Paralysis of the larynx Gasping for air, sometimes collapsing MRI-scan Specific medication to treat infection of the larynx
Tracheal collapse Raw cough, swollen throat gland and/or fever Analysis of secretion swab Antibiotics
Bronchitis Chronic cough X-ray Anti-inflammatory drugs
Lung worms Raw cough and nasal secretion Analysis of stool sample Antiparasitic medication
Pneumonia Fever and coughing X-ray Antibiotics
Pleural effusion Fast breathing and coughing Analysis of blood sample Eliminating liquid buildup