Everyone loves the warming of temperatures and the world coming back to life. However, the pleasant weather can be accompanied by those dreaded allergies. This can happen with your dog, too! Did you know that May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month for pets? Did you even know that asthma was possible in pets?
Asthma is an allergic disease that is more common in cats than dogs. An asthma attack happens when the animal has an allergic reaction to an irritant, causing their airway to inflame and their lungs to constrict and spasm.
How can you tell if your pet has asthma? Here are the symptoms:
-Persistent cough/wheezing
-Loss of energy
-Difficulty breathing
-Blue gums (caused by lack of oxygen)
-Excessive panting
-Lack of energy
-Appetite loss
-Pacing
-Shaking
If you notice any of these symptoms, visit your vet. They will run several tests to rule out other causes for these symptoms and possibly order some x-rays. If your pet is diagnosed with asthma, treatment is based on the severity. If the asthma is bad enough, prescriptive medications or dog inhalers may be prescribed.
