Respiratory Care
Asthma
If you’ve observed your cat or dog wheezing, having shallow or labored breathing, coughing, or breathing with their mouth open, your pet may suffer from asthma. Household dogs and cats can develop asthma just like humans.
If you believe your pet might have asthma, schedule an exam for your pet today! Our veterinarian will observe your cat or dog for symptoms and may also conduct a chest x-ray on your pet to see if there’s airway inflammation.
We may recommend a blood panel to assess if they’re suffering from another respiratory issue, and we may examine for parasites and heartworms along with a blood count and culture to determine if the animal has a bacterial infection.
From there, our team can recommend a treatment option for your pets. The goal of treatment will be to open their airways to improve airflow and reduce their symptoms. We may also recommend medication, including inhaled or oral steroids that help reduce inflammation, antihistamines that open airways and reduce the pet’s sensitivity to certain allergic triggers, and at times, an aerosol chamber/spacer that helps deliver steroids like albuterol (a bronchodilator). Antibiotics may also be recommended if the asthma is related to a respiratory infection.
If your team is experiencing an asthma attack, please call us or an emergency hospital immediately.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with our veterinarian, call KKM Veterinary Clinic today at (513) 423-2331.
Coughing and Sneezing
If you notice your dog coughing or sneezing, they may have canine influenza or dog flu. For many dogs, the effects of canine influenza may be mild, and your pet should recover within two to three weeks. If your pet demonstrates these symptoms, schedule an appointment with us early to ensure the issue does not progress to a more serious condition such as pneumonia.
