Canine Mitral Valve Insufficiency: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Mitral valve insufficiency is a degenerative valve leak causing left-heart failure and accounting for most canine heart disease, especially in older small breeds. It is managed with diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and inotropes, and detected early through routine murmur checks.
Diaphragmatic Hernia in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
A diaphragmatic hernia is an internal hernia where abdominal organs pass through a diaphragmatic tear into the chest, causing breathing difficulty and often vomiting. It is an emergency treated by stabilizing the patient and surgical repair.
Chylothorax in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Chylothorax is lymph (chyle) leaking into the chest cavity, usually from a blocked or ruptured thoracic duct, causing breathing difficulty and malnutrition. It is managed with surgery to ligate the duct plus drainage and a low-fat diet.
Pneumothorax in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Pneumothorax is air trapped in the chest cavity that collapses the lung and causes sudden breathing difficulty. It follows trauma or arises spontaneously, and is treated by removing the air and, for open or tension types, closing the wound or operating.
Pyothorax (Empyema) in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Pyothorax is pus in the chest cavity from bacterial infection of the pleura, causing fever, labored breathing, and a fluid-splash sound. It is treated by draining and flushing the chest plus a prolonged course of culture-guided antibiotics.
Hydrothorax (Pleural Effusion) in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Hydrothorax is non-inflammatory fluid accumulation in the chest that compresses the lungs and causes breathing difficulty. It usually signals heart disease or another systemic problem, and is treated by draining the fluid and managing the cause.
Pleurisy (Pleuritis) in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Pleurisy is inflammation of the lung lining in dogs and cats, causing abdominal breathing, a friction sound, and horizontal dullness on percussion. It is treated with antibiotics, pain and inflammation control, and drainage of pleural fluid.
Pulmonary Edema in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Pulmonary edema is fluid leaking from lung capillaries into the air spaces, causing severe breathing difficulty and frothy pink nasal discharge. It is an emergency treated with oxygen, diuretics, and care of the underlying heart or systemic cause.
Pulmonary Emphysema in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Pulmonary emphysema is over-inflation of the lungs from trapped air, causing labored wheezy breathing. It may follow exertion or chronic airway disease, and is managed by treating the underlying condition and supporting breathing.
Aspiration (Inhalation) Pneumonia in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Aspiration pneumonia is lung inflammation from inhaled material, often after a swallowing disorder or improper oral dosing, and can progress to foul-smelling lung gangrene. It is an emergency treated by clearing the airway, oxygen, and antibiotics.
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