wheezing often occurs when something blocks the windpipe. If your pup wheezes or produces a whistling sound, it means he has swelling in air sacs or a particular medical issue. Dog wheezing after eating may be due to the factor that your canine buddy is eating too fast. However, many other causes can cause wheezing after eating in the dog:
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How a wheezing dog sounds like
A wheezing sound in the dog is not the thing to ignore. This sound is different from cough and sneeze. When your dog breathes, he will produce high-pitched whistling same as humans. It is a breathing problem, and you can see your dog finding a spot to lay down and norms its breath.
Causes of wheezing in dogs
Bronchitis
It is a condition that affects the lower airways of the lungs in dogs. These airways get swollen and release mucous, ultimately causing the airways to narrow. The main symptom of bronchitis is coughing; it causes the dogs to cough to clear the airways. However, dogs can feel difficulty in breathing and begin to wheeze when exhaling as the condition worsens.
Collapsed Trachea
It is a chronic condition in dogs that affects the trachea, also known as the windpipe. Sometimes the cartilage present in the rings that support the trachea collapse and lead to breathing problems. It may cause mild to severe obstruction in the dog's airways. Dogs with collapsed trachea may have a honking cough and abnormal breathing sounds, including wheezing.
Allergies
Kennel Cough
It is an upper respiratory infection that is highly infectious and irritates the airways. The most common sign of this disease is a persistent dry cough. Still, breathing difficulties such as wheezing can also develop or worsen with exercise.
Infections
Heart Disease
Dogs are prone to different heart diseases, for example, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and mitral valve disease. These all can cause wheezing in older dogs and sometimes in younger dogs as well. Dogs with any of these conditions may have difficulty in breathing due to lethargy and exercise intolerance. It may cause wheezing.
Foreign Body
Sometimes any foreign subject sticks with your dog's windpipe and causes him to wheeze. It is due to the partial obstruction of the airway. For example, bone fragments, toys, sticks, large pieces of food, or other things your dog might find around the house or yard can obstruct your dog's windpipe. It is common in younger dogs who like to chew on anything, so if you notice your puppy wheezing, take action right away.
How to treat wheezing in dogs
Treatment of wheezing usually depends on the cause of the wheezing. For example, your dog is wheezing due to the obstruction of a foreign object. In that case, your vet will likely sedate your dog and remove the foreign body with medical instruments. On the other hand, if there is an infectious cause behind your dog's wheezing, treatment will be aimed at eliminating those infections. Suppose the wheezing is due to allergic asthma or bronchitis. In that case, your veterinarian will talk to you about medications that you can use to control that condition. In addition, you can do certain things at home to reduce allergens for your dog, such as vacuuming, HEPA air filters, etc. Suppose the wheezing is due to heart disease. In that case, your veterinarian may prescribe medications to help the heart pump more vigorously and more efficiently. If your pet is wheezing due to collapsed trachea, cough medication and controlling the pet's environment will be helpful. It is necessary to ensure that the pet has an excellent place to rest and not get overheated.