Introduction
The symptoms of asthma can often be very frightening for dog owners. Wheezing, coughing, troubles breathing, and even signs of oxygen deprivation can all occur if your dog is suffering from asthma. As frightening as these symptoms are, they are also one of the main determining factors for diagnosing asthma in dogs.
Diagnosing Asthma
There is no test that will conclusively tell veterinarians if a dog has asthma or not. Rather a diagnosis of asthma is concluded upon the dog’s symptoms, a physical examination, and ruling out any other causes that could be causing the symptoms. Your veterinarian will probably start the examination by asking specific questions about your dog’s symptoms. Before your dog is at the veterinarian’s office, try to write down everything you remember about your dog’s symptoms. Notes like how long the symptoms lasted, how often they occurred, and how your dog behaved after the symptoms stopped will all help your veterinarian to diagnosis what is wrong with your dog.
After talking about the symptoms, a physical examination and a chest x-ray will likely be performed. The physical examination will help your veterinarian check out your dog’s respiration and overall health. The chest x-ray will rule out any other causes of the symptoms such as pneumonia or scarring of the lung tissues. Blood chemistry tests and a heartworm test may also be performed to rule out any other causes of the symptoms. Once your veterinarian is assured that your dog is not suffering from any other complications, the asthma will be addressed through medication.
A positive response to the medication will also confirm that your dog is indeed suffering from asthma. Fortunately for you, and your dog, canine asthma can be treated successfully with lifelong medication.