Aspiration Pneumonia
Submitted by Tohrmentsmama on May 29, 2011 - 10:50pmTohrment was dx with "early aspiration pneumonia" last Tuesday. I took him in due to him vomiting up water and coughing. I asked about possible palate issues but the vet said his breating would be rasphy...which it is not. So we did a chest x-ray and the radiologist came back with the diagnosis. Now after reading a bit about this illness, it seems extreme...but maybe the "early" part is where Tohrment differes from the rest. He is on antibotics....and you would never know him to be sick before or now, except for the cough. The vomiting has decresed to maybe once a day vs 3-5 times a day....but I and still wondering about the palate issue. Would we really notice major breathing troubles??? And with the pneumonia wouldn't he be more "sick" acting (lethargic/fever)? Anyone with some suggestions?
No Not necessarily
You can have a completely quiet breather when they are calm and at home, but once they get excited or are playing and panting/breathing hard they get real noisy. The only way to really check is to put them under....but a vet that is familiar with the breed can some times feel the throat and determine if they are thick in there.
Is this a puppy? Unless it is an extreme case then it is unlikely the puppy has a problem, but it can happen. You will typically start having problems as the dog ages, closer to a year.
I would be more concerned with a narrow trach if it is a puppy. Has the vet xrayed the trach?
only chest
The vet did a Chest x-ray. Tohrment is 5 mos now. He plays hard with our boxer and he hasn't been a heavy breather...during play or quiet time. He actually wears her down right now. I just find that a bit odd for a pup with pneumonia to be doing. He is still coughing, but the vomiting has been reduced dramatically. (less than once a day now.) I looked for a vet that was recommended from this site in our area and there is one about 1/2hr away...I'm taking him there on Friday...x-rays in hand...chart is being sent there as we type. I started using this vet due to another breeder that used him for ALL her pups over the years....but i am just not sure about this dx...