Aspiration Pneumonia
Submitted by Fatboy on January 2, 2012 - 3:48pmCan anyone with experience with this please tell me your story? I've read the symptoms and they seem to all apply to Fatboy. We couldn't take him to the vet this weekend because they are closed (or just wern't answering their phones). My husband comes back in town tomorrow and can take him but until then I sit here worrying.
Fatboy has been breathing harder lately; as if he's just been playing really hard or it's too hot (even though it's not). And he can't seem to get comfortable laying down. He's constantly laying down, getting up to move to another spot, and laying down again. Thoughts?
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Fatboy aka Stinky :)
A few questions
Why do you believe he aspirated?
Does he have a temperature?
Is he peeing and pooping normally?
Is he drooling?
Does his stomach feel hard or look swollen?
I'm just trying to get a better idea of his condition.
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Aspiration is a constant fear for me. When he was a puppy water accidently tricled down to his nose while we gave him a bath. I'm not sure if he breathed any of it in. I can't take his temperature as we have no thermometer. He is doing his business like normal and he drools a lot (this is normal). His stomach isn't swollen or hard. And his chest always sounds congested when he breathes. His nose is runny but it's clear. Sometimes his breath smells wrong (not stinky but it's not a normal doggy breath scent).
Fatboy aka Stinky :)
Ok
Has he aspirated recently that you know of? Lots of drooling is not normal for a bulldog, that's a stereotype. Drooling is usually a sign of pain or nausea.
Try to look in his mouth and see if you can see anything abnormal. Sometimes they get hair stuck around their gums and that can cause a bad smell. Also, a sore tooth or an abcess can cause drooling.
You really should have a thermometer as part of you bulldog emergency kit.
Vet visit ASAP
Our boy BamBam is currently taking Baytril and Clavamox because he has fluid in one of his lungs. 2 weeks ago his breathing seemed a little labored so off to the vet we went. A chest x-ray showed fluid in the lung. Got worse before it started clearing up. Anything respiratory can get real serious, real fast so don't wait if you believe his symptoms are respiratory.
Good luck and hugs to the patient
Lynn King CPDT-KA
Lynn, I am so sorry BamBam got sick:-(
Hope he is feeling a lot better now. That is such an awful feeling to know they have pneumonia, it can be really bad before it gets any better. So hard watching it progress. I am sure BamBam will be ok, give him a hug from Sophie and I:-)
Amy and Sophia