Is Your Dog Wheezing? Here Are 5 Natural Remedies You'll Love

Wheezing (or noisy breathing) in dogs is a health problem that you should never trivialize.

While it is true that this condition can be triggered by simple everyday allergens and disappear within minutes, it can also lead to life-threatening situations depending on the case.

We share with you the best information found from our online research, as well as the factors that can trigger wheezing in dogs. This blog post also provides insight into effective natural remedies for treating this problem.

Let's start the discussion by addressing the likely reasons why your dog is having this breathing problem...

Why is my dog ​​wheezing?

Wheezing occurs in dogs when something partially obstructs the flow of air into or out of their airways. This obstruction may originate in the bronchi, the main airways of the lungs, or in the trachea.

The high-pitched whistling sound is created when air moving from the lungs into the trachea bumps against the obstruction during exhalation.

However, it is essential to note that there are several possible reasons for the creation of this whistling sound, which can range from mild irritation to an underlying health problem.

Now, let's talk about the ones you'll need to remember...

What causes noisy breathing in dogs?

There are eight (8) common causes of noisy breathing in dogs, namely genetics, foreign bodies, cardiovascular conditions, allergies, bronchitis, infections and inflammations, as well as kennel cough and tracheal collapse. We will examine each of these causes in detail below:

Genetic

It is worth noting that genetics plays a key role in a dog's noisy breathing. If one of its two (2) parents (the biological parents, in this case) is predisposed or has already suffered from noisy breathing due to an underlying condition, it is likely that it will also be susceptible to this health problem.

Foreign body

If your precious pet is like most dogs, chances are they enjoy chewing on anything that fascinates them, such as toys, sticks, various foods, plastic lids, and even pieces of wood. It's not uncommon for some of these objects to shatter or break into pieces. These can become lodged in their airways, causing coughing and wheezing.

Cardiovascular diseases

Canine cardiovascular diseases, such as mitral valve disease, congestive heart failure, and cardiomyopathy, can cause fluid to build up inside the lungs. This fluid can eventually spread in and around the dog's airways, resulting in wheezing.

It should be noted that while this factor is mostly seen in older dogs, it can also occasionally be seen in young dogs with heart disease.

Allergies

Just like humans, your canine companion can also be prone to allergy attacks. These can be triggered by dust, mold, certain types of food, pollen, industrial chemicals, as well as cigarette smoke and vapors from vapes. All of these can explain why your dog is wheezing.

When these allergens find their way into the respiratory system, they tend to trigger an immune response that causes constriction, which can make breathing a bit difficult. Insect bites and stings can also have similar consequences.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is a respiratory disease characterized by irritation of the main airways in the lungs called bronchi. As the disease progresses, the lining of the bronchi becomes inflamed and eventually swells, preventing air from flowing freely from the trachea to the lungs and vice versa.

The more severe this swelling, the more difficult it is for air to flow between the lungs and the trachea, causing high-pitched wheezing.

Infections and inflammations

When your dog has an infection or inflammation affecting their respiratory system, the most significant immune responses their body triggers are a runny nose, coughing and sneezing, and narrowing of the airways.

This can also be accompanied by a buildup of mucus in your beloved pooch's sinuses and throat, which can impede airflow through their trachea and lungs, eventually causing wheezing or sibilance.

Kennel cough

Characterized by persistent bouts of dry coughing, kennel cough is a type of respiratory infection that irritates the lining of a dog's airways, making breathing difficult. This disease also causes swelling in parts of the throat and trachea, resulting in a wheezing sound when breathing.

Tracheal collapse

Tracheal collapse involves the unexpected loss of the cartilage that supports the trachea. Depending on the severity of the collapse, the dog may experience coughing fits with a distinctive honking noise, as well as intermittent wheezing.

Can wheezing be considered an emergency in dogs? Let's address this...

Is Dog's Noisy Breathing an Emergency?

Most often, the answer is no. It may simply be your dog's body's reaction to everyday allergens like dust and pollen, as well as to grass blades and twigs that can feel tickly.

This doesn't mean, however, that this health issue should be ignored. Here are some crucial indicators to consider when determining if your pet's life could be in danger:

• He is visibly having difficulty inhaling and exhaling

• His breathing is very shallow but at a very fast pace

• His heart rate is significantly (and abnormally) elevated

• His gums and tongue have a noticeable bluish or purplish tint

• He breathes through his mouth, with intermittent coughing and yawning.

• He exhibits signs of severe anxiety such as incoherent movements and prolonged moaning

Make sure to seek immediate medical attention or emergency care for your beloved pet as soon as these symptoms appear. Failure to pay attention could have extremely serious, even fatal, consequences for your pet.

Now let's see what natural remedies you should include in your home care kit and which will be useful to properly treat the problem of wheezing (or noisy breathing) in dogs...

Natural Remedies for Dog Wheezing

Contrary to popular belief, over-the-counter bronchodilators and antibiotics aren't your only options when it comes to relieving noisy breathing.

It is also possible to treat this condition with completely natural and effective remedies. Interestingly, in addition to providing relief, the following natural remedies can also be used to prevent a problem of noisy breathing:

Prepare an infusion of elecampane.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) , elecampane, also known as horse's eye, Germanic herb, and Helenium, contains significant amounts of an organic compound, alantolactone, which helps relax the airways in cases of inflammation.

Additionally, studies on elecampane reveal that alantolactone has a notable therapeutic effect on airways that have been suppressed or obstructed by exposure to cigarette smoke.

To use elecampane as a natural remedy, steep one teaspoon of this dried root in a cup of hot water for at least ten (10) minutes. Allow the mixture to cool completely. You can either give this tea directly to your dog at a dose of one teaspoon two (2) times a day, or add two (2) teaspoons of this tea to his water.

Infuse your dog's water with a little echinacea.

Another study published in the NCBI reveals that echinacea is rich in a starch-like chemical called arabinogalactan, which has shown notable therapeutic effects when used to treat upper respiratory infections and inflammation.

Arabinogalactan has also been shown to relieve pain and discomfort caused by conditions such as otitis media and pharyngotonsillitis, which are often triggered by infections and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.

Echinacea is used by steeping one teaspoon of dried echinacea flowers in a cup of hot water for at least ten (10) minutes. Stir gently with a spoon to ensure all pieces are thoroughly soaked.

Once the mixture has completely cooled, you can give your dog two (2) teaspoons of pure echinacea tea two (2) times a day. You can also add the same amount of echinacea tea to his water.

Use licorice root to combat inflammation of the respiratory tract.

The NCBI highlights another study in which licorice root was found to inhibit the accumulation of 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which prevents the onset of allergic reactions, particularly in the respiratory system.

Licorice root is used by infusing one teaspoon in a cup of hot water for at least fifteen (15) minutes. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes after it has completely cooled.

You can directly give your dog two (2) teaspoons of licorice root tea two (2) times a day. You can also add the same amount to his water.

Since licorice root has a slight natural bitterness, you can add a little honey to the concoction to make it sweeter and easier to consume.

Mullein leaves can curb respiratory infections.

Another study published in the NCBI highlights that extracts derived from mullein leaves have the ability to "inhibit the growth of bacteria involved in respiratory infections," which can trigger wheezing.

To use mullein leaves, steep one teaspoon of this herb—you can opt for the fresh or dried variety—in a cup of hot water for at least ten (10) minutes. Let the mixture cool completely.

You can either give this mullein tea to your dog directly, at a rate of one teaspoon twice a day, or add two teaspoons to his water.

Quercetin can help stabilize your dog's breathing rate.

According to the MDPI , foods rich in quercetin, such as black cherries, unpeeled apples, and blueberries, help stabilize breathing rate when eaten regularly.

Other studies note that animals that have been frequently exposed to cigarette smoke are more likely to normalize their breathing rate than those that have not been exposed.

To use quercetin as a natural remedy, incorporate foods rich in this antioxidant into your canine companion's regular diet.

In the next part of our discussion, I would like to tell you about a high-quality natural product to use if your dog is wheezing...

A high-quality natural product to discover

HomeoAnimo's BronchAnimo is designed to support respiratory capacity and promote better lung health.

In addition to being made from natural homeopathic ingredients, my team and I at HomeoAnimo have also ensured that each of the elements that make up BronchAnimo are also of premium quality, to give only the best to your pet.

If your dog is wheezing, use BronchAnimo by giving them a single spray of the product in their mouth once a day. You can also mix the product into their water for an alternative application.

Additionally, be sure to stop administering BronchAnimo once symptoms have resolved. It is also important to note that this product should not be used as a preventative measure.

Conclusion

We thus come to the end of our study on natural remedies to use in case of wheezing in dogs.

I hope you learned a lot from our discussion, especially during the part where it was emphasized that wheezing in dogs should not be left to chance. Instead, this condition must be given immediate and appropriate attention and care. BronchAnimo can help you achieve this goal by including it on your dog home care checklist.

If you'd like to learn more about using natural methods to keep your dog happy and healthy, sign up for our Free Recommendation now to get information on the products and treatment options best suited to your pet's needs.