Can my small dog get asthma? What about actual asthma attacks?

This can be a number of respiratory issues including laryngeal paralysis, laryngeal obstruction, or just a benign condition called reverse sneezing, where it appears he is struggling to breathe but it is actually a tickling of the larynx and completely harmless. See this video for an example of reverse sneezing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IszRBYxsGI The event has to be seen to give you a better idea of if this is something to worry about or not. I would recommend recording the next episode on your phone and then showing the video to your vet for advise on what to do. If at any point your pet's tongue turns blue or he passes out or if you feel that he is in respiratory distress, then I encourage you to go to an ER vet.

This is very concerning and I recommend to have your pup checked out as soon as you can. Shortness of breath is very concerning for fluid building up in the lungs (which can be due to several causes including heart disease and cancer). A primary lung disease, a tumor in the chest, lung parasites or a problem with the diaphragm. Dogs don't really get asthma like humans do. They can get a bronchitis but this generally presents as coughing and wheezing. It's best to play it safe. The veterinarian will need to listen to the heart and lungs, conduct a physical exam and may need some radiographs. This is the best way to figure out the cause and to know the best treatments available. I hope your pup start feeling better quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It sounds like she may have reverse sneezing which is nothing to worry about. I suggest you watch some YouTube videos to see if that is what you think she is doing. This is very common in small breed dogs. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3L4v0W2_Sw ) ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/reverse-sneeze-in-dogs )

Chronic coughing in small dog can have many reasons. The most common cause is a collapsing trachea. This would be a weakness in the windpipe and whenever the dog gets excited, does exercise, and in some cases even when resting , the trachea collapses and keeps the air from getting to the lungs. This will cause coughing, wheezing and even trouble breathing. This can be easily diagnosed with an xray and a throough exam. Another common cause, especially in old dogs, would be congestive heart failure where the heart is not able to pump blood efficiently and a pulmonary edema develops and causes coughing, wheezing and breathing troubles. Again a thorough clinical exam and xrays/ultrasound exam can rule this out. I suggest you schedule an appointment for an exam with your vet soon.

From your description, my main suspicion is that Brownie is experiencing a reverse sneeze. This occurs when irritation occurs in the back of the nasal passages, causing her to dramatically inhale air. (Regular sneezes occur as a result of irritation at the front of the nasal passages, causing air to be pushed out.) During these episodes, you can try blowing directly into her nose (I realize that it sounds strange!), but this can help to change her air flow and stop the reverse sneezing. If these episodes worsen, she could also be experiencing the start of collapsing trachea (unusual in a larger dog), allergic airway conditions or kennel cough, which would require a visit to her vet. I hope that all goes well!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Gizmo. I do recommend that she sees her veterinarian. While she could be experiencing allergies as they are common this time of year, a respiratory tract infection is also possible. Given how frequently her symptoms are occurring, I worry that she does have an infection. If so, she may need an antibiotic. In the meantime, you can place her the bathroom while you shower. The warm humid air can help lessen any congestion she may have. I hope this information helps!

Hello, and thank you for your question! It sounds like Prince may be congested, which can be a sign of an upper respiratory tract infection, also known as kennel cough. Other possibilities include a nasal foreign body, such as a grass awn stuck in his nostril, or reverse sneezing syndrome. If the behavior continues over the next 24 hours, I would recommend taking Prince to the vet. They can help determine the cause of his symptoms and prescribe the appropriate medication if necessary. In the meantime, monitor him closely, and try to video tape the episodes if they happen again. This will be valuable information to bring to your vet. I hope this helps, and that prince feels better soon!