Happiness is a healthy dog

Technically known as “paroxysmal respiration”, reverse sneezing can be caused by an irritant in the air, by eating or drinking too fast, by a foreign body or <g data-gr-id="114">hair balls</g>, or even a nasal infection. The resulting irritation of the palate or throat causes a spasm, resulting in quick inhalations of air into the dog’s nose. The trachea can narrow, causing difficulty in air movement. The condition is more common in older dogs. To reduce the chances of reverse sneezes, minimize chemicals, cleaners, rug deodorizers or other potential irritants from the home. Groom your dog often, and vacuum up hair every day. During a reverse sneeze, try rubbing your dog’s throat to ease the spasm. Very briefly cover his nose to encourage swallowing, which can dislodge a foreign body. Look into his mouth if need be, to see if anything is obstructing his throat. If so, remove it. 

Pus filled bumps are a sign of bacterial infections. The most common bacterial infection in pups is Impetigo. Impetigo pustules are very easy to rupture. They appear on the stomach and are filled with liquid. After bursting, they ooze and crust over, and cause discomfort and pain. At this stage, the impetigo is also very contagious, so any puppy or dog with it should be kept away from others until it clears up. Most impetigo clears up on its <g data-gr-id="116">own,</g> or dissipates with treatment. A medicated shampoo can be used. Get one with benzoyl peroxide and bathe your puppy with it two times a week for 2 to 3 weeks. If the impetigo is not a mild enough case to clear up with only the use of topical treatments, you may need to obtain a round of oral antibiotics or topical antibiotic. 

It could also be a sign of distemper. Canine distemper is a virus that affects a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal, respiratory and central nervous systems, as well as the conjunctival membranes of the eye. The first signs of canine distemper include abdominal pustules, sneezing, coughing and thick mucus coming from the eyes and nose. Fever, lethargy, sudden vomiting and diarrhea, depression and/or loss of appetite are also symptoms of the virus. There is no cure for canine distemper. 

Treatment for the disease, therefore, is heavily focused on alleviating the symptoms. If the animal has become anorexic or has diarrhea, intravenous supportive fluids may be given. Discharge from the eyes and nose must be cleaned away regularly. Antibiotics may be prescribed to control the symptoms caused by a secondary bacterial infection, and <g data-gr-id="121">phenobarbitals</g> and potassium bromide may be needed to control convulsions and seizures. There are no antiviral drugs that are effective in treating the disease.

 

These could be symptoms of a heart disease that could eventually lead to heart failure. A dog heart attacks looks like this:

Difficulty breathing which includes <g data-gr-id="90">panting</g>

 *Tilting of the head

 *Arrhythmia

 *Pain and discomfort

 *Seizures or sudden collapse

 *Stiffness of the forelimbs

Avoid administering any food or water during the attack. Due to the pain and discomfort associated with the heart attack, the dog may become aggressive. Pet owners should gently place a hand on the dog’s chest to determine the pace of <g data-gr-id="99">heartbeat</g>. Take the dog to a vet immediately and have all the tests done.

Three years ago I took my <g data-gr-id="104">18 month old</g> female Pomeranian to the vet after a small scab came off her shoulder area. The vet said it was a “hot” spot, however, the hair has not only never grown back in that <g data-gr-id="103">area</g> but the spot has gotten larger. I can see tiny red spots around the perimeter of the hairless are.

The condition you are describing is focal alopecia which is a localized area of hair loss on a dog. Pyotraumatic dermatitis, also known as “hot spots,” can leave such a characteristic lesion after they heal. Due to damage to the hair follicles during active inflammation, the hair may or may not grow back. My concern is that you notice red spots around the edges of the lesion and that it is gradually increasing is <g data-gr-id="96">size</g> which strongly suggests an active inflammatory response.

Ringworm produces circular hairless lesions with a red ring and should be ruled out by your regular veterinarian. Proper tests should be done to diagnose the disease correctly. Treatment involves clipping the wound just past the red area so that the skin can be cleaned with a <g data-gr-id="98">chlorhexidene</g> solution and cool water followed with <g data-gr-id="102">topical</g> application of an antimicrobial ointment or spray such as Vetericyn. Oral supplementation with omega fatty acids can also reduce the severity of chronic dermatoses.

My bulldog has broken out with these bumps around his mouth and chin. They look like little blisters. They don’t seem to hurt <g data-gr-id="112">him</g> but I’m still worried that he is allergic to something around the house. 

This sounds like a fairly common ailment known as canine acne. In fact, <g data-gr-id="110">bulldog</g> is one of the breeds that is most affected by this complaint (as well as Boxers and Great Danes). This condition most commonly begins to develop at around the age of 5 to 8 months (equivalent to adolescence in humans). Typically, the condition will resolve itself after about one year of age - and if chronic acne still persists veterinary care may be required. Keeping the skin around affected areas clean with mild anti-bacterial <g data-gr-id="119">cleanses</g> will help to control outbreaks and prevent infection. Anti-inflammatories are only generally required if your dog is scratching the affected area more than is healthy for the skin. I would still recommend that your dog sees a vet, who may decide to take a skin biopsy to be sure that acne is the cause. Other possible reasons for these symptoms include ringworm and <g data-gr-id="120">demodecosis</g> (a mite infestation).