Respiratory infections in toy dogs. Common? Answered by Dr. Slome

[petdr]

Question:

In small breed dogs (toy) like a Pomeranian is an upper respiratory infection common? and what risks are involved is the survival rate good, and is it preventable?

Thank you.

Answer:

Upper Respiratory infections are common in a lot of breeds and often contracted in parks, groomers, boarding facilities. It is infectious pretty much like getting a chest cold in people. In toy breeds there is a condition called a collapsed trachea syndrome which will cause a hacking cough which sounds similar to a bronchitis cough (kennel cough) but is due to anatomical and sometimes allergic causes. Maybe this is what you were referring to.

There is not much you can do to prevent the latter condition but the former condition can be controlled fairly well with and intranasal vaccine called Bordetella.

Martin Slome DVM

Centre Street Animal Hospital
7700 Bathurst Street Units 40-42
Thornhill
Ontario
L4J 7Y3
(905) 771-9855