🫁 Vet Guide 2025: Pneumonia Management in Dogs and Cats – Causes, Treatments & Home Recovery Tips 🐶🐱

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

🌬️ What Is Pneumonia in Pets?

Pneumonia is a serious condition involving inflammation in the deep lung tissue—the very part responsible for oxygen exchange. While most cases are caused by infections, pneumonia can also result from inhaled substances, trauma, or immune responses.

Types of Pneumonia:

• 🧫 Bacterial – Often secondary to kennel cough, megaesophagus, or aspiration
• 🦠 Viral – Often from canine distemper, canine influenza, or severe feline URIs
• 🍄 Fungal – Coccidioides, Cryptococcus, and more
• 🐛 Parasitic – Lungworms or worm migration through lungs
• 🌿 Allergic or immune-mediated – Inflammation without infection

Many pets with pneumonia also have bronchitis, forming a combined condition called bronchopneumonia.

🔍 Recognizing the Signs of Pneumonia

Coughing is the most common sign, but it's not always present—especially in cats. Other signs to watch for:

• 🔥 Fever
• 🐢 Lethargy or listlessness
• 🍽️ Decreased appetite
• 😮‍💨 Labored or rapid breathing
• 🌫️ Nasal discharge

Risk factors include:

• 🐾 Young puppies from shelters or pet stores
• 🧬 Pets with megaesophagus (floppy, enlarged esophagus prone to aspiration)
• 🐱 Kittens with chronic upper respiratory infections

🩺 Diagnosing Pneumonia

The gold standard for diagnosis is a chest radiograph (X-ray). Your vet may also perform:

• 🔬 Tracheal wash – to collect and culture lung fluid for bacteria
• 🩻 Additional imaging to evaluate for megaesophagus or tumors

Understanding the root cause helps determine whether antibiotics alone are enough—or if fungal, parasitic, or other treatments are needed.

🚑 Hospitalization vs. Home Care

Pets with pneumonia typically fall into three categories:

• ✅ Stable – Eating, active, mild symptoms; treat at home
• ⚠️ Unstable – Poor appetite, lethargic, needs hospitalization
• 🚨 Critical – Struggling to breathe, needs oxygen therapy and 24-hour care

Hospitalized Pets Receive:

• 💧 IV fluids to keep lung secretions thin and mobilizable
• 💊 Injectable antibiotics with broad-spectrum coverage
• 🫁 Oxygen therapy if needed
• 🌬️ Nebulization – Delivers misted meds and moisture deep into lungs
• 👋 Coupage – A hands-on chest percussion to mobilize mucus

💊 Antibiotic Strategies

Because pneumonia is almost always bacterial or has a bacterial component, antibiotics are key. Vets often use a multi-drug approach targeting:

• Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria
• Aerobic and anaerobic organisms

When possible, culture results from a tracheal wash help guide the ideal antibiotic choice.

🌫️ Nebulization vs. Vaporization

• Nebulization 💨 – Uses fine mist to deliver antibiotics or albuterol into the lungs
• Vaporization 🚿 – Loosens upper airway secretions; less effective for deep lung infections

Tip: Many home-use nebulizers are affordable and effective. Ask your vet about setup and medication use.

👋 Coupage & Light Activity

Coupage involves cupping your hand and gently tapping over the chest to loosen lung secretions. Your vet can demonstrate the technique. Light activity like short leash walks also helps stimulate a productive cough.

🏠 Home Care Tips for Recovery

Once stable, your pet can recover at home. Follow these care tips:

• 🏠 Keep indoors, especially in cold or wet weather
• 🌬️ Use a nebulizer or vaporizer 2–3 times daily
• 👋 Perform coupage 3–4 times daily
• 🚶 Allow gentle exercise to encourage coughing
• 💧 Ensure plenty of water intake (add broth to food if needed)
• 💊 Administer antibiotics as prescribed—complete the full course

Never suppress the cough with OTC meds unless your vet recommends it. Coughing is essential for clearing the infection.

🧪 Recheck & Prognosis

Pneumonia takes weeks to fully resolve. Your vet will likely schedule weekly radiographs to monitor lung improvement. The prognosis depends on the underlying cause, but with prompt and proper care, most pets make a full recovery.

🩺 Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston

Pneumonia in pets is serious, but not insurmountable. The key to success is early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and diligent home care. If your dog or cat is coughing, sluggish, or breathing abnormally, don’t wait. A quick vet visit could save their life. 💙

And remember—managing hydration, encouraging coughing, and using tools like nebulization can drastically improve outcomes. 🐾

📲 Still Have Questions? Ask A Vet Anytime

Whether it’s choosing a nebulizer, understanding antibiotics, or recognizing recovery milestones—get 24/7 help on the Ask A Vet app. Chat with experienced vets like Dr Duncan Houston and get your pet back to breathing easy! 🐶🐱💬