By Maneka Gandhi

In this week’s Pet Talk, Maneka explains about causes and remedies for wheezing in a dog.

What does wheezing in a dog indicate?

Dog wheezing occurs when the air passages are overly contracted and the oxygen does not have a clear passage, so it causes the wheezing sound. The causes of wheezing may range from allergies to heartworms.

Allergies: Allergies can cause the contraction of the air passages and wheezing. The allergies may be caused by a number of airborne irritants such as tree pollens, dust mites, pesticides, chemicals or smoke. Other symptoms indicating that the dog has allergies include sneezing, coughing, dermatitis or skin itchiness. You may install some air purifier and humidifiers and get suitable treatment to manage the allergic reactions in your pet.

Kennel Cough: Kennel cough is a respiratory disease that will cause dry coughing and wheezing. The cough irritates the air ways and this causes wheezing. Kennel cough is contracted through air from other infected canines and will typically go away without treatment in up to two weeks.

Bronchitis: Bronchitis is a respiratory disease that affects the dog’s lungs and bronchial tubes, which will be swollen. The disease will cause breathing problems and coughing. Wheezing may also occur. Cough suppressants and anti-inflammatory medication should be administrated to manage the disease. If the dog is obese, a diet will be recommended to relieve the symptoms of bronchitis and make the dog’s breathing easier.

Heat Stroke: Heat stroke can occur as a result of an exposure to high temperatures or sun. The dog may pant, wheeze, vomit, have pale gums, have seizures or collapse. The dog must be taken to the vet immediately; you should also make sure to cool the dog down by applying some cold compresses.

Heartworms: Heartworms are parasites that lodge in the heart of the cat. Heartworms rarely show early symptoms and by the time the condition is discovered, it may be too late. Wheezing may occur in a cat affected by heartworms. This is caused by the fact that the heartworms develop and block the blood flow, reducing the oxygen supply. Heartworm preventive drugs are available and recommended for all canines, as the disease can be fatal.

Heart Problems: If the dog starts wheezing and coughing after exercising, these symptoms may indicate a heart problem. Heart problems are more frequent in older and obese dogs, but may occur in younger dogs as well. Consult the vet for a clear diagnosis. Dogs may wheeze due to different irritants that affect the air passages. The wheezing should last no longer than 20 to 30 minutes. If the wheezing persists, this may indicate a health problem that needs attention. In addition to wheezing, the dog may experience other symptoms such as lack of appetite, sneezing, coughing, panting, pale gums, vomiting or nose bleeding.

What products can be made from cow dung and cow urine?

Some of the products that can be made from cow dung and cow urine are: Agarbattis, dhoop, ointments, soaps, beauty products, floor sanitisers, medicines, mosquito repellent, compost, bio gas, logs for cremation grounds, flowerpots, fertilizer, pesticides.

What factors determine how a cat ages?

There are many factors that go into a cat’s aging and lifespan including how well they have been cared for, whether they are indoor or outdoor cats, their daily diet and quality of food, whether they have received good dental and veterinary care and annual wellness exams, whether chronic diseases and short-term illnesses have been treated in a timely manner, the environmental stresses they have been subjected to, and their genetic predisposition to disease. A cat’s normal lifespan varies greatly, but one thing to remember in determining a cat’s age is that outdoor cats age far more quickly than indoor cats — some research suggests even twice as fast, due to the many stresses and risks they encounter daily. Outdoor cats can live an average of 8 to 12 years, whereas indoor cats can live an average of 14 to 20 years, with many surviving into their 20s.

In general terms, a 1-year-old cat is approximately 15 in human years and a 2-year-old cat is 24 in human years. Beyond this, your cat ages approximately four “cat years” for every human year. So, if you have an 8-year-old cat, your cat would be approximately 56 in cat years and well into middle age.