Can dogs survive aspiration pneumonia?


Can dogs survive aspiration pneumonia? Thankfully, the prognosis for aspiration pneumonia is good, with an average 77-81.6% survival rate1,2. However, this can be a significant complication of even elective surgery, and can add significant costs due to hospitalization and treatment.

How do you fix aspiration pneumonia in dogs? 

Aspiration Pneumonia – How is it treated?
  1. Oxygen supplementation.
  2. Antibiotic therapy to treat suspected or confirmed infection.
  3. Anti-nausea medications to reduce (and hopefully prevent) vomiting.
  4. Medications to promote proper gastrointestinal motility.
  5. Intravenous fluid therapy to help maintain proper hydration.

How do I know if my dog has aspiration pneumonia? Symptoms of aspiration pneumonia include breathing difficulties, swallowing difficulties, coughing, fever, discharge from the nasal passages, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, a bluish tinge to the skin (cyanosis), and a possible intolerance to exercise due to weakness.

How long does it take for a dog to recover from aspiration pneumonia? Typically, recovery takes at least 3 to 5 weeks, and your dog will likely need antibiotics for at least 4 weeks.

Can dogs survive aspiration pneumonia? – Additional Questions

How do I know if my dog has aspirated?

The following are signs of aspiration pneumonia in dogs: Coughing. Irregular breathing. Runny nose.

How much does it cost to treat aspiration pneumonia in dogs?

If your dog is severely dehydrated from the vomiting fluid therapy may be prescribed which alongside oxygen support can cost around $130. If your dog is hospitalized, the total cost of treatment for pneumonia in dogs can be between $500 and $2000.

How long does aspiration pneumonia last?

This period can vary from one to two weeks. You may also need supportive care if aspiration pneumonia causes breathing problems. Treatment includes supplemental oxygen, steroids, or help from a breathing machine. Depending on the cause of chronic aspiration, you may require surgery.

Will aspiration pneumonia go away?

Most people who get aspiration pneumonia and get treatment will survive.

What are the chances of a dog surviving pneumonia?

Survival rates are 77–82% (Kogan et al, 2008, Tart et al, 2010) in mild cases, but when aspiration pneumonia develops into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), or the patient requires mechanical ventilation, survival rates decrease (Balakrishnan et al, 2017) ().

What is the best antibiotic to treat aspiration pneumonia?

The choice of antibiotics for community-acquired aspiration pneumonia is ampicillin-sulbactam, or a combination of metronidazole and amoxicillin can be used.

What are the first signs of aspiration pneumonia?

Symptoms
  • Chest pain.
  • Coughing up foul-smelling, greenish or dark phlegm (sputum), or phlegm that contains pus or blood.
  • Fatigue.
  • Fever.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Wheezing.
  • Breath odor.
  • Excessive sweating.

What are the symptoms of silent aspiration?

This is called “silent aspiration.” You may experience a sudden cough as your lungs try to clear out the substance. Some people may wheeze, have trouble breathing, or have a hoarse voice after they eat, drink, vomit, or experience heartburn. You may have chronic aspiration if this occurs frequently.

Does aspiration pneumonia show up on xray?

Aspiration pneumonia is associated with various clinical signs and symptoms, often presenting a diagnostic dilemma for clinicians; therefore, chest X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scans are the golden standards for the diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia (Japanese Respiratory Society, 2009; Mandell & Niederman, 2019).

How do you fix aspiration pneumonia?

Treatment depends on how severe the pneumonia is and how ill the person is before the aspiration (chronic illness). Sometimes a ventilator (breathing machine) is needed to support breathing. You will likely receive antibiotics. You may need to have your swallowing function tested.

How do they test for aspiration pneumonia?

Diagnosing aspiration pneumonia

Tests may include: Blood test: Lab tests can determine the type of bacteria causing the infection, which will determine the course of treatment. Sputum test: Analysis of the sputum (liquid containing mucus, blood and bacteria) you are coughing up can determine the course of treatment.

Is aspiration pneumonia contagious?

It’s not spread from person to person. The fungi that cause this type of pneumonia are usually found in soil. Aspiration pneumonia isn’t contagious because it’s caused by inhaling food or liquid into your lungs. This can happen in people who’ve had a stroke or have other neurologic conditions.

Can aspiration heal on its own?

When the respiratory system is healthy and strong, pulmonary aspiration often clears up on its own. When the respiratory system is compromised or a digestive disorder causes chronic pulmonary aspiration, a bacterial infection can occur, causing pneumonia.

Can aspiration cause sudden death?

The incidence of sudden death from food asphyxiation is relatively low. An older study of hospitalized adult patients, however, found food asphyxiation as a cause of death in 14 of 1,087 (1.3%) autopsies performed over 5 years. Those patients died suddenly, during or shortly after meals.

What are the 4 stages of pneumonia?

Stages of Pneumonia
  • Stage 1: Congestion. During the congestion phase, the lungs become very heavy and congested due to infectious fluid that has accumulated in the air sacs.
  • Stage 2: Red hepatization.
  • Stage 3: Gray hepatization.
  • Stage 4: Resolution.

What are the signs of pneumonia getting worse?

Call your doctor. And see your doctor right away if you have difficulty breathing, develop a bluish color in your lips and fingertips, have chest pain, a high fever, or a cough with mucus that is severe or is getting worse.

What happens if pneumonia doesn’t respond to antibiotics?

If your pneumonia isn’t treated, the pleura can get swollen, creating a sharp pain when you breathe in. If you don’t treat the swelling, the area between the pleura may fill with fluid, which is called a pleural effusion. If the fluid gets infected, it leads to a problem called empyema.