Tonsillitis in dogs: causes, symptoms and treatment
Dogs have two tonsils (palatine tonsils), which sit on the left and right side of their throat. They are part of the lymphatic system and play a major role in the defence against pathogens. This is because their anatomical position ensures that they are very often involved when pathogens try to enter the dog's organism.
Especially in the colder months of the year, however, it is not uncommon for the tonsils to become inflamed in dogs. In this case, one speaks of tonsillitis. Dogs can fall ill with both primary and secondary tonsillitis. The latter occurs together with other diseases, such as coughing or rhinitis.
In the following, we will explain which symptoms indicate tonsillitis in dogs, how tonsillitis is treated and how you can protect your four-legged friend from it.
What causes tonsillitis in dogs?
If a dog suffers from tonsillitis, bacterial or viral infections are responsible. As the immune system is not yet properly developed in young dogs, they are particularly often affected by tonsillitis.
Apart from this, certain breeds of dog are generally at increased risk of tonsillitis. These include, above all, breeds with a short snout and correspondingly restricted space in the mouth and throat, such as the German Boxer, the French Bulldog or the Pug.
How can you recognise tonsillitis in dogs?
At first, the symptoms that tonsillitis causes in dogs are difficult to recognise, which is why many dog owners do not notice them at first.
The first possible signs of tonsillitis in dogs include
- Increased yawning
- Frequent swallowing
- Smacking noises
- Mouth odour
- Increased salivation
- Shaking of the head
For the dog, tonsillitis may feel like a foreign body is stuck in their throat. For this reason, they may eat grass while walking and start to choke. The choking can be accompanied by the discharge of white mucus that resembles vomit.
As tonsillitis progresses, the symptoms become more and more severe. Since swallowing is painful for dogs with tonsillitis, there may be an increased risk of refusal to feed. In addition, fever and fatigue are among the symptoms that can occur. Frequent coughing and choking can lead to vomiting in dogs.
How is tonsillitis diagnosed in dogs?
If you notice possible symptoms of tonsillitis in your dog, you should make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. The veterinarian will palpate your dog's neck and by looking in their mouth they will be able to tell very quickly whether tonsillitis is actually present.
For older dogs, it is also advisable to perform a biopsy to rule out a tumour on the dog's tonsils as the cause of the symptoms.
How is tonsillitis in dogs treated?
The measures required to treat your dog's tonsillitis depend primarily on the severity of the tonsillitis. In the case of slight redness, a little rest and warmth and a remedy to relieve the inflammation and pain of the quadruped are often sufficient.
Dogs with severe tonsillitis also usually require antibiotics. Apart from this, it is, of course, necessary to determine possible triggers of tonsillitis and to treat them as well.
If your dog regularly suffers from tonsillitis, your vet will probably advise you to remove the tonsils. This can permanently prevent the symptoms that occur and avoid potentially serious consequences such as inflammation of the heart muscle.
How can you prevent tonsillitis in dogs?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to completely rule out tonsillitis in dogs. Nevertheless, as a dog owner, you can do a lot to significantly reduce the risk in your four-legged friend. Strong defences in particular play a major role in this. This is because a weakened immune system means that your dog's organism is more susceptible to disease, which ultimately increases the likelihood of tonsillitis.
In order to strengthen your dog's immune system and prevent tonsillitis, a dietary supplement with Immune Powder from Bellfor is recommended during the cold winter months. Bellfor Immun is a natural product with propolis, insect protein and various medicinal plants.
The carefully selected ingredients provide your dog's organism with valuable minerals, vitamins and amino acids. In this way, Bellfor Immun can make an important contribution to supporting the immune system. The digestible powder is suitable for dogs of all breeds, strengthens the immune system even in young quadrupeds, and can thus help to reduce the risk of tonsillitis in your dog.
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