Pharyngitis in Dogs

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Your dog cannot vocalize the pain in its throat. You become aware only when you observe visible signs like sneezing, froth or bad breath. Pharyngitis is quite a common disease in canines. The problem is that it may sometimes indicate more severe disease. The source of the problem is the pharynx, and thus its name. The pharynx is the walls of the throat, and it becomes swollen either due to bacterial or viral infection. These could be gum disease or distemper or mouth cancer. The dog may also injure its throat when it chews a sharp object. The tonsils are also at risk.

Cause

The common cause of pharyngitis is a variation of the saliva acidity. There could be many reasons behind such a change. The foremost reason is the throat being damaged by sharp objects like porcupine quills, bone parts, or thorns. Mouth cancer is also another fairly common cause. Pharyngitis can also occur if the upper respiratory system succumbs to bacterial infection. Tonsilitis and viral diseases like distemper are yet another cause.

Variations of saliva acidity play a significant part. Kennel cough like respiratory system infections could lead to pharyngitis. Any injury to the throat and mouth or sinus infections may also lead to this condition. Your dog could suffer if something gets stuck in its throat. Other than these, the incidence of tooth disease or a gum one could play a part. Failure of the liver or kidney also leads to pharyngitis. The cause behind this problem could also be distemper, parvovirus, and multiple other systemic diseases. The reason may also be an autoimmune diseases like hypothyroidism or canine lupus.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Your dog will exhibit a few symptoms when afflicted with pharyngitis. You must keep track of all its manifestations. Note down their progress. This will help the veterinarian to diagnose the condition correctly. The list of symptoms include a dry cough which becomes more acute at night, and the canine finds it hard to swallow food. The dog's tonsils get swollen, and a white mucus covers the red pharynx. Vomiting is a common occurrence along with drooling and gagging. The breathing will turn complicated due to possible abscesses present in the throat. This condition complicates breathing as well; Swollen gums are accompanied by bad breath and fever. Sneezing is common. There will be a bloody discharge if your dog has swallowed any sharp object. The veterinarian may do multiple tests to make sure that the correct diagnosis is being done. The medical professional will look at the symptoms both individually and collectively to find out the exact problem suffered by your dog. The veterinarian will also find the strain of the virus or the infection which affects the dog.