Most people know that pneumonia is a lung infection. In fact, pneumonia is not a specific term and essentially means “lung inflammation of some sort.” Pneumonia is a separate condition from bronchitis, which is inflamed airways in the lung, but these two conditions commonly go together to create what is called bronchopneumonia. Pneumonia is an inflammation in deep lung tissues where oxygen is absorbed into the body and waste gases are removed. It has potential to be life-threatening regardless of its cause. Usually there is an infection at the root but not necessarily.
Pneumonia is commonly classified by its original cause:
- Fungal pneumonia – caused by a fungus, typically Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans or other fungi that are particularly difficult to treat.
- Viral pneumonia – usually the result of canine distemper virus infection, canine influenza virus, or a complicated feline upper respiratory infection.
- Parasitic pneumonia – from lungworms or from the migration of other worms through the lung.
- Bacterial pneumonia – often secondary to severe kennel cough, particularly in young puppies that have been shipped long distances; aspiration as from megaesophagus; or secondary to either cause.
- Allergic pneumonia – the result of extreme infiltration of the lung by inflammatory cells in the absence of infection.
In most cases of pneumonia there is a bacterial component. This means that no matter what started the pneumonia, bacteria have joined in adding their own pus, fever, and potential for disaster; in most cases, management of the bacteria is vital. This article centers on the management of bacterial pneumonia.
When to Suspect Pneumonia
The diagnosis of pneumonia hinges on the chest radiograph but knowing when to take chest radiographs (x-rays) can be tricky. The veterinarian must put together findings from the history, physical examination, and possibly response to initial therapies to decide if radiographs should be checked.
Coughing puppies from the pet store or shelter may have a simple kennel cough (a minor bronchitis) but they are high risk for distemper infection.
Coughing dogs or cats with a fever, listlessness, or appetite loss should definitely be radiographed for pneumonia; though many patients with pneumonia will not have fevers and some will still be deceptively active.
Coughing dogs with a history of megaesophagus or with a history of symptoms typical of megaesophagus should be radiographed for pneumonia.
Kittens with severe upper respiratory infections who do not respond to the usual management should be radiographed for pneumonia.
Coughing is the hallmark symptom, though certainly not all or even most coughing pets have pneumonia. Bacterial pneumonia does not just happen; it is virtually always caused by something else, so some kind of diagnostics will likely be needed to determine what led to the bacterial pneumonia if it is not readily apparent.
Treatment
The pneumonia patient may be in one of three states:
Stable: in other words, eating well and active despite a nasty cough. These patients can often be treated at home.
Unstable: poor appetite, inactive, in need of hospitalization.
Critical: unable to get enough oxygen into their systems. These patients require oxygen therapy and possibly 24-hour care.
The goal is to get the patient stable enough for home treatment as several weeks are needed to fully clear pneumonia. When the patient is eating well, he may be discharged with antibiotic pills, a regimen of physical therapy, and a schedule for re-check radiographs (usually weekly).
The hospitalized patient has the following needs.
Intravenous fluid therapy
Coughing may be annoying but it is therapeutic and, when it comes to pneumonia, we want to encourage it, not suppress it. Coughing brings up the pus, mucus, and inflammatory cell products that make our patient sick. If the secretions of the lung are allowed to dry up, the patient will never be able to cough them up. For this reason, IV fluids must be maintained to keep our patient hydrated and keep the respiratory secretions wet.
Antibiotic therapy
Antibiotics are given to kill the bacteria, but which antibiotics should be chosen? We need something that will penetrate into the pus and mucus, which many antibiotics cannot do. Often a four-quadrant approach is used that covers bacteria classified as Gram negative and Gram positive as well as those classified as aerobic and anaerobic. This typically involves two antibiotics used in combination to synergize one another and covers almost every possible bacterial organism.
Alternatively, the lungs may be cultured via a procedure called a tracheal wash. This process involves light sedation that the patient must be stable enough to withstand. Sample fluid from deep in the lung can be retrieved for culture. A culture identifies the organism and provides a list of antibiotics that can kill it.
If the patient is sick enough for hospitalization, antibiotics are typically given as injections so as to maximize absorption into the body.
Nebulization
This is a nebulizer. Many models are available and they are even priced low enough for home use.
A nebulizer is used to treat aspiration pneumonia. Photo courtesy of Dr. Kathy Morris-Stilwell.
Nebulization is similar to vaporization and involves a piece of equipment called a nebulizer. The nebulizer creates a mist of fine fluid droplets that can be combined with antibiotics or airway dilators. Unlike vaporized droplets, though, these droplets are small enough to penetrate down into the lung. (Vaporizers make larger droplets that mostly penetrate to the sinuses only. They are used to moisten upper airway secretions while nebulizers moisten lower airway secretions.) Antibiotics can be carried in nebulized saline or water, providing an additional source of moisture and antibiotic for the sick lung and deeply treating the infection.
Physical Therapy
A technique called coupage is helpful at mobilizing respiratory secretions. The therapist’s hand is cupped and gently but rapidly taps the patient’s chest wall repeatedly. This loosens some of the deeper secretions and helps them move into airways. Material in the airway generates coughing which removes these materials from the body. Coupage should be performed at least four times daily and should be continued at home as long as the patient has a cough.
Light exercise is also helpful in mobilizing the respiratory secretions. The patient should not be over-exerted lung capacity is not normal but use your judgment as to what level of exercise is tolerated.
Oxygen Therapy
In most cases, oxygen therapy is not necessary but when a pneumonia patient simply cannot move enough air, there is no substitute for oxygen. Room air is 20% oxygen. An oxygen cage typically is set to deliver 40% oxygen; higher percentages given over long term are actually toxic to lung cells. Oxygen delivery hoods are also popular. A patient who requires this level of support is extremely sick.
Home Care
Once a good appetite is evident, the patient may be discharged for home care. The following tips are recommended as long as the patient is coughing:
Do not allow prolonged exposure to extreme cold or wet weather. Keep your pet primarily indoors.
Consider use of a vaporizer (or better yet, buy your own nebulizer) for use in 10 to 15 minute intervals a couple of times daily. If you do not have a vaporizer, leave the pet in the bathroom with the shower on to create a misty vapor. If the bathroom does not get sufficiently misty, a small pet can be confined to a carrier and the vaporizer can be directed into this smaller space.
Perform coupage at least four times daily and allow light exercise to promote the cough.
Do not try to suppress the cough with over-the-counter cough suppressants. We want the infected material in the chest to be coughed up.
Use the antibiotics as directed. Expect several weeks to be required.
Know when you should return for re-check radiographs.
Pneumonia is a serious infection and several weeks are needed to clear it. Prognosis ultimately depends on what the underlying cause was but the good news is that most patients are not sick enough to require oxygen therapy and the majority of these ultimately recover with proper treatment.
Date Published: 11/15/2004 12:50:00 PM
Date Reviewed/Revised: 08/04/2011
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