It came to me as a surprise when my dog was dignosed Tonsillitis. I used to think that it is only limited to humans.
Since dogs too have tonsils they can suffer with Tonsillitis. However, it is more common in small breeds.
So, here are some notes on Tonsillitis...
What are tonsils?
Tonsils are lymph nodes located at the back of the throat. Their job is to fight infection. They often become infected while doing so and swell up. Hence, tonsillitis.
Causes of tonsillitis:
- Chronic vomiting
- Chronic productive cough
- Chronic disease in the mouth - Believe it or not, but the tartar on the teeth is one of the main causes. The infections that are associated with it. Occasionally, tonsillitis (no underlying cause) will occur; this is almost always in small breeds of dogs.
How to diagnose tonsillities?
As they are painful, dogs try to:
- Gag as if there is something stuck in the throat
- Make exaggerated swallowing motions
- Lick their lips repeatedly
- Reluctant to eat because of the pain associated with swallowing
- Become dull, but they usually do not have fever.
Treating Tonsillitis
- Give antibiotics for 2-3 weeks in an effort to rid the tonsils of infection and to treat any other infection that may be present
- Clean the teeth if they are tartar-laden and infected
- In case necessary, tonsillectomy can be conducted
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