Cyanosis in Dogs

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

Cyanosis (Blue Coloration) in Dogs

By: Dr. Arnold Plotnick

Pages 1 2 3 4

Section: Veterinary Care In-depth

Treatment In-depth

One or more of the diagnostic tests described above may be recommended by your veterinarian. In the meantime, treatment of the symptoms might be needed, especially if the problem is severe. The following nonspecific symptomatic treatments may be applicable to some pets with cyanosis. These treatments may reduce the severity of symptoms or provide relief for your pet. However, nonspecific therapy is not a substitute for definite treatment of the underlying disease responsible for your pet's condition.

Therapy of cyanosis is dependent on understanding the cause of the condition.

Peripheral cyanosis. Peripheral cyanosis is usually not life threatening. Therapy is directed more toward the underlying disease. For example, a dog with a blood clot that has cut off circulation to a leg, causing cyanosis to the foot pads, acquires this condition secondary to severe heart disease.

The main concern in this instance is getting the heart disease under control. The cyanosis is of much less significance.

Central cyanosis is treated as an emergency until the cause of the cyanosis can be determined.

Emergency Measures

Provide supplemental oxygen. In cases of central cyanosis, a reduced supply of oxygen is to be assumed until it can be disproved and supplemental oxygen is to be provided until the actual cause can be ascertained. Obvious mechanical obstructions to airflow (such as a foreign body in the mouth or throat) are removed and a patent airway is established. Then, oxygen is administered immediately either by face mask, a nasal oxygen tube, an oxygen cage, or endotracheal intubation.

If congenital heart disease is the cause of cyanosis, the treatment may involve surgery to correct the defect.

If respiratory disease is the cause, the treatment is:

Thoracocentesis to remove pus, blood, lymphatic fluid (chyle), or air that may be impeding the ability of the lungs to expand

Antibiotics to treat infection

Nebulization (use of a vaporizer) to moisten and loosen tenacious secretions down in the lungs and, possibly, to deliver antibiotics or other drugs down into the lungs

If excessive amounts of methemoglobin is the cause of the cyanosis, treatment involves:

Elimination of the cause of the formation of the methemoglobin

Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst®) can be given to dogs who have received a toxic dose of Tylenol®

Pages 1 2 3 4

Printable Version

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

Share this Article with a Friend Email To:

Have a Pet Question?

Send Your Pet Question to Dr. Jon
and His Staff of Veterinarians

Dr. Jon's Newsletter

Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...

Search Over 15,000 articles

1 Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs
Heart failure is a condition, caused by an abnormality in the structure or the function of the heart, in which it is unable to pump normal quantities of blood to the tissues of the body.
Read More
2 Chronic Coughing in Dogs
Coughing, a common protective reflex that clears secretions or foreign matter from the throat, voice box, windpipe or airways, and protects the lungs from aspiration, affects the respiratory system by...
Read More
3 Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs (DCM)
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease characterized by dilation or enlargement of the heart chambers and markedly reduced contraction. DCM is very common in dogs, representing the most common reason...
Read More
4 Syncope (Fainting) in Dogs
Syncope is the term used to describe fainting, which is a brief period of unconsciousness due to cerebral anemia and may last from seconds to minutes. Most fainting “spells” are due to low blood pressure...
Read More

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

Dogs & Puppies

Dog Breeds

labrador retriever, golden retriever, yorkshire terriers, german shepherds, beagle, boxers

Dog Medication

dog allergy medication, dog pain medication, dog anxiety medication, dog flea medication

Dog Products

dog bowls, dog crates, dog toys, dog beds, dog ramps, dog food storage, dog tags

Dog Symptoms

dog vomiting, dog limping, dog diarrhea, dog bad breath, dog coughing, dog seizures

Dog Health

dog cancer, dog diabetes, dog epilepsy, dog hip dysplasia, dog health, sick dog

Dog Care

dog vaccination, dog microchipping, dog grooming, dog neutering, dog spaying, dogs mating

Dog Training

dog aggression, dog barking, dog chewing, dog behavior, dog jumping, dog whisperer

Dog Pictures

puppy pictures, funny dogs, cute dogs, dog breeds, sleeping dogs, silly dogs, small dogs

Cats

Cat Breeds

persian, siamese cats, devon rex, ragdoll cats, sphynx, maine coon cat

Cat Medication

cat flea medication, cat heartworm control, cat tick medications

Cat Products

cat litter box, cat food, cat bed, cat flea collar, cat carrier, cat urine odor

Cat Symptoms

cat vomiting, cat limping, cat diarrhea, cat bad breath, cat coughing

Cat Health

cat health, cat liver cancer, cat diabetes, cat scratch fever, cat aids, sick cat

Cat Care

cat vaccination, cat grooming, cat microchipping, cat neutering, cat spaying

Cat Behavior

cat urine marking, cat furniture scratching, cat litterbox training, cat toilet training, cat fears

Cat Pictures

cute cats, funny cats, playful cats, fat cats, jumping cats, lazy cats, sleeping cats, cute kittens

1Chronic Coughing in Dogs
Coughing, a common protective reflex that clears secretions or foreign matter from the throat, voice box, windpipe or airways, and protects the lungs from aspiration, affects the respiratory system by...
Read More
2Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs (DCM)
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease characterized by dilation or enlargement of the heart chambers and markedly reduced contraction. DCM is very common in dogs, representing the most common reason...
Read More
3Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs
Heart failure is a condition, caused by an abnormality in the structure or the function of the heart, in which it is unable to pump normal quantities of blood to the tissues of the body.
Read More
4Syncope (Fainting) in Dogs
Syncope is the term used to describe fainting, which is a brief period of unconsciousness due to cerebral anemia and may last from seconds to minutes. Most fainting “spells” are due to low blood pressure...
Read More

Cyanosis in Dogs

Cyanosis (Blue Coloration) in Dogs

Related Articles

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles