Dog inhaled bleach.

Dr. Marie replied:

Oh, I am sorry to hear that Chiquito is having these problems.

It is not common for bleach to cause respiratory problems, but it is possible. Usually we will only see breathing issues if the bleach was mixed with ammonia.

The good news is that most of the time if bleach causes respiratory issues it is usually temporary. If there has been vomiting at all though then there is the possibility for aspiration which can be very serious and can cause pneumonia which would need veterinary treatment.

Is it possible that Chiquito has swallowed some of the bleach? It can cause some (usually mild) gastrointestinal upset. It can also cause some mild burning in the esophagus. This burning could be what is causing the breathing issues.

This is definitely a case where an emergency visit is a good idea. You may want to look into the following resources to see if you can get any help:

http://askavetquestion.com/blog/need-help-paying-for-veterinary-bills/

If you can't see a vet, then you can give famotidine (which is pepcid that you can buy over the counter at the pharmacy). It usually comes in a 10mg size. If Chiquito is under 10 lbs then you can give 1/4 tablet. If he is 10-20 lbs you can give 1/2 tablet. You can do this every 12 hours. Famotidine is a medication that will help protect the stomach and heal any burns.

It may also help to offer canned food softened with some warm water which may make it easier to swallow.

I really hope the little guy is feeling better soon.

Dr. Marie


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Dr. Marie replied:

I'm wondering if there is perhaps something else going on? Just being around Clorox should not cause the symptoms that you are describing.

Can you describe his breathing a little more for me? Here are some questions for you:

-Can you count his respiratory rate? I need to know how many breaths per minute he is taking.
-Does he seem to be taking small shallow breaths?
-Is he coughing?
-Do his gums look pink or white?
-Does he seem to have any problems with walking?

Thanks

Dr. Marie replied:

I will be heading offline shortly and as you haven't replied to my questions yet I'll add a bit more information that may help.

If his gums look pale or white then it may be that he is in shock. This could be due to internal bleeding or another serious issue. Unfortunately if you think this is the case then he really does need to see a vet.

The reason I asked about having difficulties walking is that often little dogs will have problems with their back. Back pain can cause an increase in respiratory rate and lethargy as well. If it is back pain then appropriate medicines would need to be prescribed by your veterinarian.

The pepcid will not hurt regardless, but the more I read about little Chiquito the more I think a visit to the vet is really necessary. I really hope he is ok!

Dr. Marie.

Dr. Marie replied:

Ah, ok....you caught me just before I went offline.

It looks like this is not a back problem after all. The shallow breathing could be a primary respiratory problem, but could also be due to pain. 47 resps per minute is definitely higher than normal (usually 10-20 is normal).

I don't like the symptoms that you are describing. If it is at all possible I would suggest an emergency visit for him.

I wish I could give you more information on what you can do, but it sounds like he really needs a vet exam.

I really hope he is ok!

Dr. Marie.