[2] This life-threatening[3] illness is more common in cats than in dogs[1] and the complication “Kennel Cough”[1] can occur in young pets.
[2] Those viral infections cause lesions in the airways that allow bacteria to enter the respiratory system more easily.
The disease progression begins with a viral infection which spreads into the respiratory tract[2] and later develops into pneumonia.
Parasites, for example lung worms[3] like Filaroides, Aelurostrongylus or Paragonimus get in the bronchi and cause pneumonia.
The probability that a dog or cat gets pneumonia through protozoans like Toxoplasma gondii or Pneumocystis jirovecii is really low.
[2] By vomiting, the gastric acid[1] injures the upper respiratory system which becomes vulnerable to bacterial infection and causes pneumonia.
Dogs and cats who develop pneumonia usually show symptoms like moist or productive cough,[1] followed by nasal discharge and breathing sounds.
[3] When a pet is examined with suspicion of pneumonia, the veterinarian will first listen to the lungs and watch for any abnormal sounds.
To determine the location and type of treatment, the diseased animal is classified into one of the three conditions called stable, unstable and critical.
[3] In extremely rare cases, however, very severe courses of the disease can lead to consequential damage to the respiratory system and even death.