Infectious and Non-Infectious Respiratory Diseases in Prairie Dogs

Respiratory disease in prairie dogs may be due to infections such as pneu­monia or non-infectious causes such as a dusty or humid environ­ment. Diet and environmental conditions are also thought to affect a prairie dog’s respiratory system. Regardless of whether the respiratory disease is of an infectious or non-infectious nature, your prairie dog needs proper veterinary care. Follow your veterinarian's dosage instructions and treatment program to help your pet recover quickly.

Symptoms

• Fever
• Depression
• Lethargy
• Difficulty breathing
• Sneezing
• Nasal discharge
• Discharge of the eyes
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

Causes

Infectious

• Bacterial and viral infections

Non-infectious

• Obesity
• Blockage of the airways and inhalation of foreign bodies
• Dusty and humid living conditions

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian can typically diag­nose pneumonia just by examining your prairie dog. If fluid is discharging from the animal’s eyes or nose, laboratory tests can be performed to identify the causative organism; tests can also be run on blood samples. In addition, X-rays are an excellent tool for veterinarians to observe the condition of the prairie dog’s lungs and identify respiratory diseases such as pneumonia.