What should you know about canine pneumonia?

Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses or other organisms. The air sacs may fill with fluid or inflammatory material, making oxygen exchange harder. Many people develop cough, fever, chills, tiredness, chest discomfort or shortness of breath. Some cough up phlegm, while others have a dry cough. The pattern varies with age, health and the cause.

A clinician may listen to your chest, check oxygen levels and decide whether a chest image or other tests are needed. [Influenza](/conditions/influenza/) and [COVID-19](/conditions/covid-19/) can cause respiratory illness, but symptoms alone cannot confirm the cause.

Arrange medical review for new breathlessness, persistent fever, chest pain or a cough that is worsening. Rest, drink fluids if you can, avoid smoking and take prescribed medicines exactly as directed. Antibiotics help bacterial infections, not viral causes, so do not start leftover medicine. Use fever or pain relief only when suitable for you and follow the label or clinician’s advice.

Keep track of breathing, temperature, alertness and fluid intake. Older adults, young children and people with heart, lung or immune conditions may need earlier review. Ask how and when to return if symptoms do not improve.

Get emergency help for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, new confusion, fainting, inability to stay awake, severe chest pain or coughing blood. Urgent assessment is also needed when breathing becomes rapidly harder, fluids cannot be kept down or a person is becoming markedly weaker. Serious infection can spread beyond the lungs and may require hospital treatment; [Sepsis](/conditions/sepsis/) is one emergency clinicians consider when someone is severely unwell.

Ask: What is the likely cause? Do I need a chest image or oxygen check? Which treatments are appropriate for me? What improvement should I expect first? Which breathing change, fever pattern or symptom means I should seek urgent help?