Pneumonia, by definition, is an infection in the lung. Although it’s commonly seen in humans, our furry friends are also prone to this condition. We typically see this in dogs more so than cats. Especially young dogs and brachycephalic breeds such as French Bulldogs Bulldogs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, anything that has a squashed up face. There seems to be an overrepresentation of these breeds when we're talking about pneumonia.

So, how do their lungs become infected? The most likely cause of pneumonia is what we would call aspiration pneumonia, which means that foreign material has been aspirated into the lungs. It's secondary to an episode of vomiting, secondary to an episode of regurgitation or secondary to drowning or being underwater for an extended period of time.

Here Dr Naomi Hansen explains in detail the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options for aspiration pneumonia in your pet.