Asthma in Dogs:
The Triggers, Missing Enzymes, and What You Can Do

What happens in an episode

Asthma is a condition that comes and goes. Between episodes your dog seems perfectly fine. Then something sets one off: the airways tighten and breathing gets hard. Inflammation follows, along with extra mucus in the lining of the airway. That narrows things further, and it gets harder still.

The triggers. Families tell us all kinds of things set one off. Excitement or stress, a hard run, overdoing it at the park. So can what's in the air: allergens, chemicals or household cleaners, even a swing in temperature or humidity. (Our guide to dog respiratory problems has more on the irritants that live inside the house.)

Antioxidant enzymes and asthma

Here's the part most people haven't heard. Researchers have found a link between certain antioxidant enzymes and asthma. When three of them, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), are running low, asthma is more common (see the NIH article), and in dogs and people who already have it, the lower the SOD, the harsher the episodes.

Why more of these enzymes is a plus. Superoxide dismutase is a front-line antioxidant enzyme. Its job is to catch a damaging free radical and turn it into something harmless before it can hurt cells and stir up inflammation. In some models of lung inflammation, enzymes like SOD rise to meet the stress and limit the damage. In an asthmatic airway, that defense doesn't rise the way it should.

The open question. What nobody knows yet is which comes first: whether an episode temporarily shuts down the antioxidant defense, or whether running low day to day is what leaves the door open for episodes. Either way, it makes sense to give the body what it needs to keep up its own production of SOD and the other antioxidant enzymes.

Where Nzymes can help

The Breathe Easy BundleAntioxidant Treats and Ox-E Drops together, with the interactive step-by-step guide for the bowl and the vaporizerSee the program →

That's why the Breathe Easy Bundle is where we start for an asthmatic dog. Antioxidant Treats handle the inside job: the live sprouted enzymes and added antioxidants give the body the raw materials it needs to keep making SOD and the other antioxidant enzymes. It's the daily foundation, and asthma is exactly the kind of thing it's built for.

Secondary bacterial trouble. Asthmatic airways pick up secondary bacterial trouble more often than you'd think, which is why the bundle's second half matters just as much. Ox-E Drops are the product families have reached for over twenty-five years to support clear airways, in the water bowl and in a vaporizer. The bundle puts both products together, with the interactive guide that walks you through each step, including the vaporizer.

Not sure whether it's asthma or something else? Tell us what you're hearing and when it happens. We'll listen. Book a free consultation →