Your dog has a pair of tonsils at the back of its throat that help fight infection. Tonsillitis is when these tonsils are inflamed: swollen, red and easily seen.

CAUSES: 

The inflammation is caused by:

• Dental disease: tartar builds on the teeth, the gums become inflamed, and your dog’s tonsils may be affected
• Any condition in the mouth that allows bacteria to multiply in the throat

Other causes include:

• Chronic vomiting
• Chronic productive cough
• Foreign object stuck in mouth

SIGNS: 

Enlarged tonsils are very painful. Signs may include:

• Gagging
• Coughing
• Salivating
• Licking lips
• Refusing food (because it is painful to swallow)
• Listlessness

DIAGNOSIS: 

Your veterinarian will simply examine your dog’s tonsils. If they are inflamed, the veterinarian will see them easily.

TREATMENT: 

Some treatments your veterinarian may recommend include:

• Treating the source of infection: teeth cleaning in the case of dental disease
• Antibiotics: to treat the infection
• Anti-inflammatory treatment: to relieve pain
• Tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils): if your dog is not responding to treatment or there is frequent recurrence. This is rarely done because tonsils are crucial in fighting infections.

PREVENTION: 

The best preventative measure against tonsillitis is to make sure your dog has excellent oral hygiene.

PROGNOSIS: 

The prognosis depends on the underlying cause, but generally, tonsillitis is not a serious condition. In young dogs, tonsillitis often resolves on its own or with the use of antibiotics.