Pneumonia is the inflammation of lungs. Interstitial pneumonia is a form of pneumonia in which the inflammation occurs in the walls of the alveoli (the air cells of the lungs), or in the interstitium (the spaces between the tissue cells of the alveoli). Alveoli are the tiny air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
Some breeds are more prone to this condition than others. West Highland White Terriers and Bull Terriers, for example, are more prone to lung diseases which can lead to secondary interstitial pneumonia.
Common symptoms and signs for interstitial pneumonia include:
Rapid breathing (tachypnea)
Coughing
Difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
Mild fever
Eye discharge
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Low urine production
