Coughing in Dogs

A cough can be described as a powerful and unexpected burst of air from the airway and lungs. Your dog will have their mouth open either part of the way or fully, may cough up foam or bile, and the head will usually be down. Coughing may be a normal way of clearing the throat, a habit, or it could be a sign of a serious illness. The best way to figure it out is to watch for other signs of illness such as fever, loss of appetite, and general tiredness. But, what is a cough? A cough is a normal response to a number of different things such as foreign objects, infections, parasites, or even a tumor. Some of the reasons your dog may be coughing include:

• Allergies
• Foreign object in throat
• Infection
• Bronchitis (acute or chronic)
• Parasites
• Pneumonia
• Tracheal collapse
• Tumors
• Cardiac (heart) problems
• Tracheobronchitis (kennel cough)

There are many possible reasons for your dog’s cough, ranging from mild to very serious. Other signs will accompany the cough if the condition is serious. Some of these conditions include:

Allergies

Your dog may be allergic to food, insect bites, shampoo, and more but it is usually not an emergency unless there is facial swelling or breathing difficulty.

Foreign Object in Throat

This can be serious if your dog is not able to clear the object from the airway. If your dog is suddenly gagging and hacking with a high pitched cough, there may be something stuck in the throat or airway that needs to be removed.

Infection

There are several infections that can cause a canine cough, mostly caused by viruses and bacteria. Some of these infections include upper respiratory infection (URI), lower respiratory infection (LRI), canine influenza, bronchitis, and fungal infections such as aspergillosis and blastomycosis.

• Upper respiratory infection (URI) affects the throat, nose, and eyes and usually includes a fever, cough, discharge from the eyes, and a runny nose
• Lower respiratory infection (LRI) affects the lower airway and lungs and includes a fever, deep cough, labored breathing, and weakness
• Canine Influenza is a virus that causes a cough with phlegm, fever, malaise, and sleepiness
• Bronchitis (acute or chronic) causes severe coughing and gagging, sometimes coughing up phlegm
• Aspergillosis is a fungus that floats in the air and causes coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and nosebleeds
• Blastomycosis is a fungal infection that also includes fever, appetite and weight loss, eye inflammation and discharge, and skin lesions

Parasites

There are certain parasites that cause a cough in your dog which include heartworm disease, roundworms, hookworms, and lungworms. The symptoms of these all include coughing, with or without phlegm.

Tracheal Collapse

A tracheal collapse is similar to a foreign body cough, with a loud and hacking cough.

Tumor

A tumor, cancerous or benign, can also cause coughing and may also include weight loss and weakness.

Cardiac (Heart) Problem

The cough of a cardiac problem such as congestive heart failure is usually mild and most often worse at night. The cough will get worse without treatment and include other symptoms such as fatigue, edema, and slow or irregular heart rate.

Tracheobronchitis (Kennel Cough)

Kennel cough is a loud dry cough that will spread to other dogs in the household readily. It usually only lasts a few weeks and normally does not include other symptoms.

If your dog’s cough is accompanied by increased body temperature, you should definitely seek veterinary treatment as soon as possible. While this is not a medical emergency that warrants a trip to the emergency veterinary hospital, a fever almost always means your dog has an infection and needs treatment by a veterinary professional. If the veterinarian finds an infection, antibiotics and fluids will be given.

However, if your dog is coughing and cannot breathe, this is an emergency situation and you need to get to a veterinary professional immediately.

In cases of allergies, you should call your veterinarian and get advice on what to do. You may need to bring your dog for a visit, or the veterinarian may suggest an allergy medication such as Benadryl.

A tumor is a serious illness that needs treatment by a veterinary professional. The veterinarian will likely do a biopsy to check and see if the tumor is benign or cancerous and treatment depends on the outcome of the test.

Helping your dog avoid a cough includes preventive vaccinations, regular veterinary check-ups, keeping your dog away from sick animals, and being careful that your pet is not eating anything that may pose a choking hazard.

It is best to avoid:

• Kennels (they may be safe, but only use those with excellent recommendations)
• Dog parks with sick animals
• Small items your dog could choke on

You can help by:

• Staying up to date on vaccinations
• Use a veterinary approved dog kennel if necessary, although it is better to have a dog sitter come to your home
• Bringing your dog to see the veterinarian regularly