Canine Coughing
By Stephanie Stephens
Your dog makes all sorts of noises, and a lot of them probably sound like human coughs. In fact, a flu-afflicted person is often described as having a "barking" cough. But dogs can actually cough too, often sounding like you do when you're congested and have a cold, or as though they are sneezing in reverse, since they may try to draw in a lot of air instead of forcing it out in a loud "Ah choo!" There are many possible causes for doggy coughing, according to Lynelle Johnson, DVM. She is an associate professor at the University of California at Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. Here is her canine coughing compendium, which includes some of the primary causes for dog coughs, along with associated conditions.
- Kennel cough This illness often results from a combination of viral and bacterial intruders in canine airways. If your dog has a dry, hacking cough, sometimes accompanied by a white, foam-like saliva, it could have kennel cough. The most common airborne bacteria linked to kennel cough tend to spread in close quarters, such as dog kennels, boarding facilities, dog parks or other similar areas. This condition generally lasts one to two weeks and is treated with antibiotics and other prescription medications. Confine your dog until it's recovered to avoid infecting other animals. And if you must go out during your dog's recovery period, try using a harness instead of a collar and leash to discourage coughing reflexes.
- Chronic bronchitis This illness is characterized by excessive mucus in the airways that is triggered by inflammation. Smoking can cause canine bronchitis, so if you smoke, never do so near your dog. Pollution, dust and grains in the environment can also lead to inflammation. Ask your vet about corticosteroids to treat symptoms.
- Tracheal collapse This tends to occur in miniature and toy-size dogs that have a flat trachea, instead of a round or "C-shaped," one. "When pressure changes within the airway during respiration, it collapses. Sometimes dogs can get infections or bronchitis in addition to airway collapse," Dr. Johnson says. Treatment may include medication, surgery, or a combination of both.
- Heart disease Congestive heart failure can cause dogs to accumulate fluid in the lungs, which could lead to coughing, especially at night. Heart enlargement may also cause coughing. Dobermans, Boxers, Cocker Spaniels, and small dogs seem to be more vulnerable to heart disease and related coughing.
- Fungal infections Fungal infections can cause coughing, breathing difficulty, weight loss and fever. Your dog may require antifungul medications for extended periods, according to Dr. Johnson. Keep canines away from bird coops and droppings, as these can be fungal breeding grounds.
- Parasites Parasites, such as heartworm and roundworms, may also cause your dog to cough. These may be treated with dewormers, preventative pills and topical medications that your vet can provide.
- Foreign bodies Dogs can ingest a variety of substances and objects, like sticks or foxtails, which can lead to bouts of coughing. These plants may lodge in the gums or rear of your dog's throat. If that happens, usually a vet's help is needed to remove them.
- Lung cancer Coughing can be a symptom of this type of cancer, but it is rare in dogs. Nevertheless, it is good to have your veterinarian rule it out as a possibility. Canine lung cancer frequently will metastasize, or spread, from a tumor elsewhere in the body. If your vet suspects that your dog may have this disease, you could be referred to an oncologist, who can provide more specialized treatment.
- Pneumonia This serious illness is marked by "soft" coughing, heavy breathing and mucus. Pneumonia requires immediate attention, including antibiotics and fluids.
- Influenza A virus causes the flu, which is a relatively new disease in dogs. It is a very contagious respiratory infection that in its mild form includes coughing. In severe form, signs of pneumonia are present.
- Distemper Again, coughing may be a sign of this devastating, highly contagious viral disease that is transmitted from an infected dog's respiratory secretions, urine or feces. It is easily prevented by vaccination.
Don't rely on guesswork. If your dog's bark sounds more cough than "ruff," seek an expert's opinion. Your vet can probably help to clear the cough so that soon both you and your dog may breathe a sigh of relief.
About The Author
Stephanie Stephens is a print and broadcast journalist whose work has appeared in more than 80 publications. She divides her time between California and New Zealand.
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40 Reader Comments | Add a comment
I have a 17 yr old maltese...he started coughing. The vet said hes has a slight heart murmur and this is a common occurrence and nothing can be done especially for dogs his age. He suggested give him a little honey(Teaspoon) to ease his throat....Should I be looking elsewhere to help my dog.. I know hes old but he hasn't lived this long due to bad care...he has a great appetite and still plays and enjoys long walks...ANY SUGGESTIONS FROM ANYONE PLEASE HELP
Thanks for an informative article that offers good advice to pet owners. We can't be over educated in how to care for our pets. We are their only hope.When they are ill they have only us to turn to, just as a child does. Thank you for sharing. Ellie
I need help here. Is dog sneezing a symptom of flu or cold?
i have an 8 year old shar-pei she has an enlarged nipple which is black & draining every now & then tissue comes out of it help
I have a 15 year old Shitzu and about 3 days ago a came home to find my baby boy not welcoming me at the door but in his bed laying down. He looked tired and sick. that same nigth he started to cough very badly i took him to the vet, and she said he had a virus and was not to be around other dogs. she also gave him some pills clavamox 125mg and temaril p. but he is still coughing wen i look up these pills they are use mainly for skin relief of itching. what does it have to do with my dogs cough how can these pills work for him. please help me i'm very scared
My little Yogi (15lb, 14yr old Jack Russell) has developed a severe cough that has kept us both up at nite several times during the last 2 weeks-I've been advised that his heart is slightly enlarged, but not sure if it's that, or Kennel Cough (in spite of vaccinations.) Running all the the tests at this time is not an option-I'm giving him 250mg vitamin c daily for his immune system,for the coughing fits a tsp of honey (3x daily). Last nite gave him a couple ounces of warmed chicken broth and his coughing spasm quieted for the duration of the night. I don't know if it was the chicken soup, but I shall continue to give it to him! Would appreciate any other suggestions-Thanks!
my dog sneezes and farts. is that normal?
I have a 17 yr old bichon. Vet gave him temeril p tablets to help his cough. But he also takes phenobarbitol to prevent siezures. Now I am wondering if it is safe to take both of these since I just read that it's not. Help!
Do bring lil yogi to the vet. My lil one suffers from heart murmur and has to be on long term medication. Cough very night and day recently and i can't seem to help and vets can't help either. Does the chicken soup really help?
My 8 yr old chihuahua which I recently adopted from the SPCA over a week ago is constantly sneezing & has difficulty breathing through her nose. She has recently completed a 7 day round of Clavamox 62.5 mg twice a day with no relief from sneezing or congestion. Please advise.
My 4 year old long haired chihuahua was diagnosed with post nasal drip syndrome because she coughs a lot. I give her cortisone tablets every 2 days. Are there any dangerous side effects to this medication?
my Shih Tzu is 5 months olds and wheezes a lot, he also sneezes a lot, a friend said if takes a 1/5 of an alka selzer in his food it would help. is this true??????
cough syrup with dm was suggested by my vet. my minpin is 7pounds so they told me 1\4 a teaspoon. i give him 1/2 at times. he is also on pheno. all are ok together
I have a 5yr old jack russell. She has started the hacking cough in the last month. Vet checked for heartworm, which was negative, and listened to her heart and lungs. Vet said all sounded fine. She is still coughing and seems to have labored breathing. Help?
Our 5 month old black lab seems to have postnasal drip or a sinus infection. How do you treat that?
Please help me. My large 8 year old dog one day after being in dog park threw uo his dinner twice, became lethargic, and began coughing horribly off and on all night. The vet checked his heart, and said we should wait to see if it went away, but it only got worse and his nose and paws also became hot consistantly, he sleeps most of the time won't eat much, hardly wants to walk, and when he tries to show his happiness and exitement when he sees me, starts the horrible coughing again. Also has raspy sound and laboured breathing at times. The vet prescribed anti-biotics that do not seem to be working. I am so concerned and praying for a solution so I can ease his suffering. I'd be so grateful for some feed-back. Thank you, God Bless.
my 4 year old dog has a cough for two days. everyone in the house is sick. it sounds just like our cough. should i take him to the vet or try some honey? thank you kim
i have a 8 year old pug which is over weight. he has a cough that is like something caught in his throat. he does this a few times a day. especially when he barks. what sould i do?
I have a 12 yr old lab mix. She has been treated for skin infections & ear infection. She is off antibiotics and now has started a cough with mucus. We have taken her to the vet so many times this last year. I do not know what to do for her cough and the vet just seems to take the $$ and we never have 100% results. Can you please advise me of what we can do for her cough.
i just had this happened and my baby is at the emergency hospital. he said he needs medication due to he has a enlarged heart. I really think the creep just wanted to collect 900 dollars from me but i will no more tomorrow at my vet..im so sick and im so afraid of loosing my baby
My 6yr old lab has started coughing mainly when she first wakes up in the morning or when she gets excited as someone enters the room. It is a gagging type of cough with a pop at the end. It goes on for several minutes and then stops. Could this be allergys with the spring approaching?
My Golden is about 14 yrs old he has just devaloped a cough or hacking he cant keep any food down yet he still drinks water and gose outside to releve himself can you please help
i took my baby to the vet for a bad cough it cost me 324.60 the cough has not got any better. i love her but i dont think the vet knows what he is doing. please e-mail me at stysinger2003@yahoo.com for any suggestions for what might help that is safe. thank you
I have a 12 year old girl and she has started with this dry cough and a small amount of mucus. She does have a heart murmur but is on no medication for that. We have lots of oak trees and our allergies have been awful this season. Could she have an allergy too. I agree with some of the folks that the vet takes my $$$ but no real solution. She has had seizures in the past but none in the last 2 years thankfully. Your input would be very much appreciated. I like the idea of the cough medicine with DM and the Vitamin C. Thanks to all of you.
My 14 yr. old Dalmatian, who had, despite her exotic diet (cat feces, nails, 5 lb. bag of flour, etc.)had only developed allergies in her old age, started coughing. I attributed it to her allergies as Spring had sprung, and the scratching had started too, so ignored it at first. Then it started getting worse and I was worried she had developed chronic bronchitis. Also, it seemed to be worse at night - or after she was asleep for a bit. She would wake up and just like the article above stated - would take a deep intake of breath and let it out in a hacking sound. She seemed unable to control it, and her chest would heave and twitch even after the coughing was done. You could definitely tell she was struggling for air. So I took her to the vet, and yes - a heart murmur - grade 2. Which I read is a soft murmur that is readily evident. At first I was skeptical. Thinking he was discounting my itchy dog. He was very sure and gave her a shot of Lasix and prescribed Disal, and an antibiotic called Cephlxin. There was no coughing for the rest of the day and into the next. The Lasix did that. It's obvious he was correct. We are giving her the Disal, which he says is to get the fluid off of her heart. He says this is causing the coughing because she lays there for a long time and the fluid fills up her lungs and heart and she is coughing because she is literally suffocating. The antibiotic is to rid her of any infection that could be causing all of this, or to ward off something attacking the immune system. It's been 3 days so say a prayer. I'll post back what happens.
we got our mutt about 15lbs from the pound about five years ago, she had an occasional cough was vacinated, vet said kennel cough, gave her meds but they didn't do anything,they did blood work said her heart was fine. gave her some allergy medicine, she coughs when she gets excited, she wants to play but ends up coughing. this until recently has been on occasion, the past few weeks she is coughing alot, we took our cat to the vet for the same thing about two weeks ago they gave her some sort of cortizone type shot and her coughing stopped. mocha has a vet apt later this week, money is tight I have run out of disability and have cancer. but the dog comes first she will be seen. we have predisone and allergy medicine. i'm not sure what to do between now and her vet visit. I feel so bad for her. and where do I read the responses to the other peoples questions?
My dog, 16 yr.old maltese, Max, was diganosed in Dec. 2007 with high blood pressure precipitated by a seizure. He was given Norvasc. He had a seizure in Feb. and 3 In April 2008. Throughout these episodes he's developed this horrendous deep cough and sneezes. The vet prescribes Hydrocodone for the coughing. He has had a "lung wash" with nothing showing. His heart is strong. The cough has gotten much worse with the introduction of the Phenobarbitol. Can anyone help with this problem? Maz has been healthy except for his slight allergic cough up until Dec. Thanking in advance
Our 12 yr American Cocker spaniel has been coughing for 5 yrs; tested and checked for everything; heart, lungs, traechael, kennel, etc etc. Has been on all medicines; tussiones, butorphanol, clavamox, antihistimes, etc etc. Our dear Vet is at her rope's end. Any other ideas or help would be greatly appreicated.
I HAVE A BOXER THAT HAS BEEN COUGHING FOR ALEAST 3 WEEKS I I HAVE BEEN TO THE VET TWICE TWO DIFFERANT MEDICATIONS I AM NOT SURE WHAT ULSE I NEED TO DO.
My dog is hacking like a grown man. Whats wrong with him?
i have a 5mth old american eskimo that has been coughing since i brought him home. i brought him to the vet and they gave him antibiotic that he took for 2 weeks and the cough is still not gone. it seems to get worse at night and when he gets real hyper. when its hot out it sounds alot worse, can dogs have allergies? or maybe a fur ball since he has so much hair?
my chihuahua puppy sneezes softly alot and sometimes breathes through his mouth. Hehas been like this for months. Vet checked lungs and they seem o.k. Something is not right, Please advise
Our 13 year old male "puppy" has started a dry hack/cough in the last 2 weeks or so. He is old, we know, and maybe not long for this world, he has had arthritis in his back hips for several years and gets around slowly until he spots a squirrel in the yard and he becomes a 2 years old again. He is somewhat overweight, about 60ish lbs., but also no longer eats very much. Some days he eats very little and some other days pretty much. He is quite sedate at this point in his life, just moving from place to place and just dropping when he gets there. Getting up from laying down is obviously quite a chore for him. He has not been in a kennel in years, is current on his rabies and heartworm meds. He is mainly a house dog going out in a large, shaded back yard several times a day. He had surgery a year ago in January for a perinneal hernia and had some teeth extracted and to be nuetered. I have not taken him to the vet as yet - I think I am afraid they will say it has something to do with his heart or lungs and because he is getting old. Anyone else oujt there with a border collie or aussie shepherd? Are these typical symptons as they age? I have heard that the arthritis is typical of the bread )-: I think I may be venting my thoughts more than anything but I would much like to hear some feedback on similar breeds/symptoms.
My 7 yr old pug has a terrible hacking cough and a fever. I cant afford to take her to see a vet. Does anybody have any advice for us? Thank you.
Lacey - You did not describe the type of cough your cocker has. However, it's possible that he has laryngeal paralysis. This does occur in Amer. Cockers. A really excellent vet should be able to diagnose him without anesthesia, and if the dog does have this affliction, it's usually best to do nothing. The surgical procedure to tack back the tissue often leads to future aspiration and pneumonia, so it's better to leave them alone. My cocker was diagnosed at 12 and I left it alone per the vet's reccomendation. He lived til almost 19!
My JRT has a dry cough when she gets excited, for about a month. Had her checked for heart worm, otherwise she seems fine. coughs like she has something she wants to get out.
Our puppy is about 4 months old and she loves eating grass. We have really been monitoring her from doing this because we didn't want her to get sick. She was on antiobiotics about a month ago and now she has been doing a type of cough/gag thing and sometimes mucus comes up. I am not sure if I should be worried about this or what to do. Please any information is helpful I am a new puppy owner. Thanks!!!
I have a 16 year old Maltese that was dignosed with heart failure about 3 years ago. He is certainly a fighter and has been doing very well on his Captohexal, Purgoxin and Puresis daily, with Millophyline being given when he's very short of breath. However, with winter here, he's develped a chest infection and dispite the antibiotic he is still battling with a very dry cough. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks so much.
last week was a once a year check up for my two boxers. they were given an aersol for kennel cough. This week my 8 year old boxer veloped a hacking, cough that sounds like kennel cough. they have never been in a kennel. this is the first time i ever gave them that vaccination. Has my old boy had an allergic reaction? Now the vet wants me to take him in. My other baby boxer, 3years old is fine. My older dog had suffered from all kinds of allergies as a puppy. What do i do? i just spent like 180 dollars last week and I live on a tight budget.
We brought our 14wk old min pin home from PetLand 3wks ago with a slight cough and sneeze. Last night we had to rush him to the emergency room only to have hime put on life support, to being put down today. We are having a hard time with this in several ways firt and foremost he is gone!!! Second we still owe over 2,000 dollars plus vet bills. We have no answers we owe all that money & PETLand refuses to help we can not get any help that is reasonable for us. Can anyone help with info please........ Thanks
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