Dog Coughing in Dubai: Causes, Treatment & When to Worry

What to do if your dog is coughing

Recognising emergencies ensures your dog receives life-saving treatment when needed.

Contact emergency veterinary services immediately if your dog develops:

• Difficulty breathing or laboured breathing
• Wheezing sounds during breathing
• Pale or bluish gums, which indicate oxygen deficiency
• Severe lethargy or inability to rest comfortably
• Extreme weakness or collapse

Schedule a routine veterinary consultation for:

• Frequent, severe coughing episodes
• Persistent cough lasting more than two weeks
• Gradual worsening of symptoms over time
• Changes in your dog’s voice or bark
• Reduced activity levels or exercise tolerance

Dubai’s extreme temperatures can rapidly worsen respiratory conditions, making prompt veterinary assessment essential for your pet’s safety.

What causes coughing in dogs?

Knowing the possible causes helps you recognise when urgent care is needed.

Common infectious causes:

• Kennel cough: A highly contagious respiratory infection, especially common in boarding facilities during busy travel periods.
• Parasitic infections: Lungworm and heartworm, with increased risk of mosquito-borne heartworm in humid coastal areas.

Structural airway problems:

• Tracheal collapse: Common in small breeds, potentially worsened by temperature extremes and changes in air quality.
• Laryngeal paralysis: Weakness of the throat muscles affecting breathing. Older large-breed dogs are more prone. The symptoms can worsen in hot weather due to heat stress.
• Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome: Particularly problematic in Dubai’s heat for flat-faced breeds like bulldogs and pugs.

Environmental and systemic causes:

• Foreign bodies: Sand, grass seeds or debris inhaled during outdoor activities.
• Heart disease: Can trigger coughing when an enlarged heart presses on the airways or when fluid builds up in the lungs, making breathing more difficult.
• Chronic bronchitis: A long-term airway inflammation that often develops in older dogs. It can be worsened by dust, allergens, and poor air quality.
• Aspiration pneumonia: Occurs when food, water, or vomit accidentally enters the lungs. It is sometimes linked to swallowing difficulties or rapid eating, especially in hot weather.

Dubai-specific considerations:

• Air conditioning systems can harbour bacteria and irritants.
• Construction dust and sandstorms frequently trigger respiratory sensitivities.
• Sudden shifts between cool indoor air and hot outdoor temperatures can strain your dog’s respiratory system.
• Reduced exercise during hot months may mask early heart disease symptoms.

Less common but serious conditions require immediate recognition and treatment:

• Pulmonary thromboembolism: Blood clots that block circulation in the lungs. This condition is seen more often in dogs with conditions like Cushing’s disease.
• Lung lobe torsion: A rare but serious twisting of part of the lung that prevents normal airflow and causes sudden breathing difficulty.
• Pulmonary hypertension: High blood pressure in the lungs, usually developing as a complication of heart disease, heartworm or other chronic illnesses.
• Tumours or cancer spread to the chest cavity, eventually causing persistent coughing.

Diagnosis of coughing in dogs

A veterinary examination is essential to identify the cause of coughing and guide the right treatment.

Initial assessment may include:

• Observing breathing patterns and overall behaviour
• Checking gum colour, circulation and moisture
• Auscultation: Listening to the chest with a stethoscope to evaluate lung and heart sounds
• Assessing exercise tolerance and activity levels

Advanced diagnostic procedures can involve:

• Blood tests: Assess for systemic diseases that could affect respiratory health
• X-rays: Detecting lung changes, heart enlargement or build-up of fluid
• Ultrasound: Providing detailed imaging of internal organs

Specialised tests when needed:

• Bronchoscopy: A small camera is used to inspect the airways for blockages or structural problems
• Bronchoalveolar lavage: Fluid samples are collected from the airways for microscopic analysis.

How to help your coughing dog at home

Home care supports veterinary treatment and helps keep your dog comfortable during recovery.

Daily comfort:

• Offer soft, wet food if swallowing appears uncomfortable
• Provide steam therapy: let your dog breathe warm moist air in a shower room after running a hot shower
• Keep indoor temperatures comfortable with adequate air conditioning and circulation
• Ensure easy access to fresh water at all times

Environmental modifications:

• Use air purifiers to reduce indoor allergens and dust
• Avoid smoke, cleaning chemicals or using strong fragrances
• Create quiet, comfortable resting areas away from household activity

Important precautions:

• Never administer human cough medications without veterinary approval
• Avoid cough suppressants unless specifically prescribed. They may worsen underlying congestion
• Monitor symptoms closely and report changes to your veterinary team

How do vets treat coughing in dogs

Professional veterinary care treats the root cause, manages symptoms and helps prevent complications.

Emergency interventions:

• High-oxygen environment therapy for severe respiratory distress
• Fluid removal from lungs using specialised drainage procedures
• Chest drain placement for significant fluid accumulation around the lungs

Diagnostic procedures:

• Bronchoscopy to remove a suspected foreign body
• Advanced imaging studies to evaluate chest abnormalities
• Laboratory analysis of airway samples when infection or cancer is suspected

Treatment approaches:

• Targeted antibiotic therapy for confirmed bacterial infections
• Anti-inflammatory medications for allergic or inflammatory conditions
• Heart medications when cardiac disease contributes to coughing
• Supportive care, including fluid therapy and nutritional support

Follow-up care:

• Regular monitoring of response to treatment and progression of symptoms
• Adjustment of medication depending on clinical improvement
• Long-term management strategies for chronic conditions

Are some dogs more at risk?

Some breeds and physical traits make dogs more prone to coughing, with Dubai’s environment adding additional challenges.

Breed predispositions:

• Small breeds (especially West Highland White Terriers): An increased risk of tracheal collapse and chronic bronchitis.
• Large breeds (Labradors and similar dogs): Susceptible to laryngeal paralysis with age
• Brachycephalic breeds (Bulldogs, pugs, and similar flat-faced breeds): Particularly in Dubai’s heat

Age and health factors:

• Elderly dogs: Increased risk of coughing episodes related to heart disease
• Overweight dogs: More severe symptoms due to additional strain on their respiratory system
• Dogs with pre-existing conditions, Diabetes, Cushing’s disease, and other chronic illnesses, increase the risk of complications

Dubai-specific risk factors:

• Air-conditioned environments: Dogs that spend a lot of time indoors with AC may become more sensitive to sudden temperature changes.
• Limited outdoor exercise: Reduced activity during hot months can hide early signs of heart or respiratory problems.
• Urban pollution and dust: Exposure to construction dust and city pollutants can increase respiratory irritation and sensitivity.

Preventing coughing in dogs

Taking proactive measures can greatly lower the risk of coughing, especially with the challenges of Dubai’s environment.

Vaccination and parasite control:

• Keep your dog’s kennel cough vaccinations up-to-date, especially before boarding or travel
• Regular deworming treatments prevent parasitic lung and heart diseases
• Consult your veterinarian about heartworm prevention suitable for mosquito-prevalent coastal areas

Environmental management:

• Schedule regular health checks to detect early heart disease or respiratory issues
• Maintain air conditioning filters to reduce indoor allergens and irritants
• Limit outdoor exposure during sandstorms and days when pollution levels are high
• Provide your dog with plenty to drink, particularly during hot weather

Breed-specific prevention:

• Brachycephalic breeds (Bulldogs, Pugs, etc): Corrective surgery may be needed for severe airway obstruction
• Small breeds (Yorkies, Pomeranians, etc): Watch closely for signs of tracheal collapse, such as honking coughs
• All breeds: Keep your dog at a healthy weight and body condition to ease strain on the respiratory system

Dubai lifestyle adaptations:

• Exercise during cooler morning and evening hours
• Use air-conditioned transport for veterinary visits during extreme heat
• Avoid walks near construction areas and dusty environments when possible

Worried about your dog’s cough? Book a checkup or emergency appointment today at Modern Vet Hospital in Dubai. Their experienced team provides thorough diagnostics, effective treatment, and ongoing care to address respiratory issues and underlying causes. From routine examinations to urgent intervention, Modern Vet Hospital is your trusted veterinary clinic in Dubai for compassionate, expert care for dogs with coughing or other respiratory concerns.