COUGHING IN DOGS

Coughing in dogs is a common symptom that could indicate irritation or disease affecting the respiratory system, heart, or airways. It is a protective mechanism to expel mucus, foreign bodies, or infectious agents from the throat and lungs. Occasional coughing may occur in healthy dogs, but persistent, frequent, or worsening coughing often indicates an underlying condition that requires veterinary attention.

Dog owners may observe coughing at random times, i.e., while active, at night, or following excitement. The character of the cough, either dry, wet, or harsh, will give some idea of what may be causing it.

Causes

There are many reasons why dogs cough, depending on which part of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems they are involved with.

Infectious Causes

Respiratory infections are among the leading reasons for coughing. They can be:

• Kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis)
• Canine Influenza
• Viral infection (distemper)
• Bacteria (Bordetella bronchiseptica)

Kennel cough has been found to have high incidence rates when dogs are exposed to each other, such as in kennels, dog parks, etc., and in areas where dogs are groomed.

Heart related Reason

Heart disease can lead to fluid accumulation in the lungs or enlargement of the heart, which may place pressure on nearby airways and trigger coughing.

Airway and Lung Problems

Some chronic problems in the airways can lead to coughing:

• Chronic Bronchitis
• Collapsing Trachea (seen in smaller breeds)
• Pneumonia
• Allergic Airway Disease

Environmental Irritants

Dogs are sensitive to airborne irritants such as smoke, dust, strong perfumes, cleaning chemicals, or pollution. These can cause temporary coughing episodes, particularly in dogs who have extremely sensitive airways.

Parasites

There are certain parasitic exposures that dogs encounter that can affect their respiratory system and produce chronic coughing. Heartworms and lungworms can cause chronic coughing and other respiratory signs. If heartworm disease is not treated, then it can lead to death.

Other Causes

Less common causes of coughing include:

• A foreign object being stuck in the airways.
• A tumor located in the chest or throat.
• Irritation to the throat due to a collar or constant pulling on a leash.

Symptoms

Dogs that cough due to an illness will typically exhibit different symptoms than those caused by allergies. A coughing dog may produce a dry, moist, harsh, or hacking sound when coughing. Other common signs of coughing in dogs are;

• Persistent or occasional coughs
• Dry hacking or gagging sounds
• Wheezes or noisy breathing
• Coughing that worsens during exercise or excitement
• Nighttime or early morning coughs
• Nasal discharge (in some cases)
• Reduced physical activity or intolerance
• Lethargic behavior (more severe cases)
• Loss of appetite (severe cases)

Some dogs may also appear to be trying to vomit or attempting to “clear” their throats repeatedly.

Risks

Coughing itself is a symptom, and the root cause of the cough could have dire consequences for your dog’s health if it is not treated promptly.

Respiratory Complications

The chronic respiratory diseases that can result from coughing, i.e., bronchitis, collapsing trachea, etc., will continue to deteriorate over time with potentially serious complications, including long-term breathing difficulties and greatly reduced quality of life.

Heart Disease Progression

If the cough is directly associated with heart disease, then untreated cases could develop into congestive heart failure, fluid in the lungs, and/or respiratory distress.

 Infection Spread

Infectious respiratory diseases, such as kennel cough, can spread rapidly between dogs in environments where they are housed or exercised together.

Reduced Quality of Life

A persistent cough can disrupt your dog’s sleep, reduce its exercise ability, induce fatigue, and generally decrease your dog’s overall quality of life.

Diagnosis

A veterinarian will use both clinical evaluation and diagnostic testing to identify what is causing your dog’s cough.

Physical Examination

Your veterinarian will listen to your dog’s lungs with a stethoscope to assess the breathing pattern and sounds of the heart, as well as the overall condition.

Imaging

X-ray imaging is often used to assess your dog’s lungs, heart size, and airways. If the case becomes more complicated, additional imaging studies (such as ultrasounds or CT scans) may be necessary.

Laboratory Tests

Infections, inflammation, or dysfunction of organs can be identified through Blood work. Heartworm testing may be recommended in dogs with persistent coughing, particularly in regions where heartworm disease occurs.

Additional Tests

Based on what has been identified through Physical Examination and laboratory testing, additional testing may be recommended by your veterinarian, such as tracheal wash, bronchoscopy, or fecal parasite testing.

Treatment

The type of treatment provided by your veterinarian will depend solely on what has caused your dog’s cough.

Medical treatment

Some examples of medical treatments include:

• Antibiotics for bacterial infections
• Anti-inflammatory medications for chronic bronchitis or airway inflammation
• Cough suppressants when appropriate
• Bronchodilator therapy to improve the quality of airflow in cases of chronic airway disease
• Antiparasitic drugs to treat heartworms or lungworms.

Supportive care

• Rest and reduced physical activity
• Humidified air to ease breathing
• Proper hydration and nutrition
• Oxygen therapy in severe respiratory distress

Long Term Management

Chronic conditions such as collapsing trachea or chronic cardiac diseases are ongoing and require long term management through regular follow-up visits with your veterinarian, adjustment to lifestyle changes and ongoing medication administration.

Prevention

Some reasons for a cough may not be preventable; however, there are some ways to decrease your dog’s likelihood of developing a cough and possibly minimize its severity.

The most effective method of prevention is through vaccination against infectious diseases such as kennel cough and canine influenza. Limiting exposure to dogs showing signs of respiratory illness and avoiding high-risk environments during outbreaks can help reduce the risk of infection.

Protective measures can also be taken to keep your dog away from pollutants in the environment, including smoke, dust and chemicals, which can cause irritation to your dog’s sensitive airway. A good example of this protective measure would be using a harness on your dog instead of a collar because a collar can cause constant irritation to your dog’s trachea, especially if it is one of the smaller breeds.

Regular visits to your veterinarian will help detect many serious health problems early on, so they do not develop into major issues with your dog.