Dry, oily, acute, chronic, mild, loud—coughs come with as many descriptions as they do causes! But first, is it really a cough? Let’s take a closer look at this symptom not to be taken lightly.
Why Is My Dog Coughing?
When you hear your dog coughing, the first question you're likely to ask yourself is probably: is it really a cough, or is it something else? We often confuse the sound caused by this defensive reflex—meant to clear secretions from the respiratory tract (the trachea and bronchi)—with attempts to vomit or regurgitate (to expel a foreign body, for example), choking, or even sneezing.
If it is indeed a cough, it’s important to pay attention to several key points:
- its duration – is it a one-off, temporary cough? Has it been going on for more than 24 hours? –
- whether it’s mild or very loud,
- whether it’s accompanied by lethargy, loss of appetite, and/or fever,
- or if it’s accompanied by breathing difficulties or your dog’s mucous membranes turn bluish or purplish (in which case, it’s a life-threatening emergency).
Common Causes of Cough:
- infectious causes—such as kennel cough, for example—
- inflammatory causes—irritation from a foreign body, for instance—or allergic,
- cardiovascular causes: heart failure, pulmonary thrombosis, or pulmonary edema typically trigger coughing.
… and many others exist as well, such as tracheal collapse—a weakening of the trachea that more commonly affects Poodles, Spitz, Chihuahuas, … as well as older dogs. Tumors are also a cause: unfortunately, our four-legged friends are not spared from lung tumors.
Should I Consult My Vet?
If your dog coughs once or twice and then carries on with life as usual, the answer is no. However, if the cough persists or the fits recur, if your dog shows signs of breathing difficulties, or if you feel they’re not their usual self, it’s best to consult your vet—urgently if they’re struggling to breathe.
Your vet will examine your dog to pinpoint the cause of the cough. Depending on their diagnostic hypotheses, they may suggest additional tests: blood work, chest X-ray, echocardiogram, endoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage, etc., or even recommend a consultation with a veterinary specialist.
Treatments vary widely and are cause-dependent: antibiotics, bronchial expectorants, anti-inflammatories, diuretics, surgery, and more.
