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Last Updated on January 23, 2024 by Thee Puppypreneur
WHY IS MY DOG COUGHING?
First, you need to assess;
- How often is your dog coughing
- Are they coughing daily
- Have they started coughing more often
- Do they appear to be having trouble breathing
- Are there any other symptoms other than coughing
- Are they lethargic
- Are they eating
- How does the cough sound
By looking at the above and then cross checking it with your furbaby you will get a better overall picture of what is going on and what the coughing could be in relation to.
REASONS FOR DOG COUGHING
Other reasons your dog could be coughing so much are as follows;
FOREIGN OBJECT
Your dog could be coughing for a variety of reasons. The simplest one being maybe they have something stuck in their throat and were trying to dislodge it.
For example, I know when my fur kid is out cruising the yard, she likes to eat grass from time to time and when she comes back in the house, she makes like a singular gagging, hacking cough and then usually a blade of grass will end up on the floor in the kitchen.
ALLERGIES
Do you only notice your dog coughing during certain times of the year? Maybe you notice the coughing is more pronounced during Spring and Summer. Then your dog could have environmental allergens.
This could also be due to other variables such as smoking allergies, dust allergies, or mold allergens. Remember a dog’s sense of smell is exponentially better than ours.
If your vet tells you, it is environmental allergies ask if this is an option for you
Amazon.com : Dog Cough – Kennel Cough – Dog Allergy Relief – Supplements for Dogs & Cats Health – Allergy Relief Immune Supplement for Dogs – for Dry, Wet & Barkly Pet Cough : Pet Supplies
HEARTWORM
Your dog could have a condition that you are not readily able to see such as heartworm. Heartworm is exactly like what it sounds. It is a parasite, spread by a mosquito, that lives in your dog’s heart and the more heartworms that are living in your dog the more obvious symptoms will be.
Dogs that have heartworm will typically have a dry cough as well although this will not be a loud hacking or honking cough as with kennel cough or a wet cough as with heart disease. There are tests that your veterinarian can do to confirm the presence of heartworm.
For more info search our article on heartworm to learn about the symptoms and treatment options.
READ OUR OTHER ARTICLE ON HEARTWORM
OTHER INFECTIONS
Your dog could have an infection that could be bacterial or viral. Such as Kennel Cough which is a highly contagious disease spread from dog to dog. It is like the human cold. Kennel cough sounds like a dog dry coughing or a hacking dog cough.
Read our other article below for a more in-depth look into kennel cough and its symptoms, treatments and home remedies.
KENNEL COUGH IN DOGS AND SYMPTOMS, TREATMENTS AND NATURAL REMEDIES
And talk to your veterinarian about whether or not herbal supplements like this one are an option for your furbaby
Valley fever is a fungal infection known to cause coughing in dogs that is most prominent in dry climates but can happen anywhere. It is typically inhaled from dry soil where the spores have been disturbed 1Valley fever – Symptoms & causes – Mayo Clinic by something as simple as your dog walking over them.
Histoplasmosis is also another fungal infection and cause of dog coughing. It is transmitted from the soil and spreads from the bird and bat populations through fecal matter where your dog inhales the spores or eats the droppings.
HEART DISEASE
If your dog has heart disease this could be another factor as to why they are experiencing dog coughing. Congestive heart failure results in fluid filling up the lungs. There could be excess pressure or fluid causing them to cough and usually dogs with heart disease tend to have wet coughs. It could be difficult for them to breathe.
Talk to your veterinarian to see if an herbal supplement like this is an option for your specific issue
PNUEMONIA
Pneumonia is another reason for dog coughing. Pneumonia can be bacterial or viral and it is caused by inflammation of the airways and lungs. Kennel Cough can actually progress to pneumonia and fungal infections could also contribute to the cause of pneumonia.
Another way your dog can get pneumonia is through the inhalation of some sort of irritant or foreign material. Such as in the case of aspiration where your dog is perhaps given a liquid medication and instead of your dog swallowing the medication, they inhaled it into their lungs.
TRACHEAL COLLAPSE
This is typically more common in smaller breed dogs. This happens when the trachea begins to narrow making it harder for the dog to breathe and can result in coughing as one of the symptoms.
There are other reasons not listed here as to why your dog could be coughing as well which I will not go into in detail.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR DOG COUGHING
Treatment for your dog’s cough can vary based on the underlying reason. You will want to contact your veterinarian and schedule an appointment to find the underlying cause for your dog’s coughing.
Although a cough may not always be serious it is usually a symptom of an underlying condition and early intervention is the key to prolonging the life of your fur baby.
