Coughing in Dogs

Overview:

Coughing is a reflex which is initiated by an irritant in the airway. The type of cough often suggests the location & probable cause. It is seen more commonly in dogs than it is in cats. It is not a disease in itself but rather a symptom of a problem.

What causes coughing in dogs?

There are many causes of coughing in dogs, some of these include;

• Allergic bronchitis

• Bronchial foreign body

• Cardiac failure

• Chronic bronchitis

• Chylothorax

• Environmental irritants

• Heartworm

• Kennel cough

• Lung tumours

• Lungworm

• Pneumonia

• Pulmonary edema

• Pulmonary granuloma

• Roundworm migration

• Upper airway obstruction (bone, food etc)

• Tracheal disease

• Tracheal collapse

How is the cause of coughing diagnosed?

Your veterinarian will perform a physical examination of your cat & obtain a medical history from you. The type of cough & other presenting symptoms (if any) may be indicative of the cause. Two such examples below;

• Coughing accompanied by weight loss, anorexia, lethargy may suggest worms.

Some tests your veterinarian may wish to perform include;

• Chest x-ray which may determine the presence of asthma, pleural effusion (a collection of fluid inside the chest cavity around the lung) &  heartworm disease.

• Complete blood count.

• Heartworm antibody & antigen tests.

• Fecal flotation which may detect the presence of roundworm eggs.

• Tracheal endoscopy to evaluate the trachea. Biopsies & phlegm may be removed for testing.

• Thoracic fluid analysis where pleural effusion is present.

How is coughing treated?

It is important to identify the cause of the coughing & treatment depends on the underlying cause.

Please note:

The medical articles on this site have not been written by a veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for informative purposes only.

Always seek immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or behavioral) in your pets. 

While great care has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical advice.