Our canine fellows love to explore and engage in outdoor activities. This makes sense — why do they occasionally cough?
Minor, seasonal coughs shouldn’t be confused with severe coughs. However, continuous dog coughing is an indication of serious health issues. So, as a responsible pet parent, it’s important to know how to identify serious coughs in the early stages. This helps in saving your dog’s life.
How Many Types of Dog Coughing Are There?
Dog coughing can take different forms. It can be dry, high-pitched, or even wet. Each type highlights certain underlying issues. Here is a short overview of 4 different types of coughing in dogs.
| Cough Type | How Does it Feel? | How to Identify? | Potential Underlying Issues |
| Deep and Dry | Harsh, rough, without mucus | Persistent, often worse at night | Allergies, chronic bronchitis |
| High-pitched Gag | A short, sharp sound | This can be followed by vomiting | Foreign object in the throat, tracheal collapse |
| Wet and Phlegmy | Dog coughing up white foam + Moist, rattling sound | Often accompanied by other symptoms like lethargy | Pneumonia, kennel cough |
| Deep and Honking | Loud, goose-like sound | Usually occurs suddenly | Upper respiratory infection, tracheal collapse |
So, now you have an idea of how different types of coughing can be felt and identified, let’s delve deeper into the reasons.
Why is My Dog Coughing and Hacking?
If the dog keeps coughing a lot, they might be suffering from serious lung, heart, or other health issues. Here are a few reasons why dogs cough:
Cause 1: Irritant Throat
When an irritant gets into the dog’s throat, it can cause swelling or tonsillitis. This condition can also occur if your dog is allergic to pollen or dust.
Treatment
Cough medicine for dogs is used to treat throat infections. Your veterinarian might prescribe antihistamines or other cough medications depending on the cause.
Cause 2: Choking
This is a serious situation that requires immediate attention and veterinary help. If your dog chokes on a solid or hard object, he might cough with a gagging sound. If you notice your dog struggling to throw the choked item, reach out to your veterinarian immediately.
Treatment
Your veterinarian will assess the dog’s condition and immediately remove the choking item. Additional treatment options like oxygen therapy might be required in serious cases.
Cause 3: Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is one of the most serious contagious diseases. Dogs suffering from this disease usually cough with a dry honking sound. Kennel cough should be addressed at earlier stages, or else it might pass further and infect the lungs.
Treatment
Your veterinarian will provide a complete treatment plan to fight the bacteria causing kennel cough. In addition, it’s important to quarantine a dog coughing a lot to save the neighboring dogs.
Cause 4: Pneumonia
Canine pneumonia can also cause intense coughing. This occurs when pets inhale bacteria. Younger and senior pets with weak immune systems are more likely to develop pneumonia.
Treatment
Pneumonia requires hospitalization. Treatment might involve antibiotics, oxygen therapy, and medications to help your dog breathe easier.
Cause 5: Canine Influenza
In some cases, dogs with influenza can take weeks to recover. A lung infection causes it; it’s essential to quarantine the pet patient to protect fellow dogs.
Treatment
Your veterinarian might prescribe medications to manage symptoms like fever and cough. Additional care, like fluids and oxygen therapy, might be necessary in severe cases.
Cause 6: Collapsing Trachea
Collapsing trachea happens when the pet patient’s airways become fragile and break down. This blocks the airways and makes it difficult for the dog to breathe. These pet patients usually produce honking sounds with coughs.
Treatment
Surgery is typically conducted to remove the trachea.
Cause 7: Heart Disease/Failure
An infected heart cannot transfer blood to the lungs, which can cause serious coughing. Soft coughs indicate this underlying issue.
Treatment
Your veterinarian will focus on managing the underlying heart condition, which might involve medication, dietary changes, and restricted activity.
Cause 8: Heartworm
Canine heartworm is caused when a mosquito bites a dog. This health condition damages the lungs and respiratory system, which leads to serious coughing.
Treatment
Treatment involves a series of injections to kill the adult heartworms. It’s a lengthy process requiring strict rest and medication adherence. In addition to these causes, some dogs might experience diarrhea due to infections or diet changes. If your dog has diarrhea but is acting fine, it’s essential to monitor them closely.
Can Dog Coughing Lead to Death?
In some of the cases, dog coughing and gagging can be life-threatening. Have a look at the graph below to better understand the level of mortality associated with each of the underlying issues.
As you can see, pneumonia, collapsing trachea, heart diseases, and heartworms are some of the riskiest underlying issues of serious dog coughing. These health conditions can potentially lead to the death of a pet patient.
Hence, seeking immediate veterinary help is important once you notice any serious cough symptoms.
Summary
Dog coughing shouldn’t be ignored. Whether it’s a minor seasonal cough or a severe one accompanied by fluids, dog coughing should be treated immediately under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
FAQs
Can dog gagging cough kill them?
Dog coughing can be serious. If it’s not treated in time, the underlying issue can proceed and lead to life-threatening health problems. For instance, heart diseases can result in heart failure (if not addressed in time), leading to the death of your pet.
Can I give human medicine to cure dog coughing?
Treating a dog’s cough on your own is not recommended. Your dog might be allergic to some medicines. Hence, it’s important to visit a veterinarian for a proper treatment plan. Your veterinarian will prescribe medications specifically tailored to your pet’s unique needs.
Sara Williams is professional content writer that specializes in animal health and veterinary topics.
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