Is Dog Coughing Serious? Causes and Treatment

by Kenna Bourke
(Boulder,Colorado, USA)

A woman thinking about dog coughing while wearing protective face mask with her dog at home

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.

Let’s discuss some common reasons why dogs keep coughing and treatment options.
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.

How is it treated?

Cough medicine for dogs is used to treat throat infections. Your vet 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 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 vet immediately.

How is it treated?
Your vet 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.

How is it treated?
Your vet 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.

How is it treated?
This requires hospitalization. Treatment might involve antibiotics, oxygen therapy, and medications to help your dog breathe easier.

Cause 5: Canine Influenza

Influenza in dogs can take up to weeks to recover. A lung infection causes it; it’s essential to quarantine the pet patient to protect fellow dogs.

How is it treated?
Your vet 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.

How is it treated?
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.

How is it treated?
Your vet 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.

How is it treated?
Treatment involves a series of injections to kill the adult heartworms. It's a lengthy process requiring strict rest and medication adherence.

About Kenna Bourke

Kenna Bourke is a veterinary and technology writer based in Boulder, CO. She is the Head of Content at Vet and Tech, a company dedicated to providing the latest in veterinary technology and animal health solutions. It offers a range of online webinars and expos by specialized vet techs to improve the lives of pets and the efficiency of veterinary practices.

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