Coughing in Dogs – Not Always Just a Cold!

Coughing is a common symptom in dogs. Just like in humans, it is a natural reflex of the body when something irritates the throat, or when the airways are inflamed or blocked. When should you be concerned if your dog is coughing?

Coughing, which should not be confused with sneezing, is a forced, noisy exhalation. Sometimes it is accompanied by mucus that is expelled. We also distinguish between dry and wet coughs. The mouth is open when coughing, unlike sneezing, where the mouth remains closed.

The causes of coughing are diverse and more or less common depending on the dog's age and breed. Furthermore, depending on the cause, the cough can be harmless or a sign of a serious illness.

Below, we present various common causes of coughing, as well as the usual symptoms and their severity.

Infectious Cough

In young dogs, the most common cause of coughing is kennel cough, also known as infectious tracheobronchitis. This is a highly contagious infectious disease. Dogs usually contract it from the breeder, at dog daycare, in a shelter, during dog training classes, or at the dog park.

Kennel cough is caused by various viruses (parainfluenza, canine adenoviruses, herpesviruses, reoviruses) and bacteria (Bordetella bronchiseptica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), which can occur individually or in combination. These pathogens enter the dog's respiratory system and cause inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, from the trachea to the bronchi, and in rare cases, even to the lungs.

In healthy, adult dogs, an upper respiratory infection is usually mild. They suffer from a mild cough for one to two days, accompanied by slight fatigue. Sometimes the dog also has a clear nasal discharge and sneezes. The symptoms can also be more severe, with violent, dry coughing fits that can trigger vomiting, as well as loss of appetite, significant fatigue, fever, and difficulty breathing.

Puppies, elderly dogs, and animals with chronic illnesses are more susceptible. Therefore, they have a greater risk of their general condition deteriorating or complications developing.

If the dog does not recover after one or two days, or if its general condition deteriorates, it should definitely be examined by a vet so that the correct treatment can be initiated.

There is also a vaccine against kennel cough – so don't hesitate to ask your vet if your dog is adequately vaccinated against it.

Other causes of an infectious cough include deeper inflammations in the bronchi or lungs. These diseases can be caused by bacteria, parasites, or fungi. Typically, your dog will cough for days or even weeks without its general condition deteriorating. If the cough persists for a longer period, you should consult a vet to have your dog treated.

Non-Infectious Pulmonary Cough

Especially in older animals, a cough can occur due to cancer. In this case, the dog has a rather rough and dry cough. It can be initially inconspicuous and become more persistent over time. It is often accompanied by fatigue and weakness of the dog. Sometimes the dog also develops a fever, becomes apathetic, and loses its appetite.

In dogs of all age groups, coughing can also be triggered by aspiration pneumonia, meaning your dog has choked, and water or food has entered the lungs. If this is the case, a rapid deterioration of the general condition is often observed in addition to a persistent cough.

Both diseases require rapid and intensive treatment, as the dog often has difficulty breathing and its condition can deteriorate very quickly.

In the worst case, dogs show respiratory distress, characterized by loud, labored breathing, as well as a blue tongue and pale mucous membranes. The dog may also be restless and panic.

Therefore, as soon as you notice a persistent cough with a deterioration of your dog's general condition, you should not hesitate and take your dog to the vet. 

Cough Due to Heart Disease

Some small and medium-sized dog breeds such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Dachshund, Shih Tzu, or Cocker Spaniel are susceptible to heart disease from a certain age. Certain large breeds like Boxers and Dobermans are also susceptible to specific cardiomyopathies.

Normally, no unusual behavior is noticed at the onset of the disease. Sometimes it is diagnosed by the vet during a routine check-up; otherwise, it remains unnoticed until it develops into heart failure.

Therefore, pay attention to certain signs such as a dry cough – especially after physical exertion or at night – fatigue, or reluctance to move. Your dog may also feel unwell, pant frequently, suddenly lose weight, and have a bloated abdomen. Behind these seemingly harmless symptoms, heart failure can be hidden. The earlier the animal is treated, the lower the risk of a complication, i.e., pulmonary edema.

Because if heart failure is not treated, it leads to blood congestion in the lungs, which results in pulmonary edema. This, in turn, triggers breathing difficulties, which can lead to respiratory distress.
In cases of respiratory distress, the dog has a blue tongue, pale mucous membranes, forced flank breathing, and panicked behavior. If you notice one or more of these symptoms, go to your vet immediately. This is a life-threatening emergency, and your dog needs to be treated as quickly as possible so that it can breathe normally again.

To ensure a good quality of life for your four-legged friend, heart diseases require lifelong monitoring and treatment. Since obesity is an aggravating factor, you should also definitely ensure that your dog maintains its ideal weight. 

Genetically Predisposed Cough

Some small breeds such as Bichon, Spitz, or Yorkshire Terrier are particularly susceptible to tracheal collapse.
Tracheal collapse is a very common, chronic, and progressively worsening disease in which the trachea narrows due to the flattening of the tracheal rings.

Tracheal collapse manifests in the early stages through severe, very loud coughing fits. These are worsened, among other things, by physical activity, excitement, or wearing a Collar that presses on the trachea.
In the advanced stage, the dog pants, does not want to move, and in very severe cases, can experience respiratory distress or suffer circulatory collapse.

If your dog is in an initial stage, there is no medical emergency, but you should definitely discuss it with your vet during check-ups to manage the aggravating factors of obesity and lack of exercise. The following recommendations are helpful: weight reduction, using a dog harness instead of a Collar, treating co-existing conditions, protecting the dog from heat, and avoiding overly intense exercise.

For dogs where these measures are not sufficient or who are in an advanced stage, it is important that you quickly consult a vet, as medical treatment usually brings quick relief of symptoms. There is also a surgical treatment that can enlarge the diameter of the trachea.

In conclusion, it can be said that coughing can be triggered by a variety of different diseases. The urgency of treatment therefore strongly depends on the age, co-existing conditions, and general condition of your four-legged friend!