A dog's cough can be as harmless as a tickle in the throat or as serious as a life-threatening emergency. Understanding why your dog is coughing helps you decide when to call the vet and when to watch and wait.
Dogs cough for many different reasons, from minor irritations to major health problems. Knowing what to look for and when to seek help can make all the difference in keeping your furry friend healthy and safe.
Top Questions About Dog Coughing
When Should I Take My Coughing Dog to the Emergency Vet?
Take your dog to an emergency vet if they have trouble breathing, non-stop coughing, or are coughing up blood. Blue-tinged gums, extreme weakness, or collapse with coughing are serious warning signs. Call ahead so the veterinary hospital can prepare for your arrival.
What If My Dog Coughs Like Something Is Stuck in the Throat?
If safe, quickly check inside your dog's mouth for visible objects, but never put your fingers deep into their throat. If the coughing continues for more than a few minutes or your dog seems stressed, call a veterinary clinic right away. Choking requires quick professional attention.
How Do I Know If My Dog's Cough Is Serious?
Consider it serious if your dog's coughing is severe, persistent, or comes with breathing difficulties, weakness, or unusual gum color. Nighttime coughing that wakes your dog or coughing that worsens when lying down may point to heart problems. Trust your instincts – if you're worried, seek help rather than wait.
Can I Help My Coughing Dog at Home?
For mild, occasional coughing, you can temporarily reduce potential irritants like dust, smoke, or strong scents. Offer small sips of water if your dog seems comfortable drinking. However, never try home treatments without veterinary guidance, and call your veterinarian for advice on feeding and drinking.
Why Dogs Cough
Dogs cough to clear their airways of irritants, mucus, or foreign material. Common causes include kennel cough (a highly contagious respiratory infection), allergies, heart disease, tracheal collapse, and respiratory infections. Less commonly, coughing may result from heartworm disease, lung problems, or cancer.
Spotting Mild Cases
Mild coughing cases often involve occasional, short-lived episodes without other symptoms. Your dog might cough a few times after excitement or exercise but otherwise act normally. Slight throat clearing after drinking water or brief morning coughs can happen for some dogs without cause for concern.
Recognizing Serious Cases
Serious coughing needs quick attention when accompanied by labored breathing, extended coughing fits, or blue-tinged gums. Coughing up blood, severe low energy, or loss of appetite alongside coughing indicates a potentially life-threatening condition. Dogs with heart disease often cough more at night or when lying down.
What To Do
Step 1: Call a Veterinary Clinic
Call a veterinary clinic to describe your dog's symptoms and determine how quickly they need to be seen. Be ready to explain when the coughing started, how it sounds, and any other symptoms you've noticed. Ask if you should withhold food before the visit, but continue to offer small amounts of water unless directed otherwise.
Step 2: Watch Your Dog Closely
Watch your dog's breathing rate and effort – normal dogs take 10-30 breaths per minute while resting. Check their gum color, which should be pink rather than pale, white, blue, or very red. Note their energy level and whether they seem uncomfortable or stressed.
Step 3: Transport Safely
Keep your dog calm during transport to reduce stress and minimize coughing. Use a harness instead of a collar to avoid putting pressure on the throat. Bring a towel or blanket for comfort and to help position your dog if they breathe easier in a certain posture.
Potential Life-Threatening Conditions
Heart Disease or Heart Failure
Dogs with heart problems often develop a cough, especially at night or when lying down. The cough may sound wet or harsh and can come with reduced exercise tolerance, rapid breathing, or fainting episodes. Older small breed dogs are particularly prone to heart valve issues that cause coughing.
Choking or Obstruction
A dog choking on a foreign object will show sudden, frantic coughing or gagging, pawing at the mouth, and stress. This is always an emergency requiring quick veterinary attention. Never try to remove objects you cannot easily see, as this could push them further down the airway.
Severe Respiratory Infections
Pneumonia and other serious respiratory infections can cause persistent coughing with fever, nasal discharge, and difficulty breathing. Young puppies, senior dogs, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for developing severe infections that need quick treatment.
Helping Your Pet Before the Vet Visit
Providing Calm and Comfort
Keep your dog in a quiet, cool environment away from other pets and excitement. Minimize stress by speaking softly and moving slowly around them. Offer small sips of water if your dog is interested, but hold off on feeding until advised by a veterinarian. Call your veterinary clinic immediately for guidance on when to resume normal feeding.
Gathering Useful Information
Note when the coughing started, how frequently it happens, and what it sounds like. Record any recent activities like boarding, dog park visits, or exposure to other dogs. Make a list of any medications your dog takes regularly, including heartworm prevention.
Preventing Future Coughing
Keep your dog's vaccinations current, especially those protecting against respiratory diseases like Bordetella (kennel cough) and canine influenza. Use a harness instead of a collar for walks if your dog has a sensitive trachea. Maintain a smoke-free home environment and avoid using strong chemicals or air fresheners around your dog.
We're Here to Help
We understand how concerning it can be when your dog develops a cough. Our veterinary teams are equipped to help dogs with all types of coughing problems. If your dog has mild, occasional coughing without other symptoms, you may be able to wait for an appointment with your regular veterinarian. For severe coughing, breathing difficulties, or coughing with weakness or unusual gum color, call an emergency veterinarian right away. If you're not sure, call us — we can talk you through the situation.
Key Takeaways
- Seek quick veterinary care if your dog's cough is severe, persistent, or accompanied by breathing difficulties or unusual gum color.
- Call ahead to discuss symptoms and confirm availability at the veterinary hospital.
- Regular check-ups, appropriate vaccinations, and avoiding respiratory irritants can help prevent many causes of coughing in dogs.
The information contained in the article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to take the place of the advice of a veterinarian.
