If your dog occasionally coughs, that’s nothing to worry about at first. In most cases, the cause is completely harmless. However, it may well be that your dog’s coughing indicates a health problem that you need to take care of as soon as possible. In the following, we explain why dogs cough and when you should start worrying about the health of your four-legged friend.
Key facts at a glance:
- In many cases, coughing in dogs serves to clear the airways of inhaled foreign objects.
- In addition to harmless triggers, the cough of the four-legged friend can also be caused by diseases, allergies or parasites.
- If you have a persistent cough or other symptoms, you should definitely take your dog to a veterinarian.
- Warmth, peace and a pleasant room climate support your dog’s recovery.
Dry and wet cough in dogs
Your dog’s cough can be either dry or wet. A dry cough is particularly uncomfortable. There’s no slime with him. It is often accompanied by gagging and usually occurs in fits and starts.
If your dog suffers from a wet cough, it will make a gurgling or rattling sound. Sometimes dogs also have to vomit. Although a wet cough is less painful, it can be a sign of several serious medical conditions.
Harmless causes of coughing in dogs
Just like in us humans, coughing in dogs can be a normal reflex, among other things, to free the airways of possible disorders. Dogs, in particular, who gulp down their food particularly quickly, often get some of it into their windpipe.
In this case, the dog coughs to get rid of the chunk of food. Even if this is mostly harmless, you should make sure that your four-legged friend does not gulp down his food too quickly. Because it is quite possible for a dog to choke on pieces of food in the windpipe.
In addition to food, your four-legged friend can of course also breathe in other foreign bodies, which then also trigger a coughing stimulus. In addition to small pieces of wood, these can also be parts of plants, for example. As long as your dog’s cough is temporary, it’s fine.
However, prolonged bloody coughing can be a sign that the four-legged friend is unable to get rid of the foreign body. In this case, you should consult a veterinarian.
Health problems as triggers for cough in dogs
Unfortunately, apart from mostly harmless foreign objects, numerous diseases can also cause a dog to cough. It can range from a simple cold to serious problems such as heart disease.
If your dog is coughing, some of the health problems it may be causing are:
- Colds are not uncommon in dogs, especially during the cold and wet months of the year.
- Kennel cough can occur in dogs despite being vaccinated.
- Allergies to pollen or dust mites can irritate the respiratory tract.
- Heart disease can cause fluid to build up in the lungs, causing a cough.
- Although lungworms are rare in Central Europe, they are a possible cause of coughing in dogs.
- In a tracheal collapse, the windpipe narrows, causing shortness of breath and coughing.
A dog that coughs regularly needs to go to the vet
If your dog keeps coughing over a period of several days, we recommend that you see a veterinarian. This is especially true if the four-legged friend shows other symptoms of illness, such as exhaustion, breathing problems or loss of appetite.
If this is the case, your dog’s cough is very likely being triggered by a health problem. However, only the veterinarian can tell you exactly what the disease is and whether it needs to be treated.
Here’s how you can support your coughing dog
If your dog is coughing, there are things you can do to help your dog’s recovery, aside from any medication that may be needed.
If you have a slight cough, you can use cough syrup, for example, provided it is suitable for dogs. You should also make sure that your four-legged friend takes it easy and calms down. If possible, you should avoid long walks in the wet and cold with your weakened dog.
In addition, it can help to stop your dog from coughing by regularly airing the living space and installing an air humidifier. If you normally smoke at home, for the sake of your four-legged friend, you should only do so outside, at least temporarily.
Protect yourself from high vet bills
Whether injuries, chronic illnesses or supposedly harmless complaints such as coughing – if a dog has to go to the vet, this is often associated with high costs. To protect against unexpected financial burdens, we therefore recommend that you take out dog health insurance. With you can choose your desired tariff from two inexpensive packages and rely on reliable insurance protection for your four-legged friend in the future.