People and their Pets

Dog Coughs - Concerning or Common?

Hacking, gagging and honking like a goose. They’re just a few of the coughing sounds puzzling concerned dog parents everywhere. Each cough is serious enough to warrant a vet visit, according to Board Certified Veterinary Cardiologist Dr. Megan King, VMD, ACVIM, of the Center for Animal Referral and Emergency Services (CARES) in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

Top Five Canine Coughs and Their Causes

#1 – Heart Disease and Heart Failure: Dogs with serious heart problems, like congestive heart failure, often experience bouts of coughing. Heart disease in dogs, like humans, can be hereditary or developed over the life of the dog.

#2 – Respiratory Airway Disease – “This is similar to asthma,” explains Dr. King. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing and fatigue. “Dogs can also develop allergies to pollen and other inhaled irritants, which can trigger a reaction in the mucus membranes lining the respiratory tract. This can lead to a cough that waxes and wanes depending on the dog’s exposure to allergens.”

#3 - Collapsing Trachea – Coughs associated with a collapsing trachea often sound like a goose honk. “It’s a huge problem for small breed dogs. The good news is, it’s often successfully medically managed.”

#4 – Infectious Diseases- Kennel Cough, Canine Distemper, and other airborne infectious causes of pneumonia can certainly cause coughing and must be treated.” Parasites affecting the intestinal tract, like roundworms, can trigger coughing when the parasites migrate up the intestine and into the respiratory tract. Heartworms can also trigger coughing, as immature heartworm parasites migrate into the lungs, causing irritation as they develop and mature.”

#5 – Cancer – Cancer involving any part of the airway can cause irritation, inflammation and coughing.

Treating Coughing Dogs

The method of treatment for a coughing dog is determined by diagnosing the underlying cause. Taking x-rays of the dog’s chest is the best way to “picture” what is going on in the lungs.
The x-ray should show problems such as an enlarged heart or any abnormalities of the lungs and chest.

The good news is, in most cases, there is always something that can be done to treat a cough. From diuretics used to treat heart failure, antibiotics used to treat infectious causes, to cough suppressants used for collapsing trachea, there are many options for therapy.

Dr King’s best advice to pet parents is to keep up with routine vet care. “Early diagnosis and preventative medicine can, not only save pet owners money by avoiding unnecessary vet bills later, but also saves lives.”

Find out more about Dr. King and CARES: http://www.vetcares.com/