Your furry friend’s persistent hacking cough can be a worrisome experience. While an occasional cough might be nothing serious, frequent or severe coughing could indicate an underlying health issue. This article explores the various reasons why your dog might be hacking and when it’s crucial to seek veterinary attention.
Common Causes of Dog Coughing
A dog’s cough can stem from various factors, ranging from mild irritations to more serious conditions. Here’s a breakdown of some common culprits:
Infectious Diseases
Various infections, including viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic, can trigger coughing in dogs. These infections can affect the upper respiratory tract, lungs (pneumonia), airways (bronchitis), or a combination of these (bronchopneumonia).
Chronic Bronchitis
Characterized by persistent inflammation of the airways, chronic bronchitis often leads to a dry, hacking cough. This cough typically worsens with exercise or excitement and can progressively worsen over time.
Allergies
Just like humans, dogs can suffer from allergies. When exposed to allergens, their immune system overreacts, causing inflammation in the airways and lungs, leading to coughing.
Reverse Sneezing
Often mistaken for coughing, reverse sneezing involves a rapid and forceful inhalation of air through the nose. This typically occurs in clusters when something irritates the back of the dog’s nasal passages. While generally harmless, frequent or severe reverse sneezing warrants a vet visit.
Heart Disease
Various heart conditions, including mitral valve endocardiosis, dilated cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure, can induce coughing in dogs.
Collapsing Trachea
Common in smaller breeds, collapsing trachea occurs when the cartilage rings supporting the trachea weaken, causing it to collapse during inhalation. This leads to a chronic cough often described as a “goose honk.”
Pulmonary Hypertension
High blood pressure in the lungs, known as pulmonary hypertension, reduces blood flow and oxygen delivery. This can result in coughing and is often caused by chronic lung disease, heartworm disease, or pulmonary thromboembolisms (blood clots in the pulmonary arteries).
Heartworm Disease
Transmitted through mosquito bites, heartworms mature in a dog’s heart and lungs, causing inflammation and coughing. This potentially fatal condition can lead to severe heart and lung damage.
Foreign Objects
Inhalation of foreign material can obstruct the airways, triggering a cough as the body attempts to expel the object. If the dog can’t cough it out, veterinary intervention is necessary for removal.
Foxtails
These grass awns with sharp barbs can penetrate a dog’s skin and migrate into the lungs or chest cavity, causing coughing and potentially leading to serious complications like pneumonia or lung abscesses.
Laryngeal Paralysis
This condition affects the nerves controlling the larynx (voice box), preventing it from fully opening. This results in coughing, noisy breathing, and shortness of breath.
Cancer
Coughing can be an early sign of cancer in the lungs, respiratory tract, heart, or surrounding tissues.
Rat Poison Ingestion
Anticoagulant rat poisons prevent blood clotting, potentially leading to internal bleeding and coughing. If you suspect your dog has ingested rat poison, seek immediate emergency veterinary care.
Esophagitis
Inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis), often caused by stomach acid reflux, can lead to coughing.
Tumors in the Larynx and Trachea
While rare, tumors in the larynx or trachea can obstruct airflow and cause coughing, difficulty breathing, and problems with eating and drinking.
Aspiration Pneumonia
Inhaling food, water, vomit, or other foreign material into the lungs can cause aspiration pneumonia, resulting in inflammation, coughing, and breathing difficulties.
Inhaling Indoor Irritants
Household sprays, cleaning products, and other airborne irritants can irritate a dog’s airways and trigger coughing, especially in sensitive dogs or those with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
Lung Lobe Torsion
This condition involves the twisting of a lung lobe, blocking the airway and causing coughing. It’s more common in dogs with fluid in the chest or underlying heart conditions.
When to Seek Veterinary Care
If your dog’s cough is frequent, severe, or accompanied by any of the following symptoms, seek immediate veterinary attention:
- Lethargy
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of appetite
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Coughing up blood
- Nasal or eye discharge (especially if green or yellow)
- Heavy or rapid breathing
- Bulging eyes
- Facial asymmetry
- Whistling sound when breathing
- Change in bark
- Exercise intolerance
Never administer human medications to your dog without veterinary approval. They can be harmful and even fatal.
Diagnosing and Treating Dog Coughs
Your veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical exam and gather your dog’s health history to diagnose the cause of the cough. Diagnostic tests, such as blood work, urinalysis, chest X-rays, and echocardiograms, may be necessary to pinpoint the underlying issue.
Treatment for dog coughing depends on the cause and may include antibiotics, dewormers, steroids, bronchodilators, cardiac medications, surgery, or other interventions. Supportive care, such as cough suppressants, humidifiers, and fluid therapy, may also be recommended.
By understanding the potential causes of your dog’s hacking cough and recognizing when to seek veterinary help, you can ensure your furry companion receives the appropriate care and treatment they need.
