Usually, a dog coughing is a normal thing. When you consider that dogs can sniff four to six times a second, it’s not uncommon for them to sniff up dust, germs and other irritants to their airways. But if the cough is severe, frequent, or obviously causing the dog distress or if he or she has been around other canines they’ve just met, it’s time to look into more serious reasons behind the cough.
Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is one of the most common causes of canine cough. Veterinarians refer to this condition as “canine infectious respiratory disease complex”—which is a long name for a group of viruses and bacteria that all cause similar infections in dogs. It’s sometimes also called “infectious tracheobronchitis.”
As you might suspect, CIRDC is a deep, honking cough that is highly contagious, so it spreads quickly among groups of dogs in close quarters (like at a groomer, boarding kennel, shelter, dog park, or doggie day care). It can also affect dogs who haven’t been in these environments.
Fortunately, the disease doesn’t usually cause severe problems in healthy dogs. But for puppies (especially if unvaccinated), senior dogs, and those with a chronic disease or other health issues, kennel cough can be quite severe and sometimes even life-threatening. Your vet can assess and recommend whether antibiotics or cough suppressants might be necessary.
Signs of Kennel Cough
Dogs with CIRDC usually have a deep, dry, hacking cough that may get worse with exercise. The coughing is often frequent, especially in the first few days. Other symptoms can include:
- Gagging
- Regurgitation of food or phlegm when coughing
- Sneezing
Most dogs recover in a couple of weeks. However, kennel cough can develop into a serious infection, which is why it’s important to call your vet right away if your dog starts coughing. Vets like the ones at Jacksonville Community Pet Clinics can examine your dog to determine if he has CIRDC and decide on the best course of treatment.
Pet Shots Can Help
Before boarding your pet, most facilities require that they be vaccinated against types of kennel cough, such as Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine influenza. Vaccination can also help to reduce the severity of the symptoms if your dog does get sick. This is especially important for younger dogs, whose immune systems may not be fully developed, older dogs, and those who are immune compromised.
Vaccinations with the combination canine distemper, adenovirus/hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza virus (DAPPV) vaccine also helps protect your dog against some of the causes of kennel cough.
Jacksonville Community Pet Clinics offer affordable pet shots for both dogs and cats. Call to schedule an appointment.
Other Causes of Coughing in Dogs
- Collapsing trachea—This condition usually results in a classic “goose honking” kind of cough.
- Heart failure—Coughing caused by heart failure tends to happen at night, when a dog’s resting. If your dog has heart disease and starts coughing, contact us right away!
- Pneumonia—This serious condition, which causes fluid buildup in the lungs, usually produces a wet cough (which may sound like the dog is gargling).
- Sore throat/tonsillitis—This condition can cause a high-pitched, gagging cough.
- Other diseases—Cancer, bronchitis, and heartworm can also cause dogs to cough.
What is Reverse Sneezing?
A reverse sneeze is not technically a cough, but rather a sound makes like when it’s trying to get something out of his throat or nose. During a reverse sneeze, a dog makes a series of snorting noises while standing still and extending his neck. Although rather disturbing to watch, a true reverse sneeze doesn’t cause any lasting effects.
What’s actually happening is the dog is pulling air rapidly into his nose (rather than out of the nose, as in a regular sneeze) several times in a row to remove something irritating, like pollen, seeds, allergies, or smoke. If your dog has frequent bouts of reverse sneezing, let your veterinarian know so they can rule out illnesses that present similar symptoms.
Coughing in Cats
Healthy cats typically only “cough” when they have a hairball or if they’ve eaten something that’s irritating their throat. Certain medical conditions can also cause cats to cough. Call Jacksonville Community Pet Clinics immediately if your cat is coughing a lot or is having trouble breathing.
