2025 Vet Guide: Why Is My Dog Coughing? 🐶💨

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

Coughing in dogs is a common but important symptom. It may be harmless—a throat tickle—or a sign of serious illness. In this guide, we'll explore the most common causes of canine cough, red flags to watch for, diagnostic steps, treatment strategies, and supportive care. You'll see how tools like Ask A Vet, Woopf, and Purrz can help guide your pup back to easy breathing.

🔍 1. Common Causes of Coughing

• Infectious diseases: Kennel cough (a “goose‑honk” dry cough) is the most frequent infectious cause. Canine influenza, Bordetella, viruses/bacteria/parasites like lungworm and heartworm may result in wet or dry coughs.
• Chronic bronchitis: Persistent dry hacking that worsens with exercise—common in middle‑aged to older dogs.
• Heart disease: Conditions like mitral valve disease or congestive heart failure can cause fluid build‑up in the lungs and nighttime coughing.
• Collapsing trachea: Typically in small breeds; cough resembles a honk while breathing.
• Laryngeal paralysis: Especially in older large breeds; noisy breathing, gagging, and coughing post‑eating/drinking.
• Heartworm: Can cause cough from arterial inflammation—prevent with monthly medication.
• Lung problems: Pneumonia, aspiration or foxtails puncturing lung tissue can lead to productive wet coughs.
• Cancer or masses: Tumors in respiratory structures may manifest as a persistent cough.
• Allergies & irritants: Smoke, dust, pollen can cause airway inflammation and coughing.
• Foreign bodies: Grass awns or debris lodge in throat or airways—coughing or gagging is often persistent.

🚨 2. When to Be Concerned

• Cough lasting more than 2 weeks or recurring regularly.
• Cough accompanied by exercise intolerance, breathing difficulty, lethargy, or fainting.
• Signs of infection—fever, nasal discharge, poor appetite.
• Frequent gagging or coughing during/after eating or drinking.
• Wheezing, coughing up blood, or loud breathing noise.

🏥 3. Veterinary Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will evaluate:

• Physical exam (listening to lungs/heart, checking temperature)
• Chest X‑rays to look at lungs, heart size, masses or fluid build‑up.
• Blood tests and heartworm panels.
• Throat/throat swabs—especially for kennel cough or influenza.
• Endoscopy or ultrasound for foreign bodies or structural disease
• Advanced imaging (CT, echocardiogram) for tracheal collapse, laryngeal paralysis, heart disease.

🛠️ 4. Treatment Approaches

• Infectious cough: Rest, cough suppressants, antibiotics or antivirals; vaccination against kennel cough & influenza helps prevention.
• Bronchitis: Corticosteroids and bronchodilators to reduce airway inflammation.
• Heart disease: Diuretics, ACE inhibitors, pimobendan and dietary changes improve fluid overload.
• Collapsing trachea: Cough control, weight loss, harness use, potential stenting.
• Laryngeal paralysis: Cooling, sedation, steroids, or surgical arytenoid lateralization.
• Heartworm: Adulticide therapy, exercise restriction, mosquito prevention.
• Pneumonia/aspiration: Hospitalization, fluids, antibiotics, oxygen therapy.
• Allergies/irritants: Remove triggers, antihistamines, steroids.
• Foreign objects: Endoscopic or surgical removal.
• Tumors: Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or palliative care depending on type and stage.

🏠 5. Home Support & Prevention

• Limit exposure to crowds & sick dogs; keep vaccines current
• No‑smoking environment; remove household irritants
• Warm, humid air during cold or dry weather; use humidifiers
• Encourage rest, hydration, light walks as tolerated
• Use a harness instead of collar to reduce tracheal pressure

🧩 6. Role of Ask A Vet, Woopf & Purrz

• Ask A Vet: Prompt advice when coughing begins or worsens
• Woopf: Medication reminders and monitoring treatment adherence
• Purrz: Log cough frequency, triggers, and changes to help vets track progress

📚 7. FAQ

Q: Should I quarantine my dog when coughing?

Yes—especially if infectious causes are suspected. Avoid dog parks, boarding, and contact with other pets until cleared.

Q: How do I distinguish gagging vs coughing?

Gagging sounds like choking or retching—often after drinking or mild aspiration; coughing is a forceful expulsion of air from chest.

Q: Is a honking cough always tracheal collapse?

Not always—but it’s characteristic. Diagnostic imaging is needed to confirm.

🗣️ 8. Pet‑Parent Insight

One owner shared:

> “My Yorkie’s honk first got us worried—vet diagnosed collapsing trachea. Using a harness and meds cut her cough in half!”

🏁 9. Final Thoughts from Dr Houston

Coughing is more than a symptom—it’s your dog telling you something is off. Persistent or severe coughs deserve veterinary evaluation. Supportive care, prevention, and consistent monitoring with Ask A Vet, Woopf, and Purrz empower you to protect your pup’s respiratory health and quality of life.

Download the Ask A Vet app today to connect with expert vets, manage treatments, and support your dog’s breathing health in 2025 and beyond. 🩺📱

AskAVet.com – Your partner in healthy breaths. 🌬️🐾