Dog Coughing 2025: Causes, When to Worry & How Vets Treat It 🐶✨

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

A dog cough might sound like a goose honk, a dry hack, or a wet gag—but whatever the sound, it’s your dog’s way of saying something isn’t right.

I’m Dr. Duncan Houston, veterinarian and founder of Ask A Vet. Let’s break down the causes of coughing in dogs, how to tell if it’s serious, and the most common treatments.

🔍 Types of Dog Coughs and What They Mean

1. Dry, Hacking Cough

• Often associated with kennel cough or tracheal irritation
• May sound like a honk or gagging reflex

2. Wet or Productive Cough

• Suggests fluid or mucus in the lungs
• Common in pneumonia or heart failure

3. Gagging or Retching

• May occur after coughing fits or with throat irritation
• Can mimic vomiting, but without food

4. Sudden Cough After Eating or Drinking

• Could indicate laryngeal paralysis or aspiration

📋 Common Causes of Dog Coughing

• Infectious: Kennel cough, canine influenza, pneumonia
• Chronic airway disease: Tracheal collapse, chronic bronchitis
• Heart disease: Congestive heart failure, mitral valve disease
• Parasites: Lungworm, heartworm
• Foreign bodies: Grass seeds, toys, food
• Allergies: Environmental allergens causing airway inflammation

⚠️ When to See a Vet

• Cough lasts more than 3–5 days
• Cough worsens or becomes more frequent
• Accompanied by lethargy, breathing difficulty, or blue gums
• Dog collapses after coughing
• Loss of appetite or fever

🩺 How Vets Diagnose a Cough

• Physical exam and chest auscultation
• X-rays or ultrasound of the chest
• Heartworm testing, fecal testing for parasites
• Bloodwork or PCR swabs for respiratory infections

💊 Treatment Options

For Infectious Causes:

• Cough suppressants (if non-productive)
• Antibiotics for bacterial infections
• Rest and isolation to prevent spread (especially with kennel cough)

For Heart Disease:

• Diuretics (e.g., furosemide)
• Heart medications like pimobendan or ACE inhibitors

For Tracheal Collapse:

• Weight management and avoiding neck pressure
• Bronchodilators or cough suppressants

🏡 Home Care Tips

• Use a harness instead of a collar for dogs prone to tracheal issues
• Minimize exposure to smoke, dust, and allergens
• Keep your dog calm and rested during recovery

🔗 Helpful Tools from Ask A Vet

• Explorer Harness – Designed to avoid neck pressure in dogs with airway or tracheal issues
• Ask A Vet – Upload videos of your dog’s cough and get expert vet advice instantly

📋 Summary Excerpt

Not all coughs are the same. A vet explains the different types of dog coughs, what they might mean, and how to treat and manage them safely at home or with veterinary care.

❓ FAQs

• Q: Can kennel cough go away on its own?
  A: Mild cases often resolve in 7–10 days, but see a vet if it worsens or if your dog is very young, old, or immune-compromised.
• Q: Why does my small dog cough when excited?
  A: This may be tracheal collapse—common in small breeds like Yorkies or Pomeranians.
• Q: Is coughing a sign of heart disease?
  A: Yes. If your dog has a persistent, wet cough, especially at night, it may be heart-related and needs vet care.