Symptom · Dogs
Dog coughing: what it means and when to call the vet
A honking cough in an otherwise bright dog is often kennel cough, which usually clears in one to three weeks. Coughing with breathing difficulty, fever, lethargy or in puppies, older dogs or dogs with heart disease needs a vet.
By Maya HartCommon causes
- Kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis) after boarding, day care or classes
- Collapsing trachea in small breeds
- Heart disease — often a cough at night or after rest
- Pneumonia
- Something inhaled, such as a grass seed
- Lungworm (from eating slugs and snails)
What you can do at home
- Rest and keep exercise gentle
- Use a harness rather than a collar
- Keep your dog away from other dogs while coughing
- A humid room (a steamy bathroom) can ease the cough
What the vet may do
- Listen to the heart and lungs
- Chest X-rays if the cough persists
- Cough suppressants or antibiotics if needed
- Tests for lungworm
Prevention
- Kennel cough vaccine before boarding or day care
- Lungworm prevention where it is common
The details
Owners often describe kennel cough as a goose-like honk, followed by gagging that looks like the dog is trying to bring something up. It spreads easily wherever dogs meet. Most dogs stay bright and keep eating, and the cough fades within a few weeks.
A soft, moist cough, a cough that is worse at night or after lying down, or fast breathing at rest are different and point towards the lungs or heart. Those dogs should be examined.
Questions owners ask
Is dog coughing an emergency?
Often it can be watched at home for a day, as long as none of the warning signs appear. Go now if you see: struggling to breathe, or blue or pale gums; coughing up blood; collapse or fainting; constant retching with a swollen belly (possible bloat).
What causes dog coughing?
Kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis) after boarding, day care or classes; Collapsing trachea in small breeds; Heart disease — often a cough at night or after rest; Pneumonia; Something inhaled, such as a grass seed; Lungworm (from eating slugs and snails).
What can I do at home?
Rest and keep exercise gentle. Use a harness rather than a collar. Keep your dog away from other dogs while coughing. A humid room (a steamy bathroom) can ease the cough.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts