Why Is My Dog Coughing?

They cough whenever there is any nuisance or disturbance felt down the throat. Also, many of them tend to sniff everything and give them a taste too, so dust and dirt might go down the throat easily and cause them some irritation.

It might be because of lots of reasons that may be lethal or normal. Some of the reasons due to which your dogs can cause cough are given below: -

Canine influenza

Canine influenza is an infectious contagious respiratory disease transmitted to other dogs by mere respiratory droplets after a cough, bark, or sneeze. It may be transmitted to other dogs in instances where they come in contact with the same food bowls, leashes, and kennels.

The situation usually takes the course of the prevailing situation and can range from mild to fatal. You may be under such circumstances compelled to take your dog to a vet for examination.

Foreign Objects

Dogs have the habit of smelling and tasting everything. This results in the prevalence of cough due to some foreign objects to the throat and respiratory tract.

Depending on its size, location, and type, this kind of irritation can be anything from mild to life-threatening conditions. These may include small toys, food materials, and plants among other objects.

Environmental Allergies

This allergy may happen when your dog's immune system overacts on the existing substances that are present around him within the environment. It may further cause respiratory and skin-related problems.

Some examples are pollen, mold spores, dust mites, and fertilizers amongst others.  These produce, from minor to more serious problems in your dog's health.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia in dogs is essentially an infection in the lungs and airways, where breathing becomes labored, and the blood cannot maintain an adequate level of oxygen. Usually, it arises through bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infection.

It affects anyone whose immune system has been debilitated either by disease or treatment. Your infected dog with pneumonia will most probably cough too.

Heart Disorders

If your dog is infected with a heart disorder, then they are also most likely to cough very often. If the heart is not capable of pumping blood well then blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs annoys the airways and it results in coughing.

Such coughing dogs, which are suspected to be of heart disease, should be taken to a doctor as soon as possible.

Kennel Cough

Kennel Cough is a very contagious respiratory infection because of a budding combination of viruses and bacteria. Dogs with kennel cough typically have a dry cough, which, over time, usually spreads to other proximal places: kennels, dog parks, etc.

Respiratory Infection

Infection of the respiratory system of canines that prevails due to many kinds of microorganisms is called a respiratory infection. Such diseases target either the higher respiratory tract or the lower one hence leading to difficulty breathing.

Regular checkups are mandatory so that one might know whether your dog suffers from a respiratory infection.

There are a few kinds of coughs according to the causes and gravity of your dogs' coughing. By being able to notice the type of cough, your dog's your dog can get treatment in time.

Dry Versus Wet Cough

Coughs in dogs are either dry or wet and present in various ways, reflecting different problems. Dry cough is unproductive-that is, not productive with mucus or other fluids.

Dry cough may be due to irritation, kennel cough, allergies, heart disease, etc. However, wet coughs occur due to pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, respiratory infection, etc.

Thus, two different kinds of coughs are seen and are being treated differently.

Hacking Cough

It is repetitive, harsh or dry with some sort of 'hacking' noise it may produce. They can mainly be caused by kennel cough, irritation, allergies, foreign objects, etc.

The cough is uniform in tone because it is clear of the mucus and results from irritation and infection in the airway.

Productive Cough

It is called a productive cough because your animal brings up mucus or even other liquids from the airways. These types of coughs sound like your dogs are gargling or even coughing up mucus.

The consequences of this type of cough can include pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, breathing infections, and heart problems amongst many.

Gagging Cough

It is a violent and uncontrollable type of cough that makes the dog choke or sometimes it even causes the gag reflex of the dog that can result in vomiting.

Such dogs are into forced and uncontrollable coughs. It is just a symptom of a sore throat or irritation obstruction of the upper airways.

Nocturnal Cough

As the very name says, 'If your dog continuously coughs at night then that is what we call Night Coughing'. If so, if your dog coughs only at night or while sleeping then this can be a server health issue. If the situation persists you must consult your doctor at the earliest possible.

There are a few kinds of coughs according to the causes and gravity of your dogs' coughing. By being able to notice the type of cough, your dog’s your dog can get treatment in time.

Incidental coughing does not commonly raise alarms, much continued or heavy coughing has always left something laid up and needs to be tackled by a professional.

Knowing when to take your dog to the vet ensures prompt and effective care. It may present itself from a dry, hacking cough to wet and productive. Each one of these may point toward various causes of problems and the vet will see the type and periodicity of the cough.

If your dog starts to show an increased frequency of cough and problems in it, you visit a veterinarian. Following tests and procedures can be taken to find out why your dog is coughing:

Physical Examination

Always a routine checkup is good for one's health problem or not. To find out why your dog is coughing, you can take your dog for a physical test in case you find your dog's coughing uncommon.

Anyway, one should always examine the throat, mouth, nasal passage, chest, lungs, and abdomen during any physical examination. It's always good to do a full-body examination.

X-ray Of Chest

Chest infection also builds coughing in dogs, so a Chest X-ray is very important if you feel that your dog is suffering from a serious problem in his health. The Chest X-ray provides detailed information on the heart, lungs, and surrounding parts through an image.

Chest X-rays can diagnose whether there is a problem with the chest area and can thus help test and treat further.

Blood Tests

Since it circulates in every part of the body, a blood test is very important and gives a full overview of what kind of problem your dog is facing. It gives high values of information on the causative agent of the cough in a dog.

Since it is a diagnostic test that requires taking blood tests from various regions to find the problem area, it would be quite helpful in diagnosis, decision-making for treatment, and further monitoring of future responses to the treatment.

Bronchoscopy

The purpose of this technique is to view the inside of the airways through a camera on the end of a flexible pipe. The internal parts of the dogs' airways and lungs would be able to appear before them.

The major reason behind this study would be to find out whether any problem exists in the airways or not. It helps in investigations into respiratory-related causes.

In line with whether it's an infection, allergy, or heart disease amongst others, the treatments wholly differ. Treatments should be done from the root by paying a visit to the veterinarian, who shall be able to diagnose and give the necessary treatment accordingly.

Other home care can also encourage recovery and comfort. A humidifier relaxes the airways very well, and prevention of exposure to irritants such as smoke or strong odors by a dog is utmost to avoid exacerbation of a cough.

Keeping them with proper weight and nutritious food will support their general health and immune function. Dogs that receive proper veterinary treatment and proper home management supportive care can recover from coughing and remain in good quality of life.

It's a disease among dogs quite common, but there are several precautionary measures through which you can save your dog from this disease. You will not like your dog being sick unnecessarily, so you can look after your dogs by:

Regular Check-ups

This not only keeps your dog healthy but finds the problem before it gets severe. Maintaining your dog up to date with their general health is extremely important and it gives you the understanding of what to do and what not to do for them.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations of dogs are essential to save dogs from various health issues. This is very necessary to save them from various future health problems.

Some of the vaccines that must be given to all the canines include Rabies, Distemper, etc. If one wishes to keep a healthy dog prompt vaccination is very necessary.

Avoiding Allergies

Recognizing and eliminating allergens that cause allergies in dogs is important to prevent coughing in dogs. Allergens and allergies are different according to the canine.

Healthy Weight

Their weight is also the most vital part that helps in keeping their health. Their underweight and overweight condition gave birth to different diseases in them.

So, a healthy weight is highly needed for the dogs to be healthy, which they can easily keep through quality food, part control, prompt meals, limited treats, and exercise.