Coughing is a symptom of many different diseases or conditions. These diseases can be differentiated by various diagnostic tests. Diseases that cause coughing include:
Sinusitis, which is sinus inflammation usually occurring after infection, or rhinitis, inflammation of the mucus membrane of the nose, with postnasal drainage
Pharyngeal (throat) or tonsil inflammation
Upper airway obstruction with mucous, food or fluid
Redundant (elongated) soft palate
Pharyngeal polyp, which is a mass or growth protruding from the back of the throat
Laryngeal disease, disease of the larynx or voice box which is the entrance into the windpipe
Respiratory or breathing problems
Tracheal collapse or obstruction – the trachea is the air passage from the larynx to the main bronchi or the windpipe
Mediastinal mass, which is a mass in the space between the right and left halves of the lung, with compression of the trachea
Esophageal diseases leading to inhalation of food from the esophagus (the tube extending from the mouth to the stomach) or dilatation (stretching) of the esophagus causing compression of the trachea
Hilar lymphadenopathy, which is a disease of the lymph nodes, usually tumor or fungal, that may result in enlargement of the node and compression of adjacent bronchi within the lungs
Parasitic infection such as Osleri, which is a type of nematode or parasite
Tracheitis or infection or inflammation of the trachea
Tumor of the trachea or bronchus
Left atrial enlargement, which is enlargement of the left atrium, or entrance chamber, of the heart, leading to bronchial compression
Collapse of a major bronchus
Bronchial obstruction, irritation or inflammation due to bronchitis (inflammation of one or more of the bronchi)
Lungworms (Filaroides) or migrating nematodes, usually occurring in young animals
Environmental irritants
Bronchiectasis, which is stretching and infection of the bronchi as a result of chronic bronchitis
Bronchial foreign body
Pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation in the lungs) secondary to heart failure or other causes
Heartworm disease (Dirofilariasis)
Infectious or aspiration pneumonia caused by inhalation of matter into the lungs
Pulmonary granuloma, a tumor-like mass or nodule in the lung
Immunologic disease of the lung, including "allergic" pneumonitis, or inflammation of lung tissue, caused by allergie, and pulmonary infiltrates of eosinophils, a type of cell in the blood
Pulmonary neoplasm, a tumor of the lung
Pulmonary emboli, blood clots in the lungs
