Chronic Coughing in Dogs
By: PetPlace Veterinarians

Section: Causes

This dog is displaying signs of difficulty breathing. The neck is stretched out and the front legs are held far apart.

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