Dog coughing and gagging can have many potential causes, including minor irritation, respiratory infections, allergies, parasites, heart disease, pneumonia, and other health conditions. While an occasional cough may not be serious, a persistent or worsening cough should be evaluated by a veterinarian. A cough that’s accompanied by difficulty breathing, collapse, weakness, or other signs of serious illness warrants a trip to an emergency veterinarian.
Q1: Common Reasons Dogs Cough
There are many causes of coughing in dogs, just like in people.
Common dog cough causes include:
- Respiratory infections, including kennel cough or canine influenza
- Irritation or foreign material in the throat or airways
- Allergies
- Heart disease and congestive heart failure
- Parasites, including heartworms and lungworms
- Chronic airway or lung conditions, like chronic bronchitis or collapsing trachea
- Pneumonia, including infectious or aspiration pneumonia
- Lung or airway tumors
Q2: What Does My Dog's Cough Sound Like?
The sound of your dog’s cough may provide clues as to the cause but cannot establish a diagnosis.
The following are common dog coughing sounds and examples of causes that are often associated with those sounds:
- Dry or hacking coughs: Upper respiratory infections, bronchitis, or heart enlargement (without congestive heart failure).
- Wet or productive cough: Pneumonia or congestive heart failure.
- Honking cough: Collapsing trachea.
- Coughing with gagging: Irritation in the throat, kennel cough in dogs, foreign objects in the airway.
The potential causes for the sounds we’ve described here are only examples, and these lists are by no means all-inclusive. The sound, frequency, and duration of coughing, as well as other symptoms, all matter in establishing the diagnosis for your dog’s cough. Your veterinarian is your best resource for determining the cause of your dog’s cough.
Diagnostics your veterinarian may use to establish a diagnosis include routine blood and urine testing, chest X-rays, parasite testing, echocardiogram, fluid culture, and chest ultrasound.
Q3: When to Worry About a Dog Cough?
Contact your veterinarian for an evaluation if you’re noticing any of the following:
- Cough that is persistent, keeps recurring, is becoming more frequent, or is increasing in severity
- Dog coughing at night
- Cough accompanied by other signs like lethargy, poor appetite, fever, nasal discharge, or vomiting
- Coughing followed by repeated gagging
- Coughing that is productive
- Cough that affects the dog’s ability to sleep or exercise normally
Basically, if you’re asking, “Why does my dog keep coughing?” it’s a good idea to see your veterinarian regardless of how the cough sounds.
There are also signs that can indicate coughing may be an emergency. This is covered in the next FAQ.
Q4: When Is a Dog Coughing an Emergency?
Immediate care is needed if you notice any of the following:
- Difficulty breathing
- Blue, gray, or pale gums
- Collapse, weakness, confusion, or severe lethargy
- Inability to lie down without coughing
- Choking or suspected airway obstruction
- Coughing up blood
Do note that some breeds, like Chow Chows, have naturally bluish gums, so you’ll have to rely on other symptoms to determine if coughing is an emergency. If you have any doubt, it’s better to get your pet seen than to take a wait-and-see approach.
Consult Your Vet
Often, coughing in dogs occurs due to minor irritation or treatable underlying conditions. While the sound of a dog’s cough may be a clue as to the cause, it should not be used to diagnose your dog. A veterinarian should be consulted if your dog’s coughing is persistent, worsening, or accompanied by other symptoms.
It’s important for pet parents to familiarize themselves with the signs that coughing may be an emergency. Prompt veterinary attention may result in better outcomes.
