Why does my dog make a rattling, phlegmy sound without coughing?

A dog making a rattling, phlegmy sound without coughing may be a sign of respiratory infection. First confirm whether there really is phlegm: because dogs do not cough on their own, press the lower throat (the dip at the neck) with a finger to induce a cough.

If you hear phlegm rattling in the throat during the cough, the dog does have mucus. Feed pet-formula doxycycline tablets to reduce inflammation, together with an expectorant such as Jobai granules to relieve cough and loosen phlegm. If symptoms do not ease after medication, take the dog to a vet for nebulizer treatment.