What to Do When a Dog Coughs Badly at Night

1 Nighttime Coughing in Dogs: Causes and Care

1. Causes of nighttime coughing

1) Weather can be the trigger. On rainy nights or when the day-night temperature gap is large, keep the dog warm to avoid chilling and a cold.

2) The cough may be from a cold, usually with a stuffy nose and nasal discharge. Take the dog’s temperature and give it the appropriate dog cold medicine.

3) Coughs are generally split into dry, wet, and painful types. A dry cough means little or no secretion in the airways (only a small amount of thick mucus); a wet cough sprays a lot of fluid from the nostrils; a painful cough shows distress — the dog stretches its neck out and seems anxious or frightened. These cough patterns are usually caused by respiratory or lung infections and must be treated promptly.

2. Care tips for nighttime coughing

1) If the dog coughs severely every night, act promptly — otherwise poor sleep will wear the dog down.

2) Clear the throat, loosen phlegm, and ease the cough, but never use human cough syrup. A pet cough medicine works better.

3) Have the dog drink more water to soothe the throat and clear the lungs, and keep its drinking water clean to keep bacteria out.

4) If the cough happens to line up with the yearly vaccination, wait until the cough eases before vaccinating.

5) When a dog coughs at night, avoid baths and going outside, and keep it away from places with irritating fumes.

6) Nighttime coughing can also be a respiratory infection — see the vet, and don’t feed salty or heaty food; keep the diet light.

A dog’s cough can be minor or serious; the key is to find the cause and treat it promptly. There are many reasons a dog coughs at night, so the owner should watch the dog’s condition closely. For other questions, you can consult an online vet.