Why Does a Dog Keep Coughing?

1 Common Causes of Coughing in Dogs

1. Respiratory tract infection

When a dog coughs, it is usually a problem in the respiratory tract. The most obvious sign of a respiratory infection is constant coughing, generally caused by inflammation of the trachea, throat, or similar areas — the common conditions being bronchitis and pharyngitis. These are usually accompanied by a stuffy nose, nasal discharge, and wheezing.

2. Lung infection

The lungs are directly tied to a dog’s breathing, so a lung infection also causes coughing. It often shows up as pulmonary edema or tuberculosis and generally needs hospital treatment. Dog pneumonia comes in two forms: lobular pneumonia starts with nasal discharge and coughing, then later brings fever, loss of appetite, and breathing difficulty; lobar pneumonia is more severe, with a rapid heartbeat, high fever, and brownish nasal discharge.

3. Viral infection

Dogs catch viruses fairly easily, and many are deadly. Bacterial or parasitic infections can also cause nonstop coughing and easily develop into something serious, so they must be taken seriously. If a viral infection is not treated in time, the dog will keep coughing and the virus may reach the heart, even causing death.

4. Other causes

Many other things can make a dog cough — for example, over-excitement squeezing the trachea and producing a cough sound, or poor heart and lung function after intense exercise that stops the dog from clearing carbon dioxide quickly. Eating too fast or something stuck in the throat also makes a dog cough from discomfort.

In short, there are many causes of coughing in dogs. Owners should watch closely, find the cause promptly, and treat it in time. If the cough is severe, always take the dog to the vet. For other questions, you can consult an online vet.