Dog Coughing
A cough can be as simple as a mild airway irritation, but it can also be a sign of infection, heart or lung disease, or something stuck in the throat. Here’s how to tell when coughing needs prompt veterinary attention and what you can do at home in the meantime.
When to call a vet for dog coughing
Go to the ER now
- ● Your dog is struggling to breathe, breathing rapidly even at rest, or cannot settle comfortably because of the coughing.
- ● The gums or tongue look blue, gray, or very pale.
- ● Your dog collapses, seems weak, or faints during or after coughing.
- ● The cough started suddenly after chewing a toy, bone, stick, or other object and your dog seems like something may be stuck.
- ● Your dog is coughing with severe distress, coughing up blood, or has signs of pneumonia such as labored breathing and marked lethargy.
See a vet within 24 hours
- ● The cough lasts more than a few days, is getting worse, or keeps your dog up at night.
- ● Your dog also has fever, low energy, poor appetite, nasal discharge, or eye discharge.
- ● The cough sounds harsh, honking, or is followed by gagging or retching.
- ● Your dog is older, has known heart disease, or the cough happens more when resting or lying down.
- ● Your dog has been around other dogs recently at boarding, daycare, grooming, training, shows, or dog parks.
Watch at home, call if it worsens
- ● Your dog has a brief, occasional cough but is otherwise acting normal, eating well, and breathing comfortably.
- ● The cough seems mild and short-lived after excitement, pulling on the collar, or drinking water too fast.
- ● There are no other symptoms such as lethargy, fever, nasal discharge, or breathing trouble.
- ● Your dog is still interested in food, play, and normal walks.
- ● Even if the cough seems mild, call your vet if you are unsure or if it does not improve quickly.
Common Causes of Dog Coughing
Kennel cough and other respiratory infections
A dry, hacking or honking cough is often caused by canine infectious respiratory disease complex, commonly called kennel cough. Dogs may pick it up after contact with other dogs at boarding, daycare, grooming, or parks.
Pneumonia or lower airway disease
If coughing comes with fast or difficult breathing, fever, lethargy, or loss of appetite, lung infection is a concern. Pneumonia needs prompt veterinary care.
Something stuck or throat irritation
A sudden cough, gagging, or retching can happen if your dog inhaled or swallowed a foreign material or irritated the throat. This can become an emergency if breathing is affected.
Collapsing trachea
This often causes a goose-honk cough that gets worse with excitement, pressure from a collar, heat, humidity, or after eating and drinking. It is especially common in small-breed dogs.
Heart disease or heartworm disease
Some dogs cough because of heart or lung circulation problems. A nighttime cough, exercise intolerance, or reduced stamina should be checked by a veterinarian.
Chronic bronchitis or airway irritation
Long-term inflammation of the airways can cause a dry, harsh cough, especially in middle-aged or older dogs. Smoke, sprays, and other irritants can make coughing worse.
What to Do at Home
If your dog is coughing but breathing comfortably and otherwise seems stable, keep things calm and low-key while you arrange veterinary guidance. Because coughing can be contagious or can mimic more serious problems, home care should focus on reducing irritation, monitoring closely, and avoiding anything that could make breathing harder.
- Let your dog rest and avoid strenuous exercise until you know what is causing the cough.
- Use a harness instead of a neck collar to reduce pressure on the windpipe.
- Keep your dog away from smoke, strong cleaners, sprays, dust, and other airway irritants.
- If your dog may have an infectious cough, keep them away from other dogs and call your vet before arriving at the clinic.
- Offer water and monitor for changes in appetite, energy, breathing effort, nasal discharge, or feverish behavior.
- Do not give human cough medicines or any medication unless your veterinarian tells you to.
Frequently asked questions about dog coughing
Why is my dog coughing and gagging?
When should I worry about my dog's cough?
Can kennel cough go away on its own?
What can I give my dog for coughing?
Is dog coughing an emergency?
Why does my dog cough like something is stuck in their throat?
What does a honking cough in dogs mean?
Dog Coughing Like Something Is Stuck in Their Throat
When a dog keeps coughing, gagging, or making a harsh noise as if something is stuck in the throat, the cause is not always a foreign object. Kennel cough commonly causes a dry, forceful cough that may end with retching. Reverse sneezing can look dramatic and may sound like your dog is trying to clear the throat, even though it usually comes from irritation around the nose or back of the throat. Small dogs with tracheal collapse often develop a distinctive honking cough that gets worse with excitement or pressure on the neck. A true foreign body obstruction is most concerning when the coughing starts suddenly after chewing or playing with something and is paired with distress, pawing at the mouth, drooling, or trouble breathing.
- Kennel cough can sound harsh, dry, and repetitive, and many dogs gag afterward as if trying to bring something up.
- Reverse sneezing usually comes in short episodes and can sound like snorting or repeated attempts to clear the throat.
- Tracheal collapse often causes a goose-honk cough, especially in small-breed dogs or when a collar puts pressure on the neck.
- A real foreign object in the throat or airway is more likely if the signs began all at once after chewing a toy, bone, stick, treat, or other material.
- If your dog cannot breathe comfortably, seems panicked, has blue or pale gums, or keeps trying to cough something out without relief, treat it as an emergency.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary medical advice. Reading this content does not establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Every pet is different — always consult a licensed veterinarian before making decisions about your pet's health, diet, or care. If you'd like personalized guidance, you can talk to one of our vets. If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, contact your local emergency animal hospital immediately.