Cough is a forced, noisy exhalation. It is accompanied by a contraction of the trachea and pharynx. It is a reflex that is used to forcefully evacuate air and what is in the respiratory tract.

Usually a cough is a symptom of obstruction or discomfort, for example caused by inflammation. The bronchi can be blocked by edemaciated respiratory tissue, fluid, mucus, a foreign body, or an organ or mass that compresses them. A dog who coughs and spits should not be confused with a dog who sneezes. The function of sneezing is to free the nasal passages (of a foreign body or nasal secretion)

What is the difference between dry cough and fatty cough?

A dog that coughs without emitting a secretion will have what is called a dry cough. When there are secretions when he coughs we speak of a fatty cough. A fatty cough is often accompanied by a bacterial infection. A dry cough can turn into a fatty cough over time.

There are many conditions that affect your dog that can cause them to cough.

– Tracheal collapse: particularly affecting small breed dogs such as bichon or yorkie, this condition is characterized by a quintess cough. These dogs suffer from a degenerative disease of the trachea, the diameter of which will gradually reduce over time. The cough appears when pressing on the trachea (with the collar for example), when the dog is excited or when, as the dog becomes old, the tracheal collapse is at an advanced stage.

-Lung or tracheal inflammation such as tracheitis, pneumonia and bronchitis, which can be bacterial, viral (such as kennel cough), parasitic (such as angiostrongylosis) or fungal (due to fungi). Inflammation caused by lung tumors can also make the dog cough. Unlike coughs of bacterial origin, the cough will be dry and irregular.

– Heart disease: the heart of older dogs, for example due to degenerative valve disease, may become less efficient and lead to the onset of a cardiac cough and pulmonary edema (water accumulates in the lungs). Heartworm disease (heartworm disease) can also cause a severe cough in dogs.

– Dogs of owners who smoke may develop an irritating cough from cigarette smoke.

If the cough is severe and there is difficulty in breathing, he must be taken urgently to the veterinarian. By taking him to the vet we will avoid stressing him or making him walk too much.

If your dog has been coughing very frequently for several days or occasionally for several weeks, you should take him to the vet to check his health.

To find the origin of the cough, the veterinarian will do a clinical examination and in particular a careful auscultation of the lung area. On auscultation, he can hear specific noises that can guide him in the diagnosis. He will also check the dog’s temperature, it can rise in cases of bacterial or viral infection such as in severe forms of kennel cough. He will perform additional examinations such as chest x-ray, if the dog’s breathing allows or postpones it. A blood test along with a blood cell test can tell if it is an infection. In some cases bronchoalolar lavage may be necessary to determine the exact cause of lung disease and to choose the right antibiotic, for example, in cases of bacterial infection. A CT scan or MRI may be scheduled for the diagnosis of lung tumor or abscess.

A cardiac ultrasound may be indicated in dogs with a cardiac cough to assess the stage and type of heart disease.

Depending on the results of the analyzes and the diagnosis of the dog who is coughing, he may administer antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs as a treatment for bronchitis of bacterial origin. Or inject diuretics to eliminate pulmonary edema and prescribe medicine for the heart disease causing the edema.

Some lung tumors can be removed by surgery or laparoscopy (with a camera).

Tracheal collapse is usually treated with bronchodilators and cough suppressants. The veterinarian may suggest placing a device in the dog’s trachea to maintain the opening thereof.

Owners of a coughing dog should in all cases stop smoking indoors and stop using candles, house fragrances and any other product that irritates the respiratory tract.

Water vapor nebulizations (inhalation or environment with hot water) can help, by moistening the airways, to relieve the coughing dog.