Tracheal collapse
If your dog experiences tracheal collapse, their cough may sound like a honking goose. Toy dog breeds and obese dogs have an increased risk of developing a collapsed trachea. Tracheal collapse occurs when the cartilage surrounding the airway weakens. Treatment for a collapsing trachea includes weight loss and medication to reduce coughing.
What to do if my dog is coughing
Coughing is uncomfortable for your dog and can be tough to listen to for days on end. Plus, it can be a sign of a serious or contagious illness. Do your dog and yourself a favor and seek treatment as soon as possible. Your petâs health is worth it.
Once your veterinarian finds out whatâs causing the cough, they will be able to prescribe treatment. And if your dog has a life-threatening underlying cause, beginning treatment early can improve the outcome for your dog.
Common Causes Of Coughing In Dogs
Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites can all cause coughing in infected dogs. These infectious agents can target the entire airway from the upper respiratory tract down into the lungs causing several different conditions, such as bronchitis and pneumonia depending on the specific infection.2
Kennel cough is the most common infectious cause of coughing though it may not always be attributed to just one agent. Sometimes, Kennel cough in dogs can be caused by multiple different viruses or bacteria.2
Dogs with Kennel cough tend to have a deep, dry, hacking cough along with possible sneezing, snorting, gagging and in some cases, vomiting.3
Contact with other dogs is the primary way to get the highly contagious viral or bacterial infection that causes Kennel cough. Be aware for symptoms if your dog has been boarded recently or has been exposed to large numbers of other dogs, such as at a dog park.4
Canine chronic bronchitis produces a dry, hacking cough in dogs that worsens with exercise and excitement. It is caused by persistent inflammation of the airways. Inflammation swells the lining of the airways and produces mucus which further narrows the passages in the lungs. Exposure to airborne pollutants and irritants such as cigarette smoke, are thought to lead to the disease. Chronic bronchitis in dogs is considered a progressive disease that will worsen with time and requires regular management to help ensure the best quality of life possible.
Treatment options for chronic bronchitis focus on managing the inflammatory response. Inhaled corticosteroids are the preferred anti-inflammatory format for long term management of the condition. Unlike oral steroids and injectable formats, inhaled medications target the lungs directly and do not cause the same side-effects (e.g., excess urination, aggression, lethargy). One of the more common inhaled steroids prescribed is fluticasone proprionate (also known as Flovent HFA and Flixotide HFA, GSK).5
Inhaled bronchodilators may also be prescribed. Versions of bronchodilators that are rapid acting with short-term effects, such as salbutamol and albuterol, may be used in cases of respiratory distress to open constricted airways. These short acting bronchodilator medications should not be used as the only therapy as they do not treat the underlying inflammation. In some cases, a long-acting inhaled bronchodilator may be prescribed in a combination format with an inhaled steroid. An example of this is Advair HFA (GSK), which includes the long acting bronchodilator salmeterol and the inhaled corticosteroid fluticasone.
All of these inhaled medications can be administered to your dog using a device like the AeroDawg* Chamber, which is designed to capture and hold the medication until your dog is ready to inhale.5 Chronic bronchitis is a lifetime condition and needs to be managed regularly to minimize symptoms. Keep administering medication as prescribed by your veterinarian even in the absence of symptoms to keep inflammation down and prevent progressive lung damage.
Small dogs are at a greater risk of experiencing a collapsed trachea. This is when the cartilage rings that partially encircle the trachea weaken and are no longer strong enough to support the trachea. It collapses on itself creating a narrow passageway that air is forced through producing a tell-tale honking sound similar to a goose honk.2
Tracheal collapse causes irritation and a chronic cough. Dogs with the condition will often also have exercise intolerance, respiratory distress, and may gag while eating or drinking.3 Weight control and using a harness instead of a collar are two options that could help prevent tracheal collapse.4
Inhaled medications delivered with an AeroDawg* chamber may be used to treat dogs with tracheal collapse. In particular, inhaled bronchodilators (e.g., albuterol and salbutamol) to dilate or open the airways and inhaled steroids (e.g., fluticasone) to decrease inflammation of the airways. Other treatment options may include medications that suppress coughing and treat secondary infections. In severe cases surgery may be required.2
Coughing may be a sign of heart disease in dogs. Other symptoms to look for include a blue tinged tongue, reduced appetite, tiredness, weakness, lower endurance, rapid or depressed heartbeat, and difficulty breathing.3
Take your dog to the vet if you notice these symptoms. If already diagnosed with heart disease, pay attention to when your dog is coughing. If your dog coughs when he is resting, lying down, or asleep, it could be a sign of a worsening condition.3
Small dogs and flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds may make cough-like or choking sounds caused by what is termed reversed sneezing.2 In a reverse sneeze, air is inhaled rapidly and noisily through the nose as compared to a regular sneeze where air is expelled through the nose.
While not actually a cough, reverse sneezing is triggered by an irritant that causes the throat and soft palate to spasm. Irritants can include postnasal drainage, foreign material, excitement, exercise, a too tight collar, or sudden change in temperature.3
Generally, reverse sneezing does not require a visit to your veterinarian. However, if they become severe or frequent then your dog should be taken to the animal clinic to diagnose for other potential health complications.2
Sometimes dogs may inhale foreign objects or material that gets lodged in their airways. Coughs that become suddenly violent or sound like gagging, possibly including attempts to swallow and frequent lip licking could be a sign that something has become stuck in your dog’s throat.
If the cough can’t be cleared in short order, then a visit to your veterinarian is warranted to help remove the foreign material.
There are other conditions that can cause your dog to cough. In these cases, the cough is just the symptom of the other condition. Examples include heartworm disease and some types of cancer. Persistent coughs should be investigated by a veterinarian to help ensure the wellness of your dog.