Key takeaway Dogs cough for several reasons, but dogs coughing when excited isn’t uncommon. Your dog may also cough as a result of a medical condition, such as kennel cough or tracheal collapse. If your dog has a persistent cough, consider taking them to the vet for an exam.
A dog coughing can be a worrying sign for pet parents, but coughing isn’t always something to be concerned about. Believe it or not, dogs coughing when excited is actually fairly common, so there’s a chance you have nothing to worry about. That being said, it’s important to make sure your dog isn’t coughing because of a medical condition, which is why you need to watch out for other symptoms.
Dogs cough for lots of different reasons, but excitement is one of them. If your dog coughs when excited and you don’t notice them coughing at other times, there’s likely nothing to worry about. However, if you notice your dog is coughing while they’re walking around the house or lying down, it may be a sign of a medical condition.
You might be wondering, why does my dog cough when excited? And should you be worried about your dog coughing due to excitement? Here’s what you need to know about why dogs cough and whether your dog’s cough is a concern.
There are several reasons dogs cough, from medical conditions to excitement and anxiety and simply trying to get something out of their throat. Here are some of the potential causes of coughing in dogs.
For many dogs, excitement and anxiety can be a trigger for coughing. Some dogs get very excited when they’re playing or when somebody walks in the door, and that excitement can lead to coughing. A dog coughing when excited isn’t anything to worry about as long as your dog doesn’t seem to be experiencing discomfort from frequent coughing. If you’re worried about it, you can talk to a veterinary behaviorist about dealing with your dog’s anxiety.
Kennel cough is a disease that can be caused by several different viruses, leading to a loud, hacking cough in dogs. Other symptoms of kennel cough may include a runny nose, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy. If your dog has kennel cough, you should take them to the vet for a diagnosis and get started on treatment right away.
Whether your dog is allergic to something in their food or the pollen in the spring air, those allergies can cause a cough. Irritation of the respiratory system is a common cause of coughing in both dogs and humans, and that’s precisely what many allergies trigger. If your dog has allergies that cause coughing, talk to your vet about giving them allergy medication to reduce symptoms.
Just like allergies can cause irritation in the respiratory system, so can infections. Various types of infections, including kennel cough, can lead to a dry cough in dogs. The good news is, your dog’s cough should go away when the infection goes away, so treating their infection is typically enough to relieve symptoms. If your dog has an especially bad cough that’s caused by an infection, your vet may also recommend cough suppressants.
Sometimes, dogs cough because they’re choking. While it’s not unusual for dogs to cough from time to time, you should check on your dog if you notice they’re coughing while they’re eating. Some dogs have a tendency to eat too quickly, which can cause them to choke because they’re not chewing their food properly. If your dog is choking, you should gently restrain them and do a finger sweep to try to remove the food or object from their mouth. If that doesn’t work, you can do the Heimlich maneuver to help expel the food that your dog is choking on.
Tracheal collapse is a medical condition where a dog’s trachea becomes soft and narrow, which makes it more restrictive and can make it difficult to breathe. This is a chronic condition that’s more likely in older toy and miniature breeds, but it can happen to any dog. A dog with tracheal collapse may have difficulty breathing and a dry cough that won’t go away.
Heartworm disease is an infection caused by a worm parasite that infects the bloodstream in dogs, which can be fatal if you dont treat it early. Heartworm disease is particularly common in areas with a lot of mosquitoes, as mosquitoes can transmit the larvae and eggs in the blood they get from other animals. Fortunately, heartworm disease can be prevented with heartworm prevention medication. You can also talk to your vet about taking your dog in for routine deworming treatments to keep infections at bay.
If your dog has a chronic cough and seems to be in poor health in general, they may have lung cancer. This is a very serious medical condition, so it’s important to talk to your vet about steps you can take to keep your dog as comfortable as possible.
You probably don’t have anything to worry about if your dog is only coughing occasionally, but when should you call your vet to schedule an appointment? It’s important to consider the frequency and duration of your dog’s cough, as well as the severity of the cough and any other symptoms they’re experiencing.
If your dog has been coughing several times each day for many days or even weeks, they may be dealing with tracheal collapse or a similar medical condition. You should also be concerned if your dog seems to have trouble breathing before or after coughing fits.
When in doubt, it’s never a bad idea to call your vet and ask about your dog’s symptoms. When it comes to your pets’ health, you can never be too cautious.1
Why is my dog coughing but acting normal?
If your dog is coughing but acting normal otherwise, that could be a sign that their cough is excitement or anxiety-related. Coughs that are caused by infections and other medical conditions typically present with other symptoms, including a runny nose, sneezing, or lethargy. If your dog is coughing when they’re playing or running around the yard, they might just be coughing because they’re too excited. However, it’s still worth talking to your vet about.
Why does my dog start choking randomly?
Choking in dogs is a common emergency. It’s typically caused by a foreign object getting stuck in the throat, or by objects getting wrapped tightly around the neck. Choking can be life-threatening so it’s vital that you contact your vet or, out of hours, your nearest Vets Now, immediately.
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Sometimes when dogs become excited or anxious they can cough. This is usually seen in dogs with tracheal collapse (where part of their windpipe has begun to collapse) because their heightened state of excitement or anxiety means that they are breathing harder.