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.
Coughing Due to Tracheal Collapse
Your dog may have a common health disorder known as collapsing trachea. It’s an inherited disorder in which the supportive structures of the trachea are less firm than they should be. In some situations, such as when a dog gets excited, a tracheal collapse may occur and this would cause the dog to cough and gag.
Tracheal collapse is more common with small-breed dogs like yorkies. It can happen at any age but it is typically more common once a dog reaches six to seven years of age. You may notice that dogs with tracheal collapse conditions will experience chronic, intermittent bouts of coughing, and these sessions will get worse when the dog gets excited.
OverviewTracheal collapse, also referred to as collapsing trachea, is a common disorder of the windpipe in dogs. It’s an inherited disorder in which the trachea’s normally firm cartilage rings of support are softer and less supportive than they should be. In these cases, inhaling air during the normal act of breathing can cause the trachea to collapse on itself (much like a flimsy straw would with a thick milkshake), which typically elicits a hacking cough. This happens most often with excitement and/or exercise. The inflammation that results in tracheas thus affected can mean chronic discomfort for the (typically tiny) dogs affected. The mode of inheritance of this disorder has not been worked out.
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Why Does My Dog Keep Gagging?
As a dog parent, even the minor changes in your dog’s behavior could be a worry for you.
Dogs are happy creatures; they get excited at the smallest things. Everything from getting a good belly rub to playing catch can stimulate feelings of excitement in your dog.
You can tell through their wholesome responses, such as running around and the heartwarming wagging of the tail.
If, however, you’ve noticed that your dog’s coughing and gagging when excited, it should be a cause of concern.
Before you get all worried, you may want to go through the reasons behind your dog’s coughing and gagging while excited. Here are the reasons behind your dog coughing and gagging when excited explained:
As someone who does not know what a dog’s coughing and gagging when excited could mean, a dog parent may discard it as a regular cold.
While it could be harmless, there are some pretty worrisome reasons why a dog coughs when excited and can be fatal.
One thing that could be causing your dog to cough or gag whenever it is excited could be its collar. When a dog pulls on its leads, it causes the collar to squeeze its windpipe.
It could put pressure on the cartilage in the windpipe. It causes your dog to cough or gag, primarily when it draws in more air when excited or physically active.
Standard solutions include using a harness instead of a collar and lead training your dog. It ensures that the dog does not tug on its lead, making it difficult to breathe.
The trachea, also known as the windpipe, is a flexible tube. It has rings of cartilage that are c-shaped and sturdy. When these rings of cartilage collapse, this condition is known as tracheal collapse.
It causes breathing problems in dogs, making it difficult for the oxygen to reach the lungs. Furthermore, it can also explain why your dog coughs and gags when excited, especially if the cough is harsh.
The cause of the tracheal collapse is often unknown and unidentifiable in dogs. However, it is hereditary in dogs. It can be passed on from generation to generation, so it is a pretty common health disorder.
Furthermore, as most such illnesses in dogs go, they are prevalent in certain breeds. Tracheal collapse is more commonly present in small breed dogs such as Chihuahuas, Yorkshire terriers, Shih Tzus, and Pomeranian.
The following are the symptoms to look out for in your dog if you suspect it has tracheal collapse:
There are other signs that you should look out for. For example, dogs with tracheal collapse are prone to many other respiratory diseases.
Furthermore, you will notice that the symptoms are more evident than ever when your dog exercises or drinks water or is excited.
Unfortunately, tracheal collapse in dogs is irreversible and fatal. You may treat your dog with antibiotics to make the illness less painful, and cough suppressants can also come in handy. There is, however, no treatment.
Another reason your dog may be coughing and gagging when excited is Kennel cough. Kennel cough is a form of cough that is dry and persistent.
It can cause fits of cough every short while in some dogs and regular coughing during the day in others. Due to contamination and the coughs set in 5-10 days after the initial infection.
It can continue for up to a few weeks. Gagging regularly to observe sounds like your canine is coughing up hairballs.
Kennel cough can make it hard for puppies to breathe. It is why you can notice that when your canine gets excited, they make this choking sound. It can be exacerbated when your dog is excited. However, it can be treated.