Canines & Coughing Illnesses

Kennel Cough

• Kennel cough, or acute infectious tracheobronchitis, causes dogs to produce a high, dry cough that lasts approximately two weeks. Caretakers should separate infected dogs from healthy dogs in the home or kennel to keep the infection from spreading. Small doses of children's cough syrup and humidifiers help ease symptoms. Dogs can recover from kennel cough without seeing a veterinarian, but if symptoms persist or worsen, owners should seek veterinary treatment. Some dogs experience complications that lead to more serious health problems. The Bordetella vaccine protects dogs from catching most strains of kennel cough.

Allergies

• Dogs suffer from allergies just like humans do. Seasonal pollen, smoke, house dust and mold cause canine coughs. According to Celeste A. Clements, allergy-related coughs seem dry and nonproductive. A dog suffering from allergies likely will exhibit sneezing and signs of itchiness. Allergies often clear without treatment once the allergen leaves, but severe cases should be diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian, who may prescribe steroids.

Distemper

• Distemper affects each dog differently, with conditions ranging from mild to fatal. The danger is especially high for young puppies and dogs with otherwise ill health. A dry cough appears early on in the disease and accompanies listlessness, a fever and a thick yellow discharge running from the eyes and nose. Dogs exhibiting these symptoms must visit a vet immediately. Vaccinations prevent distemper beforehand, but owners of unvaccinated dogs need to be watchful.

Parasites

• A dog infested with worms may also cough when roundworms migrate up the windpipe. Heartworms reproduce inside the lungs and cause a severe cough once the exchange of oxygenated blood between the lungs and heart becomes hindered. A veterinarian must diagnose these diseases. Worm-related diseases have reached a severe stage once coughing occurs, and are difficult to treat. Worm prevention provides the best protection against these ailments, Clements says.

Tracheal Collapse

• Tracheal collapse occurs primarily in miniature and toy breeds but also can be brought on through extensive tugging on a dog's collar. When the cartilage supporting the trachea degenerates, it collapses, causing a dry, honking cough. As tracheal collapse gets worse, the cough changes from nonproductive to productive. Once collapse occurs, even surgery cannot fix the underlying problem, though operations can minimize the resulting obstructions.

Additional Causes

• Many other canine illnesses include coughing as a possible symptom. Tuberculosis and pulmonary vascular disease include a moist, productive and often bloody cough. Fungal diseases also produce a moist cough and may lead to pneumonia. Pneumonia occurs under other circumstances, as well. Coccidiosis, another parasitic disease, produces a cough and other symptoms similar to distemper. Soft, productive night coughs indicate a high probability of congestive heart problems. Lung cancer typically produces a bloody cough, and chronic bronchitis produces a harsh, dry cough.