Why Is My Dog Coughing? Causes, Types of Cough and When to Worry

Different Types of Dog Cough and What They Can Mean

The sound of a cough can give your vet useful clues, but it can't tell you the cause on its own. These are general patterns:¹

• Honking cough: a harsh, dry "goose honk" is typical of tracheal collapse in small dogs, and a honking cough followed by gagging is the classic sign of kennel cough.^5,6,7
• Deep, dry cough: can be related to allergies or throat irritation or, if it persists for 2 months or more, chronic bronchitis.^1,8
• Wet or moist cough: suggests mucus or fluid in the lower airways and lungs, and can be a sign of pneumonia.¹
• Cough with gagging or retching: many dogs gag or retch at the end of a coughing fit, sometimes bringing up white froth.^6,7 A high-pitched gag can also mean something is stuck in the throat.¹
• Mild, persistent cough with tiring easily: can be an early sign of heartworm disease.⁹

Is it really a cough? Reverse sneezing can look alarming, and many owners think their dog is in respiratory distress. The dog stands with its neck extended and takes a series of loud, sudden, rapid inhalations, lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes. It is usually harmless and stops on its own.¹⁰

Why Is My Dog Coughing? Common Causes

• Kennel cough: a contagious airway infection caused by several viruses and bacteria. It causes a sudden honking cough, and most dogs recover within 7 to 10 days. See our guide to kennel cough in dogs.^6,7
• Dog flu (canine influenza): a persistent cough with nasal discharge, fever, lethargy and a reduced appetite. Most dogs recover in 2 to 3 weeks, but some develop pneumonia. See dog flu.¹¹
• Collapsing trachea: a weakening of the windpipe, most common in middle-aged and older toy and small breeds such as Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians and Toy Poodles. Excitement, exercise, heat, smoke and pressure on the neck can set off coughing fits.⁵
• Chronic bronchitis: a cough that lasts 2 months or more without another cause, mostly in middle-aged and older small-breed dogs. Coughing is often worst after rest or at the start of exercise.⁸
• Heart disease: coughing, breathing difficulty, fast breathing, tiring easily and weakness can all be signs of a heart problem. See congestive heart failure in dogs.⁴
• Heartworm disease: a mild, persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, tiredness after moderate activity, reduced appetite and weight loss. Recently infected dogs may show no signs at all. See heartworm signs.⁹
• Pneumonia: a deep cough with lethargy, poor appetite, fever and labored breathing. Pneumonia can follow viral infections, or develop when food, vomit or liquid medicine is inhaled (aspiration pneumonia).²
• Laryngeal paralysis: most common in older large breeds, especially Labrador Retrievers. Signs include a change in bark, noisy breathing, coughing and gagging, and trouble coping with heat and exercise.³
• Something stuck in the throat or airway: choking needs emergency care.¹
• Less common causes: distemper, cancer and fungal infections such as Valley fever can also cause coughing.^1,2

Why Is My Dog Coughing Like Something Is Stuck in His Throat?

This is one of the most common ways owners describe a cough. The usual explanations are:

• Kennel cough: the honking cough typically ends with gagging or retching, as if the dog is trying to clear its throat.^6,7
• Tracheal collapse: a harsh honking cough, often brought on by excitement or by pulling against a collar.⁵
• Reverse sneezing: loud, rapid inhalations that look alarming but usually last from a few seconds to a few minutes.¹⁰
• A real foreign object stuck in the throat or airway, which often causes a high-pitched gag.¹

If your dog is struggling to breathe, its gums or tongue look blue, or you think it may be choking on something, treat it as an emergency and go to the nearest vet straight away.^1,2

Why Is My Dog Coughing at Night?

Coughing after rest or lying down can come from airway problems such as chronic bronchitis, which is often worst after rest,⁸ or from heart disease, which can also cause coughing and fast breathing.⁴ A simple check you can do at home is to count your dog's breaths while it is asleep or relaxed: count the chest rising for 15 seconds and multiply by 4. A normal rate is 15 to 30 breaths per minute. A rate consistently above 35 while relaxed or asleep can signal a heart problem and needs a same-day vet visit.⁴

When Should I Worry About My Dog's Cough?

An occasional cough in a dog that is otherwise bright, eating and playing is rarely an emergency. Call your vet if:¹

• The cough lasts more than about a week or is getting worse
• Your dog seems more tired than usual, has a fever or stops eating
• Your dog has trouble breathing even when it isn't coughing
• Your dog coughs or gags up white or blood-tinged fluid

Puppies, older dogs and dogs with other health problems are at greater risk of severe illness from infectious coughs like kennel cough, so it's best to have them checked sooner.⁶

How Vets Find the Cause of a Cough

Your vet will ask how long the cough has lasted, what it sounds like and what sets it off, and will listen to your dog's heart and lungs. A video of a coughing fit on your phone can be very helpful. Depending on the findings, tests may include:

• Blood tests and chest X-rays^5,8
• Fluoroscopy (moving X-rays) to show a collapsing windpipe⁵
• Bronchoscopy and airway washes under anesthesia to look inside the airways and take samples^8,5
• Heart tests such as an echocardiogram if heart disease is suspected⁴

Dog Cough Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause, which is why a persistent cough needs a diagnosis rather than just a cough medicine:

• Infections: mild kennel cough is often self-limiting and clears with rest and supportive care. Vets may use antibiotics when a bacterial infection or pneumonia is suspected.^7,6,2
• Airway diseases: tracheal collapse and chronic bronchitis are usually managed with cough suppressants, anti-inflammatory steroids and sometimes bronchodilators. Some dogs with tracheal collapse eventually need a tracheal stent.^5,8
• Heart disease and heartworm need specific long-term treatment from your vet.^4,9

Cough suppressants should only be used under your vet's direction, because coughing helps clear the lungs, and suppressing it can be harmful if pneumonia is present.^7,8 See our page on cough medicine for dogs.

Home Care for a Coughing Dog

• Use a harness instead of a collar, because pressure on the neck can trigger coughing.^5,6
• Keep your dog lean. Excess weight makes tracheal collapse worse, and weight loss is an important part of treatment.¹²
• Avoid smoke and other airway irritants, and avoid hot, humid conditions.⁵
• Rest and warmth help dogs with airway infections and bronchitis. Steam may help loosen secretions.⁸
• Keep a coughing dog away from other dogs until your vet rules out a contagious cause such as kennel cough or dog flu.^6,11 Our guide to treating kennel cough at home has more tips.
• Don't give human cough or cold medicine without your vet's advice. Some cough syrups and other over-the-counter medicines contain xylitol, which is dangerous to dogs.¹³

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I worry about my dog coughing?

See a vet if the cough lasts more than about a week, is getting worse, or comes with lethargy, fever, a poor appetite or breathing trouble. Go to a vet immediately if your dog is struggling to breathe, has blue-tinged gums or may be choking, and call the same day if it coughs up blood-tinged fluid.

What can I give my dog for coughing?

Don't give human cough medicine unless your vet recommends it. Some products contain xylitol or other ingredients that are dangerous to dogs, and suppressing a cough can be harmful if your dog has pneumonia. Rest, a harness instead of a collar and a smoke-free home are safe first steps while you arrange a vet visit.

Will Benadryl help my dog stop coughing?

Antihistamines such as Benadryl don't treat the most common causes of coughing, such as kennel cough, tracheal collapse or heart disease, though a vet may suggest one if allergies are involved. Never give "D" or combination cold products, which can contain decongestants that are dangerous to dogs. Ask your vet before giving any medicine.

Why is my dog coughing and gagging?

Coughing fits often end with gagging or retching, especially with kennel cough. Gagging can also mean something is stuck in the throat, so see a vet if it keeps happening or your dog seems distressed.

Why is my dog coughing up white foam?

Many dogs bring up white, foamy saliva or mucus at the end of a coughing fit, which is common with kennel cough and other airway irritation. Call your vet if it keeps happening, since it can occasionally point to a heart problem, and go straight away if the foam is pink or blood-tinged or your dog is having trouble breathing.

What does a heart cough sound like in a dog?

There's no single "heart cough" sound, so the sound alone can't tell you if the heart is involved. Watch for coughing together with fast breathing at rest, tiring easily, weakness or fainting, and see your vet promptly if you notice them.

Why does my dog cough after drinking water?

An occasional cough after gulping water is usually just water going down the wrong way. Frequent coughing or gagging when drinking can point to a throat or airway problem, so mention it to your vet.

Will my dog's cough go away on its own?

Most dogs with mild kennel cough recover within 7 to 10 days with rest. A cough that lasts longer than about a week, keeps coming back or is getting worse needs a vet check, because chronic coughs usually have a cause that needs treatment.