Coughing in Dogs and Cats

Why is my dog coughing?

A cough is the body's way of clearing the airways, so an occasional cough is not usually anything to worry about. However, if your dog or cat has been coughing for more than a few days, the cough is getting worse, or they seem unwell with it, it is time to see a vet. Some of the common causes of coughing we see include kennel cough, heart disease, a collapsing trachea in small breed dogs, lungworm, pneumonia, asthma in cats, something stuck in the airway such as a grass seed, and in some cases lung tumours.

Kennel cough is also one of the reasons we recommend keeping your dog's vaccinations up to date.

Do cats cough?

Yes, and it is often mistaken for a cat trying to bring up a hairball. A cat that crouches low with their neck stretched out and makes a hacking noise without bringing anything up may actually be coughing. If you can, take a video of your cat when it happens, as this is really helpful for our vets.

How do vets find out why my pet is coughing?

As always we start with a thorough history and physical examination, where the vet will listen carefully to your pet's heart and lungs. Depending on what they find, they may recommend:

• Chest x-rays: our digital x-ray system lets us look at the lungs, airways and heart size in detail, and we can send images to a specialist radiologist if needed.
• Blood tests: these help us to check for infection and inflammation, and in some cases parasites such as heartworm.
• Ultrasound: if the vet is worried about heart disease, an ultrasound of the heart gives us a lot more information about how well it is working. This may be performed by one of our visiting specialist sonographers.

How is coughing treated?

Treatment depends entirely on the cause, which is why getting a diagnosis is so important. Kennel cough in an otherwise healthy dog may just need rest and some medication, while heart disease or asthma are usually managed long term with medications and regular checkups. Our vets will put together a personalised plan for your pet and keep a close eye on how they are going.

When is coughing an emergency?

Please call us straight away, or an emergency hospital if we are closed, if your pet is struggling to breathe, is breathing with their mouth open (especially cats), has blue or pale gums, is coughing up blood or has collapsed.