“There is no creature of a devoted dog,” the famous Electronics sang in the famous film. Millions of dog lovers will agree without hesitation. They become members of the family: they rejoice at our arrival, they are sad when we have problems, they are company, when we are bored, and sometimes they get sick, just like us, and require special care.
Almost every lover of our smaller brothers has ever come across a dog coughing as if choking. Especially sensitive owners of four-legged friends in such a situation begin to panic, suggesting different, sometimes completely unthinkable and, of course, incredibly serious variants of the disease. It is quite obvious that these actions do not lead to anything good. So let's find out why the dog coughs.
Possible causes of dog cough
In fact, the reasons can be very diverse, and it does not have to be associated with serious diseases. For example, the body can react to hypothermia in this way, as a result of which the pet could catch a cold.
Another cause may be an allergic reaction to something. In this case, the irritant can be anything: starting with flower pollen and ending with the carpeting of your apartment. It should be noted that in this case the dog coughs, as if choking.
Do not forget about the most seemingly banal, but at the same time the most likely option. In the throat of your four-legged friend, a foreign object or particles of food that could irritate the mucous membrane and provoke a cough could well get stuck.
Heart failure factor
In addition to the options already mentioned, it should be noted that a possible cause of coughing may be malfunctions in the cardiovascular system of your animal. The gums of the dog in this case will be dark, almost cyanotic. The same shade change will be observed with respect to the language. Most often, this kind of cough begins during an animal’s sleep and intensifies over time. Large breeds of dogs are at risk in this regard .
Viral and invasive etiology of cough
Coughing can also occur if parasites are present in the body of the animal. The causative agents of cough are toxocaras and hookworms. The last reason that the dog coughs may be a viral infection, which is transmitted by contact with another infected animal. Moreover, the contact may not be direct, but indirect. The virus can reach your four-legged friend through your clothes and shoes.
Additional symptoms to watch out for
If the dog coughs, as if choking, you should check for dry nose, the activity of the animal, the presence of secretions from the lacrimal glands. Be sure to monitor whether the appetite of the animal has not changed. It is very important to understand the nature of the cough of your four-legged pet. It can be dry, expectorant, wet or harsh. Keep track of how long the cough lasts.
Which breeds are more prone to coughing
It is immediately worth noting that there are a number of breeds that have a genetic predisposition to problems of this kind due to the characteristics of the body. Such breeds include dogs with a flat muzzle and, as a result, a shortened nasal section. The first on this list are the so-beloved pugs and English bulldogs. The same group includes the Pekingese, Japanese chins, griffins, and in some cases even sharpei. If you are the owner of a dog of one of the listed breeds, you should not immediately panic if your dog is coughing as if choking.
What you should know about cough
Any veterinarian in the world will tell you that coughing is not a disease, but only a symptom. In most cases, this is a protective reaction of the body to any stimulus. That is why you should not do home treatment without first consulting with a specialist.
Your actions in case of a dog cough
First of all, if the dog coughs, this is not a reason for panic. Carefully inspect the animal's oral cavity, look as deep as possible into the throat of your four-legged friend. Be sure to probe the pet’s esophagus from the outside. This will help to eliminate the likelihood of a foreign object.
Wait for a while, observe the behavior of the pet. If the situation has not changed, and your dog coughs, as if choking, for a long period, you should contact your veterinarian.
The specialist will be able to determine the source of the problem immediately or give a direction to the work of the necessary tests and examinations, which will allow to prescribe the correct treatment.
In a word, if a dog coughs, this is not a reason for panic. This is not necessarily a symptom of tracheobronchitis or dirofilariasis.
Your task in this case is to remain calm, to love your pet and to seek advice in time.