The reasons why is my dog is coughing so much? can be broadly classified into three patterns:
- Physiological reasons,
- Accidents
- Illness
We humans sometimes get sick of drinks in the trachea and cough when we catch a cold, and so do dogs. It is important to look closely at your dog and find out the cause of the cough.
Cough Caused due to Physiological reason
Transient Cough
If your dog has a dry cough, it is likely to be transient. Transient coughs are caused by cold air, throat pressure from pulling reeds, dry air, and excitement.
It’s transient, so if it doesn’t happen continuously, you can wait and see. As a precaution, do not pull the reed too much.
Be careful about the dryness of the room (humidity about 60 %). Go for a walk after the temperature gets a little high when it is cold, and avoid an environment that is easy to get excited ( For example, go for a walk when there are few other dogs ).
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Cough Caused Due to Accident
Foreign Body Accidental ingestion (Foreign Body in the esophagus)
If a dog accidentally swallows a foreign object, it may cough or almost vomit. It is common in puppies and adult dogs. In most cases, surgical intervention will be required as you will have to remove what is clogged.
Obstruction of the airways can lead to respiratory distress and, in the worst case, death. Preventive measures include keeping an eye on the dog while it is playing, and keeping things that the dog should not swallow in a place where the dog can reach, so as not to eat toys.
Cough Caused due by Illness
Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is an infectious disease caused by viruses, bacteria, and mycoplasma. It causes coughing, fever, abnormal lung noise, runny nose, rheumatism, painful breathing, dyspnoea, and loss of appetite.
Treatment is with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, inhalers (nebulizers), bronchodilators, and antitussives.
Bacterial infections cannot be prevented, but if viral, a combination vaccine can prevent infections. Preventing viruses with mixed vaccination will also help avoid dangerous mixed infections with bacteria
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Aspiration Pneumonia
Aspiration pneumonia can be angry if food gets into the trachea due to poor swallowing or vigorous eating and drinking. Aspiration pneumonia can cause coughing and difficulty breathing. Preventing dogs from eating slowly (using tableware to prevent eating fast, not adding too much water, etc.) will help prevent it.
Major diseases that cause coughing in adult dogs
Tracheal collapse
Tracheal collapse is a disease in which the trachea deforms and air does not flow normally in the body. Dogs have symptoms such as coughing and pain. The tracheal deformity is caused by pulling on the collar, obesity, and genetic factors.
Treatment of tracheal collapse is oral medication if the symptom is longitude and surgical treatment if the symptom is severe. However, it is essential to find a hospital because the number of hospitals that can perform surgical procedures is limited.
It is also said that 40 % of dogs with tracheal collapse also develop periodontal disease, and regular oral care is important for prevention. In addition, using a clothing-type harness instead of a collar will help prevent tracheal deformity.
Heart disease
Cough caused by heart disease, which is common in old dogs, can also cause coughing in adult dogs.
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Major diseases that cause coughing in old dogs
Heart disease
The progression of “mitral regurgitation” in dog heart disease causes coughing. Cough caused by mitral regurgitation is also seen in adult dogs but is most likely in senior age.
The cause of mitral regurgitation is not clearly known, but the mitral valve thickens due to a change called “mucinous tumor degeneration” in the mitral valve between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart.
It is thought to be caused by becoming brittle or brittle. Another cause is that the chordae tendineae attached to the mitral valve stretch, and the mitral valve does not close properly.
Treatment of mitral regurgitation is generally to relieve the symptoms by oral medication, but surgery may be performed in severe cases.
However, please note that the hospitals where surgical procedures can be performed are limited. Unfortunately, there is no preventive measure because the cause is not clear
Tracheal collapse
Tracheal collapse cough, which is common in small adult dogs, also occurs in small senior dogs.
Aspiration pneumonia
Aspiration pneumonia, which is common in puppies, also tends to occur in senior age when swallowing power is weakened.