MY LABRADOR IS COUGHING OR...

Question
MY LABRADOR IS COUGHING OR HACKING AS WE CALL IT. OTHERWISE SHE IS EATING AND ACTING NORMAL
WHAT COULD THIS BE

Answer
Hello,

Dogs cough for a variety of reasons, some of which can be serious in themselves and others that are signs of an underlying problem. Internal parasites, heartworm disease, distemper, tonsillitis, foreign objects in the airway, fungus diseases, tuberculosis, allergies, and pollutants such as cigarette smoke can cause your dog to cough. New perfumes, or new bedding or carpeting can also aggravate coughing.

High, dry coughs are typical of kennel cough or "Acute Tracheobronchitis". Your dog need not be boarded to catch kennel cough. Kennel cough is caused by an airborne virus, which is highly contageous. A dog with kennel cough seems to feel fine otherwise. One way you can "test" for Kennel Cough is to press the throat gently, right in the collar area. If the dog has Kennel Cough, this will probably trigger some coughing.

Kennel Cough is like the common cold that we humans sometimes catch, simply put: it must run its course. Cases usually heal in about two weeks. Treatment includes isolation to avoid infection of other family and other dogs, monitoring of temperature, rest, and if the coughing is severe, use of a children's over-the-counter cough syrup. You should contact your vet for dosing advice. A humidifier can help the dog breathe easier and thus reduce coughing and further throat inflammation.

Kennel cough in puppies and toy breeds can be another story; the throat irritation can be accompanied by thick secretions that can cause pneumonia. Since this condition is very contageous, notify any pet owners whose small dog or puppy has been in contact with your dog.

Bordatella vaccine protects dogs from several strains of kennel cough.

Infestation of internal parasites such as roundworms and heartworms can cause coughing. If a dog is in good condition, a light infestation of roundworms is seldom a problem. Heartworm infestation is another thing altogether; by the time the infected dog coughs, he is already severely infected with this serious and often fatal disease.

It's a good to err on the side of caution. Repeated episodes of coughing should be investigated. Take note of any other symptoms that accompany the cough, such as:

Is the cough a dry hack or moist?
Does your dog cough anything up, and if so, what does it look like?
Does he cough throughout the day or at specific times such as at night, after drinking water, or when first waking up?

Make a list and report the information to your veterinarian.

Best of luck.

Patti