Article • Designer Mixes

Why Is My Dog Coughing So Much?

Shari Shidate Designer Mixes contributor

If your dog is coughing a lot, it can feel alarming fast. I get it. As a veterinary assistant, I have seen everything from a simple throat tickle to emergencies that need immediate care. The good news is that most causes are treatable once you figure out what is driving the cough.

Quick note: This article is for education and triage support, not a diagnosis. A cough can have many look-alikes, and an exam is the safest way to sort out what is going on.

This overview will help you understand the most common reasons dogs cough, what symptoms matter most, what you can safely do at home, and when it is time to call your veterinarian.

First, what does your dog’s cough sound like?

Not all coughs are created equal. The sound and timing can give helpful clues.

Dry, honking cough: often described like a goose honk. Common with tracheal irritation or collapse.
Gagging or retching after coughing: can happen with kennel cough, throat irritation, reflux, or mucus drainage from upper-airway disease.
Wet, productive cough: may sound phlegmy. More concerning for pneumonia, airway infection, or fluid in or around the lungs (such as with congestive heart failure).
Coughing mostly at night or when resting: can be seen with heart disease, chronic airway inflammation, or upper-airway/nasal disease (rhinitis or sinusitis) with drainage.
Coughing with exercise or excitement: can point toward tracheal issues, airway disease, or sometimes heart problems.

If you can safely capture a short video of the episode, it helps your vet more than you might think.

Not a cough: reverse sneezing

One of the most common things owners mistake for coughing or choking is reverse sneezing (also called paroxysmal respiration).

What it sounds like: rapid, repeated snorting or inward “honking” breaths.
What it looks like: your dog may stand still, extend their neck, and look wide-eyed for a few seconds.
Why it matters: it is usually harmless and often triggered by excitement, pulling on a collar, dust, or post-nasal irritation.

That said, if episodes are frequent, worsening, or paired with breathing effort, collapse, or blue or pale gums, treat it like a real respiratory concern and get your dog checked.

Common reasons dogs cough a lot

Kennel cough and other contagious infections

“Kennel cough” is a common name for canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC). It can involve a mix of viruses and bacteria, including Bordetella bronchiseptica, parainfluenza, adenovirus-2, and others. Dogs can catch it anywhere dogs mingle, including daycare, parks, grooming, boarding, and training classes.

Common signs: sudden dry cough, honking, gagging, normal appetite in many cases, sometimes mild runny nose.
Why it matters: it is contagious, and a mild case can become more serious in puppies, seniors, or immunocompromised dogs.
Vaccines help: Bordetella and flu vaccines can reduce severity and spread, but they do not always prevent infection.

Many cases are self-limiting, but some need medication based on severity and your dog’s risk factors.

Allergies and irritants

Dogs can develop airway irritation from environmental allergies (pollens, molds, dust mites) or irritants like smoke, strong fragrances, cleaning sprays, and poor air quality.

Common signs: intermittent cough, throat clearing, sneezing, itchy skin or paws, watery eyes.
Helpful clue: symptoms may be seasonal or worse after cleaning, candles, or being outside.

Collapsing trachea (common in small dogs)

Tracheal collapse is more common in small breeds and mixes. The trachea becomes less rigid, and coughing is often triggered by excitement, pressure on the neck, or warm weather.

Common signs: honking cough, worse with pulling on a collar, excitement, or exercise.
Why it matters: management often includes weight control, a harness instead of a collar, and sometimes medications.

Heart disease and congestive heart failure

Some dogs with heart disease cough because an enlarged heart can press on the airways, or because fluid builds up in the lungs with congestive heart failure.

Common signs: coughing at night or when lying down, reduced stamina, fast breathing at rest, fainting episodes in more severe cases.
Important note: if you suspect heart-related signs, especially fast resting breathing or reduced stamina, do not wait it out. Seek veterinary care promptly.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia can develop from infection, aspiration (breathing in vomit, reflux, water, or food), or complications from other respiratory illnesses.

Common signs: wet cough, lethargy, fever, reduced appetite, faster or more labored breathing.
Why it matters: pneumonia can become serious quickly and typically needs veterinary treatment.

Chronic bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is often seen in middle-aged and senior dogs. It causes long-term airway inflammation and a persistent cough.

Common signs: cough lasting more than 2 months, often dry and harsh, worse with activity or excitement.

Foreign material, throat irritation, or laryngeal problems

A foxtail, grass blade, small toy piece, or other irritant can trigger frequent coughing, gagging, and pawing at the mouth. Older large-breed dogs can also have laryngeal paralysis, which affects airflow.

Common signs: sudden onset coughing, gagging, noisy breathing, distress, drooling, trouble swallowing.

Parasites (heartworm, lungworms in some regions)

Heartworm disease can cause coughing and exercise intolerance. Depending on geography and lifestyle, some dogs can also be exposed to lungworms.

Common signs: cough with exercise, fatigue, weight loss in more advanced cases.
Prevention matters: year-round parasite prevention and regular testing are key.

GI and swallowing issues (cough look-alikes)

Not every “cough” starts in the lungs. Some dogs gag, hack, or cough due to regurgitation, reflux, or swallowing problems. These can also raise concern for aspiration.

Common clues: coughing after eating or drinking, frequent lip licking, repeated swallowing, regurgitation (food comes up easily without active heaving).
Why it matters: aspiration can lead to pneumonia, especially in dogs with repeated regurgitation.

Flat-faced breed airway issues

Flat-faced dogs (like French Bulldogs, Pugs, and Bulldogs) can have brachycephalic airway syndrome, which can include noisy breathing, gagging, and coughing, especially with heat, stress, or exercise.

Masses (less common, more likely in older dogs)

In some cases, a tumor or mass in the chest, airway, or throat can trigger a chronic cough. This is not the most common cause, but it is one reason vets take persistent coughs seriously, especially in senior dogs.

When coughing is an emergency

Some coughing can wait for a same-day or next-day appointment. Other situations should be treated as urgent.

Go to an emergency vet now if you notice:

Breathing trouble: open-mouth breathing, belly heaving, obvious increased effort, or blue or pale gums
Collapse, fainting, or extreme weakness
Possible choking: sudden distress, pawing at mouth, inability to settle
Coughing up blood
A distended belly plus unproductive retching (this can be bloat, not a cough issue)

Call your vet promptly (today if possible) if:

Your dog’s cough is new and frequent, especially if it is worsening
Your dog is a puppy, senior, pregnant, or immunocompromised
There is fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, or nasal discharge
You count a resting respiratory rate consistently above about 30 breaths per minute while asleep or truly resting, especially if it is trending up or your dog looks like they are working harder to breathe

How to count breathing: watch the chest rise and fall. One rise and fall equals one breath. Count for 30 seconds and multiply by 2.

What your veterinarian may recommend

Because coughing has many causes, your vet will focus on matching the history and exam findings with the right diagnostics.

Physical exam and history: onset, triggers, vaccination status, exposure to other dogs, parasite prevention, and any vomiting, regurgitation, or gagging.
Chest X-rays: often the most helpful first step to evaluate lungs, airways, and heart size.
Heart testing: NT-proBNP blood test, echocardiogram, or ECG if heart disease is suspected.
Respiratory testing: PCR panels for infectious pathogens, especially if outbreaks are suspected.
Fecal tests or specific parasite tests: depending on region and risk.

Treatments vary widely and may include cough suppressants (only in appropriate cases), antibiotics when bacterial infection is likely, anti-inflammatory medications, bronchodilators, nebulization, heart medications, or supportive care.

Important safety point: cough suppressants can be a bad idea if your dog needs to clear fluid or infection from the lungs (like pneumonia). This is one reason self-treating at home can backfire.

Safe comfort steps at home

These tips can help your dog feel better while you arrange care, and they are also good prevention for irritated airways.

Do

Use a harness, not a neck collar, especially for small dogs or honking coughs.
Run a humidifier in the room where your dog sleeps if the air is dry.
Keep your dog calm and limit vigorous play until you know the cause.
Offer water frequently. If coughing triggers gagging, ask your vet whether small, frequent meals or softened food makes sense for your dog.
Avoid smoke and strong scents (candles, diffusers, heavy cleaners).
If you suspect kennel cough, limit contact with other dogs until your vet advises it is safe.

Avoid

Do not give human cough medicines unless your veterinarian specifically instructs you. Many common products can be dangerous for dogs.
Be cautious with honey in very young puppies and in pets with weakened immune systems. While honey may soothe mild throat irritation in some adult dogs, it is not a substitute for diagnosis if coughing is frequent. When in doubt, ask your vet before offering it.
Do not force exercise to “work it out.” If it is heart or pneumonia-related, that can make things worse.

If your dog is coughing enough that you are losing sleep, it is worth a vet visit. Persistent coughing is your dog’s way of asking for help.

Prevention tips that actually make a difference

Stay current on vaccinations recommended for your dog’s lifestyle, including Bordetella and canine influenza when appropriate.
Use heartworm prevention year-round and keep up with testing.
Maintain a healthy weight, especially for dogs prone to airway issues.
Choose low-dust products for bedding and consider a HEPA air purifier if allergies are suspected.
Groom and bathe thoughtfully to reduce allergens on the coat, using pet-safe products.

Quick checklist for your vet

Before your appointment, jot down:

When the cough started and whether it is getting worse
Dry vs wet cough, honking vs hacking, and any gagging
Triggers: exercise, excitement, lying down, eating, drinking
Any recent exposure to other dogs (boarding, daycare, grooming)
Vaccination and heartworm prevention status
Resting respiratory rate while asleep
Any nasal discharge, fever, appetite changes, vomiting, regurgitation, or lethargy

Those details help your veterinary team move faster toward the right answers and the right relief.

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