My dog keeps coughing

[pitsRus]

I recently returned from a trip, and i took my dog, but on the way over here it rained and he got wet, and then when i woke up in the morning he was coughing, like he had some mucus or somthing stuck in his throat, so now im wondering if its cause he's gotten sick from the rain and its a cold, or if its something worse. Anyone have any ideas of what it can be. Thanks.

[jasong]

it could be kennel cough and yiou should get it checked out soon. It may be nothing but if it is kennel cough he can be treated and be back to normal soon.

[dogmanduke82]

Okay what is kennel cough... and what are signs of it..

[Bluepit50]

There's been a few times were 1 of my dogs would have a cough going for a few days. A couple times they got it from sleeping in a crate that was near a cold draft from a wall, I just never noticed the draft until I investigated why they had a cough. With my dogs it has always been from getting alittle sick from cold or being wet and always went away from 1-3 days. Dogs can get that kennel cough also, it's a more serious type of virus that can be easily spread to other dogs.

[SWAMPER]

We Had 1 Coughing And It Was Heart Worms But It Was More Like A Gag.........

[miakoda]

First off, go ahead & take him to the vet. Several things can make your dog cough....1. heartworms--dogs with advanced heartworm disease can begin coughing (if you're dog is on hw preventative, which is should be since Ivomec is oh so cheap, you have nothing to fear from this one) 2)kennel cough (bronchitis--nicknamed kennel cough since this disease is often spread by dogs at a boarding kennel or groomers) 3. other heart conditions 4. just plain ole allergies (etc). While knowing what MIGHT can cause your dog to cough is good, having your vet check him out is the BEST


Edit: also, whipworms can cause your dog to cough

[B]

Some other worms life cycle includes hatching in the lungs (warm and moist) and crawling up the wind pipe to be swallowed. Many times a coughing dog is showing classic signs of worms. That is why initial worming must be done every week or two for the first month. The wormer will not kill any worm that is moving through the lung / wind pipe. Even if you kill the intestinal worms, a swallowed worm can restart the whole cycle by depositing eggs into the blood stream. If it is a mild cough that is frequent I would worm the dog several weeks straight with Nemex-2 or a generic form. I prefer Drontal + all wormer because it gets any GI worm. If you hear a wheezing or a mucus sound I would get the dog on antibiotics if you know what you are doing or bring the dog in to the vet. Untreated could result in liquid build up in the lungs and eventual MAJOR health issues. Best luck, and if worse comes to worse, take the dog to the vet.

B

[GD2]

HERE IS SOME INFO ON

KENNEL COUGH

Infectious tracheobronchitis or kennel cough, as it is commonly called, is a very common
disease that affects the respiratory tract of dogs. Since it is easily spread via the
air, it is usually a problem in places where there is a high number of dogs. Such places
include, boarding kennels, shelters, groomers, obedience classes, etc. This article
will discuss the common causes of kennel cough as well as the signs, diagnosis, treatment,
and prevention of the disease.

Cause. Kennel cough is not caused by any one specific bacteria or virus. In
most cases there is the involvement of a bacteria and a virus. Viruses that have been
known to cause kennel cough include canine Adenovirus-2, Parainfluenza, canine distemper
virus, canine Herpes virus, and canine Reovirus. The bacteria involved is most often
Bordetella, but can be E. Coli or Klebsiella, as well as others.

Signs. The most common sign seen is a dry, hacking cough. It may sound as if
the animal is choking on something. Depending on the severity and progression of the
disease, the affected dog may also be lethargic or depressed, not eating very well, have
green or yellow nasal or ocular discharge, and even have a fever. Pneumonia can often
times be a serious complication of kennel cough.

Diagnosis. Often times a good physical exam and the past history of the dog can
provide a fairly accurate diagnosis of kennel cough. Sometimes it may be necessary to
do bloodwork, cultures, radiographs, and other advanced diagnostic tests.

Treatment. For the most part, kennel cough is a self-limiting disease. This
means that it will generally go away on its own. Certain cough medications may be given
to stop the cough, as long as the cough is non-productive. In most instances, dogs are
put on antibiotics to help to prevent a secondary bacterial pneumonia from occuring.
In advanced or complicated cases of kennel cough, additional supportive treatment is
often needed.

Prevention. There are three major things that can be done to prevent your dogs
from contracting kennel cough. First of all is vaccination. Most of the distemper
vaccinations on the market are combination vaccines that vaccinate for the viruses
most commonly involved in kennel cough. There are also several vaccines available for
Bordetella, the bacteria that can cause kennel cough. All puppies should receive a
series of distemper vaccines, every three week, from age 7-8 weeks to 16 weeks. All
dogs should be boostered annually after that. An annual Bordetella vaccination is
recommended for dogs that will frequently be exposed to other dogs (boarding, obedience,
grooming, etc.). Secondly, if there is an outbreak, sick animals should be isolated
away from other dogs, since it is spread so easy. And thirdly, in buildings that house
a lot of dogs, careful cleaning and good sanitary measures should be practiced.


The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not
intended to take the place of your regular veterinarian. Please do not hesitate
to contact your regular veterinarian if you have questions regarding your pet.

[pitsRus]

yea he coughs but its not repeatedly more like 5 or 6 times a day, but i am gonna take him to the vet on thurs.

[GrCh_Jeff]

yeah..take him to the vet.better safe than sorry