Dog cough: possible triggers and tips for treatment
Coughing is not uncommon in dogs and can be caused by many different triggers. In most cases, a dog cough is relatively harmless. Nevertheless, the symptoms should not be ignored and should be treated with the right methods.
In the following, you will learn what can be responsible for dog cough, in which cases a visit to the vet is advisable and how you can counteract the cough in your four-legged friend.
Possible causes for dog cough
There are numerous triggers that can be responsible for dog cough. Apart from comparatively harmless complaints such as colds, there are also some serious causes.
For example, if your dog has a cough, it may have the following causes:
- Respiratory diseases
- Colds
- Allergies
- Inhaled foreign bodies
- Parasites
- Heart and lung diseases
Dog cough due to a respiratory disease
Dry coughing and choking in the dog may indicate that the discomfort is caused by a respiratory disease. A possible disease that could be a cause is, for example, is the quite common kennel cough.
A cold as a trigger for dog cough
Not only people but also dogs can catch a cold. The symptoms are quite similar to those in our country so a dog that has a cold has to cough, among other things. If the dog cough is caused by a simple cold, it is usually harmless and the cough disappears by itself in a few days.
Allergies as the cause of dog cough
Besides respiratory diseases and colds, allergies can also be responsible for the occurrence of coughs in dogs. This is because an allergy often leads to asthma, which is associated with coughing, among other things.
Dog cough due to inhaled foreign bodies
When romping and playing, it is not uncommon for dogs to inhale foreign bodies. These can be, for example, small pieces of plants or dirt particles. Since inhaled foreign bodies disturb breathing, they inevitably lead to coughing in dogs.
Parasites as a reason for dog cough
Worms and giardia are widespread in dogs. Most dog owners will probably think of digestive problems in this context. However, there are also types of worms that can affect other organs of the dog, causing coughing and a number of other symptoms.
Dog cough due to heart and lung disease
The reasons for dog cough are not always harmless and it is quite possible that the cough is the symptom of a serious disease of the heart or lungs. If this is the case, coughing often leads to sputum. In the case of lung diseases, the sputum is usually yellowish, while in the case of heart disease it is often reddish in colour.
How can dog cough be treated?
Whether treatment of dog cough is necessary and which remedies are used depends mainly on its trigger. Occasional coughing, which does not cause any additional discomfort, does not require specific treatment in most cases.
It is possible that the air in your home is simply a little dry. Especially in winter, this can quite often lead to irritation of the respiratory tract and can usually be remedied very easily by setting up a humidifier.
When dog cough is a case for the vet
If your dog's cough persists for a long time, a visit to the vet is advisable. The veterinarian can examine your four-legged friend thoroughly and thus determine the cause of the dog cough.
Depending on the results of the examination, it can then be determined what treatment measures need to be taken. If dog cough is caused by an allergy, for example, contact with the responsible allergen must be avoided in the first instance. In addition, if necessary, treatment with medication such as antihistamines can help to counteract the allergy and thus also the dog cough.
Similarly, heart and lung diseases and infection with heartworms as a cause of coughing in dogs are also common. Here too, the first priority is to treat the basic problem in order to eliminate dog cough. After all, coughing is not a disease in itself, but merely a symptom that indicates an illness.
Soothe dog cough with cough expectorant
In the case of a severe cough, it can make sense to counteract the dog's symptoms with a cough expectorant. As with all other medicines, it goes without saying that only special medicines for dogs should be used.
In addition, inhalation with chamomile can help to calm the respiratory tract and relieve the four-legged friend's cough.
However, whether the use of a cough expectorant or inhalations can accompany the treatment sensibly depends on the actual trigger of the cough in your dog. It is therefore best to consult your vet in advance.
A strong immune system prevents dog cough
A weakened immune system facilitates the penetration of pathogens. This makes your dog more susceptible to diseases, which can sometimes manifest themselves as dog cough.
To prevent this, it is important that you strengthen your dog's immune system. In addition to avoiding stress and supplying a balanced diet, the use of a suitable food supplement such as Bellfor Immun can be useful for this purpose.
Bellfor Immun is a natural preparation with selected medicinal plants, propolis and insect protein. The special ingredients contain numerous valuable micronutrients and amino acids that can support your dog's immune system in a digestible way.
In this way, Bellfor Immun helps to reduce your dog's susceptibility to infections and promotes recovery from existing problems, such as kennel coughs or colds.
Our conclusion on the subject of dog cough
As you can see, coughing in dogs can have many different causes. From harmless respiratory irritation and colds to dangerous problems with the lungs or heart, there are many possible causes of dog cough.
Knowing the exact trigger is essential for effective treatment. A visit to the vet is therefore mandatory in the case of severe or prolonged dog coughing. Only a specialist is able to make a reliable diagnosis and determine the right treatment measures on this basis.
Apart from this, in the colder months of the year, it can be useful to supplement your dog's diet with Bellfor Immune. This purely natural food supplement helps to strengthen your dog's immune system and thus counteract infections that can cause complaints such as dog cough.
Leave your comment