Is your Pet Coughing, Sneezing or Experiencing other Respiratory Symptoms?

Symptom Definition

Coughing is when air is forced from the lungs through the mouth, and is often accompanied by a sound that may be soft and quiet or loud and harsh. Sneezing is sudden and involuntary air expulsion from the nose and mouth. Reverse sneezing is a series of quick inhalations through the nose and is often loud and dramatic in appearance.

Causes May Include:

Allergies
Irritants (dust, smoke, etc)
Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC), also known as kennel cough
Pneumonia
Asthma, bronchitis
Heart disease
Heartworm disease
Tracheal collapse
Airway foreign bodies, migrating plant material (cheatgrass, foxtails, grass blades)

When to Act

Contact Emergency Care if:

If your pet is having difficulty breathing
If your pet is experiencing a persistently increased respiratory rate (>40 breaths per minute)
If your pet is coughing and has other concurrent clinical signs of illness which may include: low energy, a decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
Fever of >103F (rectal temperatures are most accurate if possible)
If your pet has a weak immune system (examples include animals less than 1 year old, your pet has a chronic disease, your pet has cancer, your pet is being treated with chemotherapies or immunosuppressive medications)

What to Do

Call your family veterinarian or Urgent Care within 24 hours if:

Your pet is unable to sleep through the night due to a cough
A cough is increasing in frequency
Sneezing with no other symptoms of malaise

Cats should always be assessed by a veterinarian for coughing
If they are otherwise behaving normally, you may schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. If you are concerned they are having a life-threatening emergency please see us here at VRCCO.

Home Care & Advice

Kennel cough is one of the most common causes of coughing in dogs. It is caused by both viruses and bacteria. Dogs who frequent dog parks, who go to daycare, stay at a boarding facility, or get groomed are all at higher risk. Dogs with kennel cough usually have a cough with a terminal retch, at which point they may hack up some foam or a small amount of fluid. They have normal appetites, energy and are otherwise behaving completely normal. These coughs are usually self-limiting and dogs feel better in 2-3 days. If you suspect your dog has kennel cough, please keep them separate from other dogs for 14 days to help reduce the spread of a contagious respiratory illness.

The Bordetella vaccine helps prevent kennel cough from a very common and contagious bacteria. There are also vaccines to protect your dog from Canine Parainfluenza virus and Canine Adenovirus. Please speak to your veterinarian regarding the best vaccinations for your pet.

Reverse sneezing may appear dramatic but is generally benign and does not warrant a trip to urgent care or the emergency department.

Counting Your Pet’s Respiratory Rate

To count your pet’s respiratory rate you can count the number of times their chest rises in 1 minute. If this number is >50 you should seek veterinary care.