Dog coughing as if he had something stuck: causes and solutions

When a dog coughs strangely, as if he has something stuck in his throat, concern quickly grows. This particular cough, often described as a dry, hoarse or “strangled” attack, can have several origins. Some situations require a quick reaction, others require long-term veterinary monitoring. As a veterinarian, I regularly receive these types of cases in the clinic. You will see that understanding the origin of this cough and knowing how to react will allow you to limit complications and help your dog quickly regain comfort.

Quick summary:

Is your dog coughing like he’s choking? Before you panic, here are the points you need to know to understand the situation and act effectively:

• A sudden cough may signal a foreign body or infection
• Some breeds are more prone to respiratory problems
• A chronic cough can hide cardiac or parasitic diseases
• Observation of associated signs helps guide the diagnosis
• A quick consultation avoid serious complications

Recognizing an Abnormal Cough in Dogs

A dog may cough for many reasons, including simply because he swallowed poorly. But when the cough recurs, lasts for several hours or even days, or seems painful or worrisome, you need to pay attention.

The characteristics to observe are the following:

• It’s the cough dried OR grass ?
• Does it occur at specific times: after physical activity, at night, on a leash?
• And her? punctual OR recurring ?
• Are there any signs that accompany the cough? (fatigue, nausea, voice change, rapid breathing, etc.)

These elements will help you better describe the situation to your veterinarian and speed up the diagnosis.

The main causes of “strangled” cough.

A cough that makes your dog sound like something is blocked is not a disease itself, but a symptom. It can be linked to a mechanical, infectious, allergic or even cardiac problem. Here are the causes that I encounter most often in consultation.

Foreign body in the respiratory tract

A piece of wood, a seed, a twig or a badly chewed toy can get stuck in the throat or airway. This situation often manifests itself as a violent and sudden cough, sometimes accompanied by retching, panic or excessive salivation.

The dog tries to spit out the object, shakes his head, seems distressed. In this case, you need to consult urgently, because the obstruction can progress rapidly and interfere with breathing.

Tracheal collapse in small dogs

In some small breeds (Yorkshire Terrier, Pomeranian, Spitz, Chihuahua), the trachea may partially collapse due to weakness of the cartilaginous rings. This is called tracheal collapse.

This problem causes a chronic, hoarse coughoften described as sounding like a duck. It appears during physical activity, when the leash is pulled or when the dog gets excited. While it does not immediately endanger the dog’s life, it requires veterinary care, sometimes with medications, sometimes with surgery.

Kennel cough: a very contagious infection

If your dog regularly frequents other dogs (kennel, shelter, kennel, dog park), he could contract it canine infectious tracheobronchitisalso called “kennel cough”.

It is characterized by a Dry, irritating, very strong coughoften initially without fever. It is a highly contagious viral or bacterial disease, which can progress to pulmonary complications if left untreated. Vaccination exists and remains the best way to limit risks.

Allergies and environmental irritants

Like us, dogs can be sensitive to airborne particles: dust, cigarette smoke, indoor perfumes, household products or pollen. Allergies can also occur if you give your dog atypical foods, such as spirulina, hence the importance of testing each new food gradually.

Inhalation of these substances causes a reflex cough, dry or wet, sometimes accompanied by sneezing, runny nose or itching. In these cases the key is to do it identify and eliminate the allergenand to relieve inflammation if necessary.

Heart problems in older dogs

With age, some dogs develop heart disease (mitral insufficiency, cardiomyopathy, etc.), which causes increase in the size of the heart. This can then compress the main bronchi, causing a regular cough.

This cough is often oily, more pronounced at nightand is sometimes accompanied by exertional fatigue, heart murmur, or abnormal breathing rhythm. In these cases, cardiac treatment helps limit the progression of the disease and improve the dog’s comfort of life.

Lung parasites: a silent danger

Some verses, likeAngiostrongillus vessels or the ver du cœur (Dirofilaria immitis)they can migrate to the lungs and cause persistent cough, sometimes accompanied by more serious breathing problems.

These parasites are transmitted by vectors (snails, mosquitoes) and are present in several regions of France. It is necessary to implement prevention appropriate to the place where you live.

Summary of causes by symptoms

Here is a comparative table of the main causes of coughing in dogs, with the associated signs and estimated level of urgency:

What should you do if your dog coughs like he’s choking?

The first thing to do: stay calm. Avoid attempting dangerous movements in your dog’s mouth. You risk hurting him or making the situation worse.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Observe the situationnote the circumstances of the activation (meal, game, walk, etc.).
2. Film the cough if you can: this helps a lot in consultation.
3. Watch out for other signs : breathing, temperature, appetite, behavior.
4. If the cough persists beyond a few hours, call your vet. Even out of hours some offices organize availability hours.

Do not administer syrups or drugs for human use. Some are dangerous, even toxic to dogs.

Preventing coughing in dogs

It is best to prevent the problem from occurring, especially if your dog is fragile or predisposed. Here are some simple steps to take.

• Use a harness instead of the collar to avoid pressure on the trachea, as recommended by the AEF
• Vaccinate your dog against kennel cough, especially if it is near other animals.
• Avoid irritating products at home (aerosols, perfumes, incense, etc.).
• Check toys and chewed objectsto avoid foreign bodies.
• Adapt your pest control programdepending on the region and the risks present.

A cough in dogs that suggests strangulation or a stuck object can hide several realities. Foreign body, infection, heart problem or fragile trachea: we must act without panicking, but without waiting. Observe carefully, contact your vet as soon as the cough persists or worsens and implement good prevention.