The first priorities in coughing dogs
| by Luca Ferasin, DVM PhD CertVC PGCert(HE) DipECVIM-CA (Cardiology) GPCert(B&PS) FRCVS (Specialist Veterinary Cardiology Consultancy, United Kingdom)
Cough is a wonderful natural reflex that protects the dog’s lungs.
Every time that a potential “offender” (foreign bodies, smoke, dust, etc) penetrates the airways, cough pushes it out with a forceful and loud expiration called “cough”.
Occasional cough is hardly ever a problem and a few isolated coughing episodes during the day can be completely normal. However, if cough becomes persistent and starts affecting the pet’s quality of life by interfering with normal daily activity
If cough is persistent, the vet should try to identify and eliminate the underlying cause. Cough should not be suppressed unless it is interfering with the quality of life. Several non-pharmacological interventions can be considered in the first instance for the management of persistent cough, as follows
If the dog does not improve following the above conservative interventions, pharmacological treatment (e.g. inhaled steroids, antibiotics, antitussives) should be discussed.
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