Why Is My Dog Coughing?
That Honking Cough Could Be More Than A Tickle
A goose-like honk in a small dog is often a sign of tracheal collapse, but kennel cough, heart disease, and other problems can sound similar. Here is how to tell what matters and when to call the vet.
First, Is This An Emergency?
Common Reasons Dogs Cough
| Sound Or Pattern | Often Linked To |
|---|---|
| Honking like a goose, small breed, worse with excitement or a collar | Tracheal collapse |
| Hacking cough after boarding or daycare | Kennel cough (infectious) |
| Soft cough at night or at rest, older dog, tires easily | Can be heart disease |
| Gagging after eating grass or a toy | Throat irritation or something stuck |
Only a vet can tell which one it is. A phone video of the cough helps a lot.
Guides
Dog Honking Cough
What a honking, goose-like cough in a dog can mean, what sets it off, and what to tell your vet.
Dog Coughing At Night
Why some dogs cough more at night or when lying down, and when it points to the heart or the airway.
Dog Coughing After Drinking Water
Why some dogs cough or gag after drinking, and what can help.
Honking Cough Or Heart Disease?
How airway coughs and heart-related coughs can differ in dogs, and why many small dogs have both.
When A Dog Cough Is An Emergency
The signs that mean a coughing dog needs an emergency vet right away.
Dog Coughing When Excited Or Pulling On The Leash
Why some small dogs honk and cough when they get excited, pull on the leash, or are picked up, and the calm habits that can head it off.
Dog Coughing More In Hot Weather
Why heat and humidity make some dogs with airway problems cough more, how to keep them comfortable in summer, and the heat stroke signs every owner should know.
Reverse Sneezing Or Tracheal Collapse Cough?
Two scary-sounding noises small dogs make, how veterinary schools describe each one, and what to bring to your vet so the two can be told apart.
See Practices Near You That Treat Tracheal Collapse
Enter your ZIP code and a few details about your dog. You will see every listed practice that serves your area and choose which ones, if any, get your information.
Find Practices Near MeCommon Questions
Why does my dog sound like a goose?
A honking cough is the classic sign of tracheal collapse in small dogs. See Honking Cough.
Is it kennel cough or something else?
Kennel cough usually starts after contact with other dogs and fades in a couple of weeks. A cough that lasts or keeps coming back needs a vet visit.
Why is the cough worse at night?
Lying down, heart enlargement, and airway problems can all play a part. See Cough At Night.
Where can I find a vet who treats tracheal collapse?
Use Find A Practice to see listed practices near your ZIP code.