Coughing is the body’s approach to getting rid of any irritants in the airway. Your puppy explores the world with its nose and mouth.
Therefore, it’s highly likely to encounter lots of irritants like germs, dirt, tiny bugs, bits of grass, and other particles. When it breathes in or ingests these irritants, it will cough to expel them and everything will go back to normal.
However, there are times when the puppy will cough frequently and seemingly without cause. You’ll find yourself wondering, “Why is my puppy coughing and gagging?” In this post, DeSoto’s leading vet clinic covers all the possible causes.
Foreign Object Lodged in the Throat
Puppies are extremely curious beings. Therefore, it’s not uncommon for them to swallow things they shouldn’t. Even when they are not actively trying to eat sticks or bones, simply playing with them can lead to splinters lodging in their throat. In that situation, the dog will cough and gag in an attempt to clear out the blockage.
However, if the foreign object is lodged too tightly in the throat, the dog will struggle with clearing it. So, when you spot your puppy coughing and gagging, the first thing you should do is look for objects it possibly ate or chewed on that may have lodged in its throat.
If you find such evidence, you should seek veterinary care for your dog, as such blockages to the airway can cause an infection or even be fatal. Clearing the puppy’s airways is up there when it comes to what a veterinarian can do for your pets.
Environmental Allergens
If you think allergens only affect humans, think again! Pollen, fungi, smoke, and other airborne contaminants can all trigger coughing in your dog. If your dog has allergies, you should consider keeping them indoors during the peak of allergy season.
Your veterinarian can also recommend medications that can help alleviate the symptoms of the disease.
Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is a disease responsible for many cases of coughing in puppies. You can identify this type of cough by listening for a dry, hacking cough that also feels like the puppy has something stuck in its throat.
Kennel cough is a contagious disease. Therefore, your puppy might get it from mingling with other dogs. Thankfully, kennel cough doesn’t cause major problems in most cases. Most puppies should recover within three weeks. However, it may lead to other conditions in dogs that are not in great health.
You can protect your puppy from kennel cough by making sure they are up to date on their kennel cough vaccines.
Issues with the Respiratory Tract or Lungs
As with humans, dogs can suffer from pneumonia and other infections of the airways. Dog flu and canine influenza are pretty common. These conditions can cause coughing and gagging, wheezing, and labored breathing.
Your vet will catch and treat a lung or respiratory infection quickly, especially if you take the puppy for treatment early.
Canine Chronic Bronchitis
Canine chronic bronchitis occurs when the puppy’s lower airways are permanently inflamed. This will cause the puppy to cough and gag frequently. If you’ve been wondering, “Why is my puppy coughing and gagging?” for more than six weeks, there’s a high chance you’re looking at canine chronic bronchitis.
Unfortunately, this condition never resolves. Therefore, the treatment will focus on addressing your puppy’s symptoms.
Laryngitis
This condition can be caused by infections, allergies, and other medical conditions. It causes a harsh, dry cough that may soften over time. It also causes noisy breathing and a significant change in the sound of your puppy’s barking.
Heart Disease
Heart disease and heart problems can cause coughing and gagging in puppies. Thickened and weakened heart muscles can put significant pressure on a dog’s lungs.
Other symptoms that may confirm that your dog is dealing with a heart condition include shortness of breath, visible tiredness, loss of weight, or even collapse. Vets treat heart disease through medication, a change in diet, and added exercise.
Fungal Infections
Puppies can develop fungal infections by picking up yeast and other fungi while playing in the dirt or dipping their face into stagnant water.
Some fungal infections can cause cough, laryngeal paralysis, and a high fever. Most vets will recommend medication targeted at treating the infection.
Lungworm
Your puppy might contract lungworm after eating snails or slugs. Once inside the body, the worm will invade the puppy’s heart and blood vessels.
Aside from coughing and gagging, other common symptoms of lungworm infection include bleeding, labored breathing, and weight loss. Treatment for the condition involves a round of medications aimed at eliminating the worm.
Heartworm
Heartworm is another parasitic disease spread through mosquito bites. The symptoms include coughing and gagging, weight loss, and tiredness. Vets treat the condition with injections and medications administered monthly.
Canine Distemper
This is a highly contagious, airborne viral infection. The symptoms include coughing, fever, lethargy, sickness, and diarrhea. You can protect your dog against canine distemper through regular booster vaccinations.
Tracheal Collapse
This is a progressive disease that affects the trachea. Toy breeds are most at risk and the disease requires long-term treatment.
When Is Your Dog Coughing and Gagging an Emergency?
It’s often hard to know if your puppy’s episode of coughing will pass or if you’re dealing with an emergency. However, the alarm bells should ring if you notice any persistent coughing. Some of the causes are easy to treat but will lead to serious issues if ignored long enough. Others are emergencies.
You should treat your dog coughing and gagging as an emergency if:
- You can see evidence of ingested foreign object
- You can see some bleeding through the mouth
- The cough isn’t letting up
In these cases, you should head to the vet as fast as possible.
Get Your Puppy the Help It Needs
Are you still wondering, “Why is my puppy coughing and gagging?” Do you want to take your dog to the vet to treat a persistent cough?
Call Penny Paws Animal Clinic in DeSoto, TX, today at (469) 807-3030 or visit our contact page to schedule an appointment. We also accept walk-ins!