We hate hearing our dog coughing. It’s never a good thing. Either he’s sick, he’s got something stuck in his throat, or there’s something really wrong.

The checklist

This week, Booker started coughing one evening. We’ve had dogs and know way too much about them to panic right away – but you do start going through the list in your brain:

• Where were we?
• Did he eat something off the ground?
• What dogs has he interacted with lately?
• When did this start?
• Are the other dogs going to get it?
• Should we take him to the vet now or wait and see?

Because he seemed otherwise normal, we opted to wait a day and see how he was. We gave him a little honey to soothe his throat. But he was eating, playing, and acting pretty normal, aside from a bit tired.

Time to get help

The next morning his cough had worsened, so off Fran and Booker went to the vet. Our vet is pretty old school – definitely a “no panic” zone. She checked him out – no fever, clear lungs. She prescribed a cough suppressant and sent us on our way with instructions to follow up in a couple of days. Earlier if he got worse.

With the medication, Booker’s only coughing now when he chases the puppy around the yard. Apparently exertion irritates whatever’s going on. The virus he picked up someplace doing something has to run its course. As long as he improves, we’re happy.

What are the signs

There are several different kinds of coughs – each one signalling a different issue.

The deep, dry hacking cough means the dog’s upper airway is irritated and is a symptom of Kennel Cough, which is a highly-contagious virus.

A high-pitched, gagging cough may mean the dog’s airway or throat is irritated.

A wet-sounding cough may be a sign that the lungs and possible pneumonia.

A deep, honking cough is one of the signs of heart disease.

Wait and see

Most vets will say to wait a day or so and see if the cough improves on its own. If it’s just an irritation, it may disappear overnight, or after a meal.

If the cough worsens, or if your dog’s behavior changes, it’s time to go to the vet and find out what’s going on. While Booker’s cough wasn’t horrible, it was clearly worse the next day and he didn’t feel good.

Worry or not?

There are many different causes for dog coughing, some are concerns, others not as much.

Don’t worry: If your dog coughs occasionally, there’s no need to be concerned. Like us, their throats can get dry or irritated. Or there may be an obvious trigger – a dog that always pulls on leash may cough. It may be time to change that collar for a harness away from his/her throat before any damage is done. Some people will also describe reverse sneezing as a coughing sound.

Worry a little: Coughs may also be caused by infections, including canine flu and kennel cough. A viral infection has to run its course, so supportive care is called for. A bacterial infection can be treated with antibiotics.

Worry: Coughing can also be caused by heartworm infestation, collapsing trachea, laryngeal paralysis, or heart disease. Which is why a visit to the vet is called for if you see no improvement in a day or two.

On the road to recovery

Booker feels better and is back to being his normal self. We’re hoping he’ll be back at “school” next week. Mostly because he’s a non-stop dog. After class, he comes home and takes a nap. We love that.