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Canine and cough occurs when a dog’s throat, airway or lungs are irritated. There are so many causes of a cough that it is tricky to determine its exact cause. The range of causes includes irritation in the branches of the lungs (trachea or windpipe) to heart disease (associated with heart rhythm issues).The causes of the cough also varies by breed, age and size of your dog. Some general causes include: Symptom of Canine TuberculosisThe symptom of canine tuberculosis is moist and labored breathing in addition to cough. Dogs tend to contract the disease through inhalation. Canine Tuberculosis can spread from humans. It is difficult to diagnose and is often not treated. Diagnosis is based on a combination of tests including x-rays (check lungs), blood tests (white cell count) and an assessment of overall health. Many strains are anti-biotic resistant.Canine ParasitesHeartworms are transmitted by mosquito who has first bitten an infected dog and then transfers the parasites (called microfilariae) to another host dog. The disease usually takes 6 months to take hold. The dog starts to cough due to restricted blood flow to the heart. Even a simple walk from one part of the house to the next could result in a cough. Common treatment is a tablet taken year round to prevent this and other worms such as whipworm and hookworm.Roundworms reside in the dog’s intestine. Dogs come in contact with the larval worms when they lick or injest soil. Puppies can get the disease from mothers milk. Worms are 3 to 5 inches in length. The worms move into the lungs, windpipe and then are injested into the intestine. You can tell if your dog has roundworm if they vomit up a worm (they are long and white), has a bout with diarrhea, or by testing the feces. Roundworm is easily treated through over the counter medicines (Invermectin as in HeartgaurdTM) or prescription such as fenbendazole (Panacur Rx). Distemper (virus)A dry cough is the first stage of a disease called distemper. Signs include listless behavior, fever and a yellow discharbe from nose and eyes. Most dogs receive a vaccine to avoid this disease. Puppies are at risk until vaccinated with an 80% mortality rate.Canine and Cough and AllergiesLike humans, canine and cough can develop an allergic cough to pollen, dust, mold and insect bites.These can be life long conditions and there is no cure. If you can't remove the allergen from the dog's environment, immunitherapy (allergy shots) can be used. In this approach, the dog is injected with small and overtime increasing dossages of the allergen in order to improve tollerance. Immunitherapy works for approximately 75% of dogs. Heart Disease and CoughTo diagnose heart disease your Veterinarian will do an electrocardiogram, a heart ultrasound to see inside the heart. Your dog's Dr. will look for an enlargement of the heart that places pressure on the airways causing the cough.Retrum from Canine and Cough to Home
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