Why Does My Dog Cough Like He Has Something Stuck In His Throat? (Vet Answer)

If your dog has begun coughing as if something is trapped in his throat and you are concerned, there are several possible causes. We will discuss the most common causes of this behavior and provide you with advice on how to assist your dog.

The most frequent causes of a dog coughing as if something is on the back of the larynx are:

• Viral Infection
• Kennel Cough
• Tracheal Collapse

Viral Infection

Several viruses affect the respiratory system or challenge the immune system of your dog, and they are typically the precursors to kennel cough.

These are just a few:

• Canine parainfluenza virus
• Type II adenovirus in dogs

Should I Take My Dog to the Vet?

Depending on the situation, kennel cough is typically not a cause for concern as the majority of cases will run their course. If your dog is active and feeding ordinarily and only coughs, there is no need to rush him to the veterinarian. Normal are a congested nostril and some ocular secretions. However, if your dog exhibits other symptoms such as difficulty breathing, lethargy, fever, or refusal to feed, please transport him to the veterinarian immediately. If your dog’s condition worsens instead of improving, please take him to the veterinarian.

What Can I Do to Assist My Pet?

You can do a number of things to aid your dog’s recovery from kennel pneumonia and make them more comfortable. In these instances, focusing on maintaining a robust immune system can go a long way. Among the various activities you can do:

• To prevent irritation of the trachea, remove their collar or replace it with a harness.
• Increasing the air’s humidity to help relieve the upper respiratory tract by using a humidifier or, if you don’t have one, by bringing the dog into the restroom and giving him a hot shower.
• 2-3 times per day, give your dog one teaspoon of manuka honey for every 10 to 20 pounds of body weight. Honey can help calm your dog’s coughing and comfort his larynx.
• Consult your veterinarian about vitamin C supplementation for your dog.
• Consult your veterinarian about giving your dog supplements such as L-lysine.
• Ensure that your dog has access to an ample amount of fresh water to help keep their larynx moist and reduce wheezing.
• Utilize a steam vaporizer: A steam vaporizer can assist in moistening the air and alleviating wheezing. Place the vaporizer in the room in which your dog spends the most time.
• Provide a comfortable and stress-free environment: Ensure that your dog has a comfortable place to unwind and do your best to minimize stress. Stress can impair your dog’s immune system and make recovery more difficult.

Kennel Cough

Kennel cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can spread swiftly in environments where many canines are housed closely together. It can be caused by numerous microorganisms, including the Bordatella bronchiseptica bacteria, the canine adenovirus, the parainfluenza virus, and mycoplasma. The bordetella bacterium, the most prevalent cause of kennel cough, is susceptible to vaccination.

It is crucial to recognize the symptoms of kennel cough and seek treatment without delay. Symptoms of kennel cough include a persistent dry, hacking cough, nighttime wheezing that keeps you and your dog awake, retching accompanied by the production of white froth, and tracheal sensitivity. In extreme cases, symptoms include lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, and labored breathing.

The standard treatment for moderate cases of kennel cough is one or two weeks of recuperation. The veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics to prevent secondary infections and respiratory suppressants to alleviate symptoms. When walking a dog with kennel cough, it is preferable for owners to use a harness instead of a collar, as irritation of the tracheal can exacerbate the cough and potentially cause tracheal damage.

How did my pet become infected?

According to TodaysVeterinaryPractice, Bordetella bronchiseptica is a gram-negative, aerobic coccobacillus that is often implicated as a complicating factor in dogs with concurrent viral respiratory infections. After B. bronchiseptica colonizes the airways, it can evade the immune system by expressing various virulence factors that lead to direct cellular injury of respiratory epithelium, impaired immune recognition and disrupted immune clearance.

One of the most unique and important effects of these virulence factors is the ability to paralyze the mucociliary apparatus—a key component of the respiratory tract’s local defense mechanisms—and create acquired ciliary dysfunction. By paralyzing the cilia, B. bronchiseptica not only improves its own virulence and chance for colonization, but also predisposes the patient to opportunistic infections of the lower respiratory tract.

Bordetella bronchiseptica is highly contagious and easily transmitted through the air or direct contact. Symptoms can appear 2-14 days after the initial infection. If your dog has been exposed to other dogs, visited a groomer, a shelter, a doggie hotel, or has been under duress within the past two weeks, it’s possible that he has kennel cough.

Should I Take My Dog to a Veterinarian?

The majority of cases of kennel cough will resolve on their own; however, because it is highly contagious, a dog with kennel cough must be isolated from other canines to prevent transmission.

Kennel cough may be accompanied by a runny snout and some ocular discharge, but other than that, most canines’ activity and appetite appear normal.

Please bring your dog to the veterinarian if the cough is accompanied by other symptoms such as lethargy, fever, or loss of appetite, as this could be a sign of a complication that could lead to pneumonia or another respiratory disease.

If the coughing sounds like something is trapped in the dog’s larynx, or if a honking cough is the only symptom and the dog appears otherwise healthy, there is no immediate cause for concern. In about a week or two, if you maintain the dog’s isolation and adhere to the recommendations, you should notice improvement.

Vaccinating your dog regularly is one of the best methods to prevent kennel pneumonia. Vaccines are available against certain infectious tracheobronchitis agents, such as Bordetella bronchiseptica and certain viral diseases. Vaccination may be advantageous for canines who socialize or visit facilities (boarding, grooming, day care, dog parks, etc.) or events with many other dogs. Numerous training, lodging, and daycare facilities require vaccination documentation.

Another method of preventing kennel cough is disinfecting carriers, bedding, and dishes after returning from dog shows. During exhibitions, canines should not be permitted to have nose-to-nose contact with other dogs or imbibe from shared water sources. Handlers should cleanse their hands between each interaction with a dog.

How Long Should My Dog Be Kept In Isolation?

Symptoms of kennel cough typically subside after two to three weeks, or up to six weeks in immunocompromised or senior canines. It is essential to note, however, that a dog can remain infectious for up to 14 weeks after symptom resolution.

What can I Do To Assist My Dog?

There are a number of home remedies that can alleviate kennel cough symptoms and make your dog more comfortable. Among these treatments are:

1. To prevent irritation of the trachea, remove the dog’s collar or replace it with a harness.
2. Increasing the air’s humidity to help relieve the upper respiratory tract by using a humidifier or, if you don’t have one, by bringing the dog into the restroom and giving him a hot shower.
3. 2-3 times per day, give your dog one teaspoon of manuka honey for every 10 to 20 pounds of body weight. Honey can help calm your dog’s coughing and comfort his larynx.
4. Consult your veterinarian about vitamin C supplementation for your dog.
5. Environmental irritants such as scented candles, air fresheners, cigarette smoke, flue smoke, and any chemical irritant should be avoided.

Tracheal Collapse

Tracheal collapse is a progressive, chronic disease of the trachea that primarily impacts small canines such as Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, and Toy Poodles. This disease has a genetic predisposition for these breeds, but it could also affect other dogs. Coughing as if something is trapped in the larynx or having a honking-type cough is one of the first signs of this progressive disease, so if your dog belongs to one of these breeds and has reached middle age, this is likely the cause.

When the cartilage rings that support the trachea lose strength and rigidity, tracheal collapse occurs, causing the trachea to flatten and constrict. This can lead to respiratory difficulties and persistent coughing. Multiple unspecified factors are believed to be the underlying cause of tracheal collapse, but a genetic component may be involved, as small-breed canines are the most commonly affected.

Should I Take My Dog to a Veterinarian?

Yes, if you suspect that your dog has tracheal collapse, it is imperative that they be evaluated by a veterinarian. A veterinarian can assess the severity of a problem and recommend appropriate treatment. Severe cases of tracheal collapse may necessitate complex surgery; therefore, it is crucial to prevent the onset and progression of the condition.

What can I Do To Assist My Dog?

There are a number of things you can do to assist your dog in the event of tracheal collapse:

• Never use collars on tiny breed canines; instead, utilize a harness. This will aid in preventing tracheal irritation.
• Environmental irritants such as scented candles, air fresheners, cigarette smoke, flue smoke, and any chemical irritant should be avoided.
• Consult your veterinarian about giving your dog glucosamine and chondroitin supplements. As a preventative measure, this should be administered to offspring of these breeds, and it can be beneficial during the early phases of the degeneration.

Here are three more methods that you can assist your dog:

• Ensure that your dog has access to an ample amount of fresh water to help keep their larynx moist and reduce wheezing.
• Utilize a steam vaporizer: A steam vaporizer can assist in moistening the air and alleviating wheezing. Place the vaporizer in the room in which your dog spends the most time.
• Provide a comfortable and stress-free environment: Ensure that your dog has a comfortable place to unwind and do your best to minimize stress. Stress can impair your dog’s immune system and make recovery more difficult.

Conclusion

Kennel cough is a highly contagious but typically self-limiting infection that causes dogs to wheeze as if something is caught in their airway. In canines without other symptoms, this is typically not a major cause for concern. In the case of smaller-breed canines, coughing that sounds like something is trapped in the throat can also be an early sign of tracheal collapse, and the problem should be addressed as soon as possible to increase the likelihood of successful management without the need for intricate surgery.