Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.
Coughing is a natural response to irritation or abnormality in the airway. A cough is the body’s way of clearing the airway. When the effort is successful, the coughing stops. However, if the problem persists, so does the cough. Which also tells you when you should be concerned. Our dogs often cough a few times when drinking from a bottle…
For an infectious agent to result in a sick dog, there are two requirements — exposure and failure of the immune system to thwart the infection. Crowded places provide high probability of exposure. Stress can be one of the circumstances that weaken the immune response. To learn how stress increases susceptibility to infection, read The Function of Cortisol: What Happens…
Kennel cough is a respiratory infection in dogs. It is a lay term for an infectious respiratory disease (CIRD) complex. Even though the symptoms are similar, the term paints a picture different from a common cold, doesn’t it? The underlying infection behind kennel cough can be bacteria, viruses, or a combination of both. Some of these microorganisms are more commonly…
“A cough is a natural reflex to clear the airways: just as most humans cough from time to time, so do many dogs.” When your healthy dog coughs every now and then, you’re not likely to worry about it. That’s how Smudge’s cough started. Every now and then. It could have been caused by anything. But then Smudge started coughing…
You should see a vet if your dog is coughing persistently. Most of the time, though, it doesn’t need immediate medical attention. However, depending on the overall circumstance I might see a vet the same day or early the next. Particularly if a cough seems bothersome to my dog. Such as with Jasmine who one day started coughing after a serious…