When Your Pet Coughs
When your pet coughs, it could be a minor condition or a significant problem. Just like your human family members, cats, and dogs cough for various reasons. Although cat coughs and dog coughs have a few distinct differences, some of the diseases and conditions are the same.
As you are your pet’s caretaker and closest family member, it’s up to you to make sure they get the treatment they need when your pet coughs.
When Your Cat Coughs
Coughing is sometimes a symptom of asthma. As the Cornell Feline Health Center explains, up to five percent of cats have this problem. They sometimes develop the disease after inhaling an allergen such as pollen or mold. These substances often trigger an immune response that causes inflammation and other reactions in a cat’s lungs. Other irritants can also contribute to your cat’s asthma.
- Smoke
- Perfume and cleaning products
- Excess weight
- Cat litter
Coughing is just one of the symptoms a cat experiences when they have asthma. It also causes wheezing, breathing difficulties, vomiting, and other problems.
Other Reasons Your Cat Coughs
When a cat coughs, asthma is the most common cause. Coughing is also a symptom of several different conditions:
- Fungal infections
- Heartworms
- Pneumonia
- Lung Cancer
- Excess weight
When Your Dog Coughs
Dogs also experience asthma, although not as frequently as cats. Some of the same irritants and allergens cause the disease in both cats and dogs. When a dog has asthma, you may notice coughing, wheezing, excessive panting, and a lack of appetite. Your dog may also tire easily.
Dogs also cough when they have Bordetella. It’s a bacterial infection often referred to as “kennel cough.” The condition causes dogs to wheeze and cough with a rough, hacking sound. It often affects dogs with a weakness in their lung’s protective lining due to environmental and other conditions:
- Cold air
- Viruses
- Adverse/overcrowded kennels
- Dust and other lung irritants
Other Reasons Your Dog Coughs
Just like cats, dogs cough due to worms, smoke, excessive weight, and irritants. Coughing may also be a sign of these and other more severe conditions.
- Heart disease
- Poison ingestion
- Inhaled foreign object
- Bronchitis
Talk to Your Vet
It’s important to contact your vet as soon as you notice that your dog or cat has a persistent cough. Veterinarians rely on experience and advanced technologies to diagnose and treat your pet. They can provide a variety of treatments to help your pet feel better.
Contact Hebron Veterinary Hospital
Contact our vets if your dog, cat, or any other pet coughs. We’re committed to doing everything possible to help your pet stay healthy and happy. Call us at (860) 228-4324 to schedule an appointment.