Your dog just hacked their way through their morning walk. Or maybe they've been doing a strange retching sound after they drink water. Whether it's a single dry, hacking cough or full coughing fits that woke you up at 2 AM, that sound is hard to ignore.
Some causes are minor, and others need attention fast. We’re going to go through the differences to help you decide if you need to take a trip to a pet urgent care or emergency animal hospital, or if you can wait it out.
There's no single answer to why your dog is coughing, because a lot of things can cause it. The type of cough, when it happens, and what else you're noticing alongside it all matter.
Kennel cough, the technical name is infectious tracheobronchitis, is one of the most common respiratory infections in dogs. It spreads easily anywhere dogs spend time together, including dog parks, boarding facilities, and grooming salons. Chicago has plenty of all three.
The signature sound is a dry, hacking cough that can seem like something is stuck in your dog's windpipe. Some dogs also have sneezing, nasal discharge, and a mild fever.
Most cases clear up on their own, but some dogs benefit from antibiotics or cough suppressants. Kennel cough is the dog equivalent of a bad cold. Miserable, mostly harmless, very contagious. Staying current on vaccinations helps reduce the risk.
If your dog just got back from boarding and is now coughing dramatically at you, influenza is on the list. Think of canine influenza as kennel cough's more aggressive cousin. Canine influenza follows a similar pattern: coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, and lethargy.
It spreads fast between dogs in close contact. If your dog was recently at a boarding facility or dog park and is now coughing, canine influenza is worth considering. Diagnostic tests can confirm it.
A collapsing trachea, also called tracheal collapse, happens when the rings of cartilage in the windpipe weaken and flatten. The result is that distinctive goose honk or honking cough that small breed dogs are known for. This one sounds like an emergency even though it’s usually not. It does need careful attention, though.
Small breeds like Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, and Yorkshire Terriers are most commonly affected. The collapsing trachea tends to be triggered by excitement, pulling on a leash, or heat. Senior dogs are more likely to develop it.
If your older dog has started coughing more and you've been chalking it up to age, it's worth getting a second opinion from a vet. Coughing in senior dogs is sometimes a sign of heart disease.
When the heart isn't pumping efficiently, fluid can build up around the lungs, leading to a wet, productive cough, rapid breathing, and lethargy. If your older dog is coughing more than usual, especially at night or while resting, chest x-rays and a full workup make sense.
Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and damages the heart and lungs over time. Coughing is one of the early signs, often alongside lethargy and reduced exercise tolerance. A chronic cough that doesn't fit any other explanation warrants a heartworm check.
Staying current on heartworm prevention keeps the risk low. Ask your primary vet or stop by Scout to discuss options.
Bacterial or viral pneumonia causes a deep, wet cough along with fever, labored breathing, and reduced energy. It often develops after another respiratory infection that wasn't fully resolved. Bloodwork and chest x-rays help confirm it, and treatment typically includes antibiotics.
Dogs can get seasonal allergies when they react to pollen, dust, mold, and cigarette smoke. Dogs don't sneeze dramatically into tissues. They sneeze on you, repeatedly, and then look proud of themselves.
Allergies more commonly cause sneezing and itching than coughing, but they can contribute to respiratory irritation. Chicago's allergy season runs hard from spring through fall, and dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors are regularly exposed.
Dogs investigate everything with their mouths, which is brave and also constantly inconvenient. If your dog starts coughing suddenly and intensely, especially after being outside or chewing something, a foreign object lodged in the throat or airway is possible. This is the section where 'wait and see' is not the right call.
Not all coughs are created equal. Here's a rough translation guide:
Scout Pet Urgent Care is the right call when the cough is getting worse rather than better, or when something else feels off alongside it. Come in if:
Your Scout veterinarian will tell you what they found and what they think you should do — no jargon, no pressure. You and your vet make the call together.
These signs mean skip urgent care and go straight to an emergency animal hospital:
If your dog can't breathe normally, that's an ER situation. Scout Pet Urgent Care isn't a 24-hour emergency hospital. If you're ever unsure which level of care your pet needs, call ahead and we'll help you figure it out.
For most healthy adult dogs, kennel cough is uncomfortable but not dangerous and resolves within a week or two. Puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with a weakened immune system may need more support.
Don't give human cough medications to your dog. Many contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs. A vet can recommend safe cough suppressants if needed based on what's causing the cough.
The pattern matters. A cough that appeared after exposure to other dogs and is improving is typically less concerning than a chronic cough, a cough accompanied by fever and lethargy, or one that involves any difficulty breathing.
Allergies can cause nasal irritation and some coughing, though they more commonly cause sneezing and skin itching. If you suspect allergies are behind the cough, a vet can help confirm it with a physical exam and a review of the history.
Walk-ins are welcome. You can also book online or call ahead if you want to give us a heads-up before you come in.
A cough that goes away on its own usually does so within a day or two. If yours hasn't, or something else feels off, that's worth checking out. Scout Pet Urgent Care is open same-day in Chicago. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can book online. We're here from 10 AM to 8 PM, every day.