Accepted Answer

Thanks for replying. Don't give aspirin; it won't do anything for a cough, and can only lead to unnecessary stomach upsetting.

There are 3 options to consider here, 2 more likely than the 3rd more serious, considering your dog's age and the fact this cough is dry. I will explain all 3.

The first would be kennel cough, a virus contracted by other dogs, and a possibility if your dog has been in contact with other dogs somewhere or recently at a groomer or vet or kennel. True kennel cough virus lasts 3 weeks regardless of treatment. Severe coughing can last when the virus is gone due to irritation if the cough itself wasn't treated in the meantime. The antibiotics usually given are to ward off secondary infections only, not to treat the kennel cough itself. (It's important for avoiding pneumonia, basically).

The cough can be controlled to lessen irritation by giving some Robittusin DM (no other variety) at a dose of 0.5 to 1.0 mg per pound of body weight (start with the lesser dose) no more than once every 12 hours. You can read about the drug here:

http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/dextromethorphan-robitussin-dm/page1.aspx

Controlling the cough this way should bring quick relief of the irritation. In the meantime, I would also only use a harness instead of regular collar with leash, to avoid further tracheal irritation and coughing.

The second possibility is a collapsing trachea. This usually starts gradually unless there has been some pressure recently put on the trachea to start this up so suddenly. Smaller breeds like yours can have a tendency to have a weak trachea, often referred to as a collapsing trachea, which is essentially what is happening to it. The trachea is made of cartilage rings and over time in smaller breeds some of the rings get weaker and more closed up than others, thus causing a cough from the irritation. Rarely does it affect a dog's activity level, attitude or behavior, unless it becomes a more severe collapsed trachea over time, which then results in difficulty breathing as well as surgical fixing. Most dogs do not get to this point, but we do suggest, if not already, not using a collar/leash on your dog but instead a harness to lessen any tension on the trachea, as stated above. Your vet can palpate the trachea safely and initiate this coughing by doing so in most cases if this is the problem. The medication listed above may help with this, as well.

Another option less likely to consider is a problem within the heart. Heart problems can be troublesome in that serious symptoms are rarely seen before a major problem occurs. While a cough doesn't seem like a big deal, it could often be the first sign that their is a valve problem within the heart. Because the cough is dry, that's a fairly good sign no fluid is built up around the heart that shouldn't be, however, the other side of the heart having difficulties can lead to fluid build up in the abdomen, or even eventually a problem in the chest cavity. Any weakness, bloating, or change in gum color are emergency signs.

The general rule with ongoing coughing is to have the heart listened to by your vet well to detect any murmurs/ signs of a problem, and if needed, an echocardiogram to determine what the problem actually is. Though heart problems cannot be cured in dogs, medications if appropriate can add a lot of quality and quantity to their lives. Major symptoms first seen with a heart problem include coughing when resting, coughing at night, and wanting to get up and off their chest when the coughing starts up, due to the discomfort in the chest cavity.

Hope this helps, but please don't hesitate to reply if I can help further with this. Good luck with your dog,

Christine

Expert:	ChristineLVT
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Answered:	6/28/2009

Certified Veterinary Technician

Licensed veterinary technician (B.S. Mercy College), 10 yrs in animal medicine and training