Accepted Answer

Hello and thanks for researching this very important question!

Dogs can indeed develop congestive heart failure, or other body illnesses that cause their blood pressure to rise and their hearts to over-work (kidney failure, for example).

The symptoms you are seeing at home are consistent with heart disease of some kind, but there may be other things going on (chest infection, collapsing trachea, etc.) to cause this hard coughing. Older pets have a harder time coping with illness and often need medical support, even for "minor" conditions.

Your Dear Pet should be examined in-person by a veterinarian who can diagnose and treat him Right Away!

Read about cardiomyopathy here.

Read about kidney failure here.

If you need additional support at this time, please "Reply", otherwise I thank you in advance for your "Accept" and will hold a Good Thought for you both.

Expert:	Gen B.
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Accepts:
Answered:	10/7/2009

Retired Veterinary Technician

Lhasa,Shih Tzu Breeder/ B.A.Neurophysiology & Animal Behavior/I use plain English!