What should I do if my Airedale Terrier coughs and has phlegm? The most common cause of dogs coughing and phlegm is caused by colds, but some of them are caused by other reasons, so when your dog has symptoms of cough, seek medical attention as soon as possible to find the best solution. reason.

1. Why do dogs cough?

1. Dog coughing is a normal protective reflex. Its function is to remove foreign bodies in the respiratory tract, especially in the trachea and main bronchi. However, if the dog turns to a persistent and severe cough, especially a dry cough, it will cause more serious consequences.

2. Many dog ​​owners feel nervous when they hear their dog coughing, thinking that their dog is sick. In fact, this is not the case. In addition to dogs coughing when they wake up or are excited, there are many other reasons. For example, dogs suddenly go from a warm indoor to a cold outdoor and are stimulated by cold air; they are also stimulated by smoke or dust. But if your dog has been coughing for a long time, he is probably really sick.

2. Causes of dog cough

Dry cough:

The sound is crisp and short, with no obvious phlegm sound.

This sign indicates that it may be a foreign body in the respiratory tract or the early stage of acute inflammation of the respiratory system.

Wet cough:

The voice is muddy and accompanied by phlegm.

It indicates that there is a large amount of secretions in the respiratory tract, which is usually a manifestation of mid-stage respiratory inflammation.

Night cough:

Some obese or older dogs lack exercise during the day and cough during sleep time at night. When the owner observes the dog with its eyes closed, it is usually assumed that they are sleeping while sleeping. Choking on saliva or having nightmares often do not attract enough attention. However, if this situation occurs continuously, it may be an early sign of heart disease.

Painful cough:

Showing an uneasy or panicked expression while coughing. When this happens, diseases such as pleurisy, foreign bodies in the respiratory tract, and rib fractures are more likely.

Cough with vomiting:

When a dog at home has bursts of dry coughing and sometimes even vomiting, the owner should pay enough attention to it. Your dog may be suffering from fatal kennel cough.

3. Response to dog cough

1. Under normal circumstances, mild and infrequent coughs can be relieved naturally as long as the sputum or foreign matter is discharged, without the need to use antitussives.

2. For severe dry cough without phlegm, apply compound licorice tablets antitussive to relieve cough and treat inflammation at the same time. Medication and dosage: Compound licorice tablets 1-2 tablets/time, taken orally, 3 times a day; Yandi, Roxithromycin 100-150 mg/kg body weight, orally, 2 times a day; Lijunsha 0.2-0.3 g/time, 3-4 times a day, orally.

3. For those with phlegm, thick phlegm, especially if it is purulent and difficult to cough up, expectorants should be used, and it is generally not suitable to relieve cough. Medication and dosage: Ammonium chloride 0.2 mg/kg body weight, taken orally, twice a day; Potassium iodide 0.2-1 g/time, taken orally, 3 times a day; Compound licorice mixture 5-10 ml/time, taken orally, 3 times a day.

4. If the cough is caused by an infectious disease such as canine distemper, the dog’s body temperature should be monitored at any time, observed for other symptoms, and sent to the doctor if necessary.