It’s normal for pets to cough or sneeze once in a while. It’s not normal for pets to cough and sneeze many times a day, or to have a lot of discharge. Stanton Pet Hospital in Stanton, CA, lists what you need to know about pet coughing and pet sneezing. Pets can’t tell us what’s wrong. Sometimes, they try to mask feeling bad. This is why it’s important to take your pet to your veterinarian whenever there is a big behavior change. If your pet coughs many times a day, starts sneezing many times in a row, or starts coughing, sneezing, and doing something else different, these can be signs of an illness.
Coughing and Sneezing
If your pet is both coughing and sneezing, this could be caused by allergies, upper respiratory infections, fungal infections, and some kinds of illnesses. In dogs, coughing and sneezing are often signs of kennel cough or parasites. Cats with asthma often cough and sneeze. They also tend to wheeze or have noisy breathing.
Reverse Sneezing in Dogs
One common kind of cough that also may involve sneezing is the reverse sneeze. This is caused by irritation at the back of the throat. Some dogs reverse sneeze after a long, vigorous drink at the water bowl. It is often a series of coughs followed by a gag or not breathing for a few seconds. Regular sneezing sometimes precedes a bout of reverse sneezing. If your dog does this once in a while, it’s okay. If this happens more and more often, get it checked out.
Persistent, Low Cough
Has your pet started coughing softly, several times a day or night? Even if your pet shows no other symptoms, this kind of pet coughing needs to be checked out by your veterinarian. This is often the first sign of a heart problem. In dogs, this can also be the first sign of adult heartworms. Any heart problem is serious enough to kill your pet, but it can often be managed if caught in time.
What Your Vet Needs to Know
When you bring your furry friend in to check out pet coughing and pet sneezing, your vet will need to know some other things before attempting to make a diagnosis. How long did the coughing and sneezing start? Are there any other symptoms besides coughing and sneezing? Has there been any big change in the pet’s life recently? Do the coughing and sneezing happen more outside or inside? Does it happen at certain times of the day?
Schedule an Appointment with Our Veterinarian in Stanton, CA
If you have further questions about your pet’s coughing or sneezing that have not been answered here and live in the Stanton, CA, area, contact Stanton Pet Hospital at (714) 828-5891 to make an appointment today.