Dog - Cough
A cough is defined as a sudden noisy expiration, or explosion of air that usually follows an exaggerated effort to breathe in.
The causes of cough are many and varied, but most can be traced to some stimulation or irritation of sensory nerves in the throat, windpipe or smaller airways. The character of the cough may help to localize the problem to a specific area of the respiratory tree or cardiovascular system and to suggest its potential severity. The duration of the cough is an important part of the history, as well as vaccination and heart worm status, travel or boarding history, pre-existing health problems, concurrent medications, and any prior history of cough.
Kennel Cough - is a fairly common ailment in dogs. Kennel cough is caused by an airborne virus, which is highly contagious. Kennel Cough includes a dry, "non-productive" cough. The dog sounds as if there is something stuck or caught in the throat and the coughing is an unsuccessful attempt to dislodge the object. Sometimes the coughing/gagging seems very violent. The episodes of coughing may go on for minutes at a time and then be repeated at intervals.
Other factors can be responsible for the coughs are -
· Tonsillitis
· Tooth & Mouth Infections
· Migrating Hook & Roundworm
· Heart worms
· Collapsed Trachea
· Allergies or Irritants
· Tumors in Lungs
· Lung worms
Diagnosis
A vet should listen to the actual sound your dog is making and determine whether it's the cough or the gag that is the main component. Is the cough a dry hack or moist? Does your dog cough anything up, and if so, what does it look like? Does he cough throughout the day or at specific times such as at night, after drinking water, or when first waking up? The vet can also work upon the following to find out the cause of coughing—Chest X-rays, Heart worm tests, and Thoracic ultrasound.
Links:
http://www.2ndchance.info/cough.htm
http://www.workingdogs.com/vcdogcough.htm
http://www.workingdogs.com/deboerken_cough.htm
http://www.prevention.com/article/0,5778,s1-6-81-118-2847-1,00.html
Video -> http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/clientED/cough.asp
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