ASK A VET: How Can I Help My Coughing Dog?

My 10-month-old Yorkie has had a cough for approximately three months now. The cough sounds like he is choking. We have watched videos of dogs with kennel cough, and that’s kind of what our puppy sounds like.

Our local vet is treating it as chronic bronchitis, and my puppy has been taking prednisone for a month and a half, but the cough hasn’t resolved. He usually gets the cough in middle of the night while sleeping, but lately he’s been getting it if he gets scared or overexcited.

Is our vet is treating this correctly, or should we seek help somewhere else to treat the issue differently? Or is this cough just “normal” among small dogs?

–Cristina

Hi Cristina,

I hope your puppy is flourishing in spite of his long-term cough. Kennel cough would be one of my first thoughts when presented with a young, coughing dog; however, in your case, it sounds more like a genetic condition frequently seen in Yorkies, called collapsing trachea.

What is Kennel Cough?

Kennel cough is a common contagious disease in dogs, especially those who have been in enclosed spaces with other dogs such as an animal shelter, boarding kennel or groomer. In medical terms, it is called infectious tracheobronchitis. It is infectious because it is caused by certain bacteria or viruses. The vaccine commonly given for kennel cough protects the dog against only one of the bacterial forms of the disease, Bordatella bronchiseptica. One of the other common canine vaccines protects against some viral forms, but even if your dog is fully vaccinated, no vaccine protects 100 percent of the time.

Keep your dog fully vaccinated against kennel cough and other common diseases, but still avoid situations where he might be exposed to disease. It is also a good idea to promote a healthy immune system by using supplements thought to strengthen the immune system, such as reishi mushroom.

The cough from kennel cough, or other forms of bronchitis, is usually described as a dry, hacking cough, as if something is stuck in the dog’s throat. If the cough is wet and productive with the dog coughing up mucous and swallowing, it is likely some sort of pneumonia. Uncomplicated kennel cough is characterized by a dry cough and it generally lasts for a week or two. In these cases, the dog may have fits of harsh coughing, but otherwise seems active and normal. This form will often resolve on its own without treatment. However, if there is a fever, decreased appetite or listlessness, the dog should be examined and treated by your vet.

Usually we make a diagnosis of kennel cough based on the symptoms and a history of recent exposure to other dogs. We usually don’t know if the dog has a bacterial or viral form of the disease. Treating with antibiotics can hasten the recovery from the bacterial form of the disease, but will have no effect on viral diseases. Since antibiotics are often overused in human and veterinary medicine, and since kennel cough often resolves without treatment, I prefer to treat uncomplicated cases with supportive care and cough suppressants. If the cough becomes productive and greenish or yellowish mucous is seen in the cough or dripping from the nose, then a bacterial infection is more likely. In those cases, antibiotics will help.

What is Collapsing Trachea?

Something we see frequently in Yorkies and other small-breed dogs that can sound very similar to kennel cough is a condition called collapsing trachea. The trachea is the windpipe that carries inhaled air to the lungs. It is a tube held open by C-shaped rings of cartilage. In dogs born with collapsing trachea, the C-shaped rings are flimsy and sometimes don’t hold the tube open well. This causes a partial and temporary obstruction of the airway, and leads to coughing fits. This usually occurs when the dog becomes excited. You mentioned that your dog’s coughing becomes worse when excited or scared. That piece of information, combined with his breed and his long-term cough, makes me think he has a collapsing trachea.

Collapsing trachea is usually a relatively benign disease requiring no treatment. Some things can complicate it, such as kennel cough and allergies, so any complicating factors should be investigated and treated. If the dog is otherwise normal except for mild fits of coughing when excited, the only useful medical treatment is cough suppressants. Prednisone may have some temporary benefit, but is not recommended as a long-term treatment for collapsing trachea.

Prednisone is a strong anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agent. It has many helpful uses in veterinary medicine, but also many potential side effects. It is appropriate to use in cases of chronic non-infectious bronchitis or asthma, but can make infectious conditions worse, since it suppresses the body’s own defense systems.

I am not comfortable with using prednisone long-term in an immature animal because of its potential side effects. For your puppy, I recommend a thorough diagnostic work-up so we know exactly what we are treating, and if there are better medications for it.

– Matt Smith, DVM

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