Why Is My Dog Coughing And Gagging
First off, lets define the difference between the two problems:
So, why is your dog coughing and gagging?
The causes of canine cough are hugely varied, from a minor allergy to kennel cough or cancer.
If your dog is gagging, there are three potential causes:
If your dog has been gagging, but after an hour or so appears bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, you have nothing to worry about.
You know your dog better than anyone. If something doesnt seem right, definitely seek a veterinarians opinion.
Can Having Seasonal Allergies Give You A Dry Cough
Can having seasonal allergies give you a dry cough? A persistent cough can be one of the most irritating symptoms of seasonal allergies, particularly if it is persistent. These coughs are usually dry and caused by pollen irritating the back of the throat or air passages, triggering the natural body reaction of coughing to clear the irritant.
Can seasonal alergies cause shortness of breath? The same pollen and allergens that trigger seasonal allergy symptoms can cause asthma attacks, resulting in wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and difficulty breathing. This condition is referred to as allergy-induced asthma or allergic asthma.
What are symptoms of severe seasonal allergies? Symptoms of seasonal allergies. Symptoms of seasonal allergies range from mild to severe. The most common include: sneezing. runny or stuffy nose. watery and itchy eyes. itchy sinuses, throat, or ear canals. ear congestion.
How do you cure allergy cough? Visit an allergy specialist if your cough becomes chronic. If you have severe allergy problems, you may need immunotherapy shots or regularly prescribed antihistamines to soothe upper-respiratory symptoms like cough. Follow the instructions on your licorice tea box carefully.
Keeping Your Dogs Eyes Healthy
Early treatment is key with any kind of eye problem to maintain your furry friends vision and eye health, but not all conditions can be treated with eye drops. See our comprehensive guide on dog eye problems to learn about other eye conditions your pup may develop. Its also important to clean your dogs eyes regularly with tear stain wipes and protect them with dog goggles in situations when wind or debris damage may occur.
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When Should I Be Concerned About My Dog’s Cough
You don’t need to worry if your pup has the occasional cough.
However, if your dog’s coughing is more frequent, you should take him to the vet.
Take your furry friend to the cough if the dog’s cough worsens over time.
It would help if you also had the vet check any dog cough that comes with the loss of appetite.
You also want to be aware of other symptoms, such as your dog seeming generally unwell.
Your vet will examine your dog and possibly run tests to get a definitive diagnosis. He may take fluid samples and ask questions.
Expect him to ask when your dog started coughing and if anything made him stop coughing.
He will also likely ask about other pets in your house.
Because of how many potential causes there are for a dog cough, you can’t determine your cause.
The exception would be something obvious, like a foreign object he’s choking on.
The vet may check for chronic bronchitis, congestive heart failure, bacterial infection, heartworm disease, the canine influenza virus, or other causes.
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Dosage Of Benadryl For Dogs
The best way to determine the correct Benadryl dosage for dogs is to consult your veterinarian. The Merck Veterinary Manual recommends administering 2-4 milligrams of Benadryl per kilogram of body weight, two to three times a day. However, this dosage can vary depending on your dogs medical conditions.
Dr. Jerry Klein, AKC chief veterinary officer, warns that you should always consult with a veterinarian before giving Benadryl to a puppy because young puppies can be very sensitive to certain medications. The drug is also not recommended for pregnant or nursing dogs
Never use time-release capsules for dogs, as capsules are absorbed differently in dogs than in humans and may affect your dogs dosage. They may also break open when chewed and deliver too much medication at one time, putting your dog at risk of an overdose.
Its best to avoid using liquid Benadryl if it contains sodium, which can cause other side effects. Also avoid any form of Benadryl that contains alcohol.
Childrens Benadryl pills or tablets can be used safely if you ask your veterinarian for the appropriate dosage.
Allergies Usually Do Not Cause Wet Coughs
While coughing is often a symptom of both allergies and colds, the type of cough for each is different. A cold cough is wet and hacking, and typically produces mucus or phlegm that gets progressively thicker, often taking on a green or yellow tinge.
Allergies can cause a cough that feels like you have a tickle in your throat. Thats because allergens often irritate the lining of your nose, which triggers your nasal passages to create a watery mucus. This can drip out of your nose and down the back of your throat, creating that tickling sensation. This is referred to as post-nasal drip.
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Can I Prevent Allergy Symptoms
If youre suffering from allergy symptoms you can try to limit your exposure to the allergens whenever possible. Some suggestions include:
- Stay away from cigarette smoke and pets
- If you have seasonal allergies, you can also keep your windows closed during the peak months when your symptoms flare-up
- If you do go outside, wear a mask to protect yourself
- Delegate allergy triggers such as mowing the grass
- Keep your home or office as clean as possible if you know dust mites are a problem
- If you have food allergies, avoid those foods
- Use over-the-counter allergy medications to help control your symptoms
- Use air conditioning in the car or home
- Use a dehumidifier to keep the indoor air dry in your house
- Select a high-efficiency filter for your HVAC unit and follow recommended maintenance to care for these units
- Clean your home with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter
There are all kinds of over-the-counter medications that you can try. They could potentially help for a time. Nonprescription medications could include:
- Antihistamines or decongestants
- Saline or nasal irrigation
However, you cant always avoid or limit your exposure to the things that cause your allergies, such as pollen, pet dander, or mold. Over-the-counter medications may not alleviate your symptoms. Fortunately, your doctor can help with medications to alleviate your symptoms.
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Other Uncommon Causes Of Dog Coughing
The onset of coughing can be brought on by numerous infections, diseases, and actions, but here are a few less common causes for dog coughing:
- Fungal infections – acquired through dirt or from breathing air
- Distemper – a virus that is transferred through the air and can be prevented with a vaccine
- Heartworm – watch out for those pesky mosquitoes carrying this disease
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Keep Your Asthma In Check
While difficulty breathing and shortness of breath have been symptoms associated with coronavirus, it can also be signs of asthma that can flare up with the allergy season. If you dont have a fever present with these symptoms, asthma could be the culprit.
People with asthma need to stay on top of their treatment, says Dr. Benninger, especially since people with respiratory issues are at a higher risk of potentially severe illness from coronavirus. Whether its inhalers or nasal sprays, its important to be up to date on their medication and proper usage.
Dr. Benninger also recommends starting allergy medications early in the allergy season rather than waiting for the worst part.
If you can prevent the symptoms from worsening, then youre much more likely to have less difficulty when you get to the time of the season when allergies tend to get out of control, he says.
What Can I Give My Dogs For Allergies
Wondering what you can give your dog when theyre suffering from allergies? The treatment will depend on the type of allergen. Some dogs suffer from vomiting due to food allergies so the best way to address the problem is to avoid certain types of food. With seasonal allergies, treatment options may vary from over-the-counter supplements to dietary changes to antihistamine medications like Atopica or Apoquel.
Unfortunately, antihistamines and other drugs used to treat allergies in dogs can sometimes harm our canine friends.
Its recommended to err on the side of caution when giving these medications to your allergic dog. Some of them may even further disrupt your dogs immune system, resulting in secondary infections or a greater susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.
The next section will cover traditional treatments that veterinarians recommend to dogs with allergies.
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The Difference In Duration Of Symptoms
Typically, a cold lasts for around seven to 10 days, with the most severe symptoms beginning to improve after a few days. Allergies, however, if left untreated, will cause symptoms for as long as the allergen is present. So, if your cough doesnt start to get better after a week, your symptoms may not be caused by a cold.
Asthma, on the other hand, can come and go quickly. Attacks may come on suddenly and subside quickly. Mild episodes may last for minutes, but more serious attacks can last for days.
Are There Conventional Medicines To Help Me
As seasonal allergies is the cause of your cough, a doctor or pharmacist is likely to recommend anti-histamines to lessen your bodys reaction to pollen. This in turn may help to ease your cough. However, the body can develop immunity to such medicines, and thus they should only be used on a short-term basis.
There are various types of cough medicines and syrups available, some of which act as suppressants, and others which act as expectorants to release fluid from the lungs. Your pharmacist will be able to advise a cough remedy suitable for your condition.
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How To Feed Your Dog Mushrooms
The most convenient way to give your dog mushrooms is with a mushroom supplement. If you use a mushroom supplement look for one that isnt made from mycelium.
Mycelium is like the root of the mushroom and isnt as rich in beta-glucans. Mycelium is also grown in grains or rice, so they contain grain-derived beta-glucans. That means they lack the immuno-stimulating properties your dog needs to fend off viruses.
Instead, you want to buy a product made from the full mushroom body that isnt grown in grain or rice.
Dog Coughing Can Be A Sign Of Lung Problems
This kind of dog cough can cause your dogs abdomen to show visible signs of strain from the depth of his cough.
You may also hear that your dog can only take shallow breaths.
As this is a generalized term, lung problems will depend on the specific diagnosis that your dog receives.
But to give you somewhat of an idea, here are a few lung conditions and whether or not they can be passed on:
Lung Conditions That Cause Dog Coughing
Most conditions will either be hereditary, caused by a weakened immune system, or as the result of an infection.
Most lung conditions will be lifelong problems, but luckily most can be managed successfully through medications and exercise.
Dogs with weakened immune systems, for example, those already suffering from medical conditions or those with autoimmune conditions.
Certain conditions can be more likely to occur in certain breeds, such as the West Highland White and Cocker Spaniel.
Keeping your home clean, and dust-free, and using only pet-friendly cleaning problems can be a great start.
Most other factors are, unfortunately, outside of our control.
Easing your dogs discomfort can be achieved in a multitude of ways, from mixing lemon and honey into your dogs water supply to adding coconut oil to his food.
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What Is Cbd And How Does It Work
CBD is one of the two major active compounds found in Cannabis Sativa plants next to THC. However, unlike THC, its a non-intoxicant, meaning it wont get your dog high.
What CBD CAN do, however, is regulate the activity of the endocannabinoid system the master regulatory network in all mammals.
This natural system within the body processes plant-based cannabinoids and is responsible for maintaining homeostasis between vital physiological and psychological functions. The ECS controls processes like memory, mood, pain perception, stress response, body temperature, appetite, neurogenesis, and immune function, just to name a few.
Cannabinoid receptors in the ECS interact with plant-derived cannabinoids such as CBD.
Products like CBD oil have been shown to reduce allergy symptoms by supporting the ECS, decreasing the amount of pro-inflammatory compounds , and blocking the release of histamine.
Heres what research has found when it comes to giving CBD to dogs with allergies.
Prescription Eye Drops For Dogs
Depending on your pups eye problem, your vet may prescribe one or more of these types of ophthalmic drops.
- Antibiotic eye drops for dogs are prescribed to treat bacterial infections and conjunctivitis caused by bacteria. Common eye drops for dog conjunctivitis and bacterial infections include ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline, tobramycin, or triple-antibiotic ophthalmic ointments.
- Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug eye drops, such as ketorolac , help relieve swelling and pain associated with corneal ulceration, uveitis, and trauma, as well as following ocular surgery.
- Steroid eye drops for dogs, which reduce inflammation and relieve pain, may be prescribed for severe allergies and conjunctivitis. The most common are prednisolone and dexamethasone. Steroid drops, however, can be harmful to corneal ulcers.
- Eye drops for canine glaucomas, such as dorzolamide or timolol, reduce the fluid and lower the eye pressure.
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Natural Remedies That Can Help With Your Dogs Cold
When it comes to colds and other infections, the first step is prevention. Healthy dogs are less likely to get sick, and if they do, they usually feel better quicker. Making sure your dogs immune system is in good condition is a great way to keep him healthy .
The natural remedies below can help boost your dogs immune system to prevent illness. And they can help ease his symptoms if he does get sick. Best of all, theyre safe and effective without the risk of side effects.
Why You Should Avoid Guaifenesin For Your Dogs Cough
Vets prescribe guaifenesin to help loosen mucus in the chest and throat. This makes it easier for your dog to cough it out. But guaifenesin also has negative side effects.
If your dog takes too much, it can cause abnormal breathing, hypothermia and tremors. Guaifenesin is also sometimes used in combination with dextromethorphan.
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How To Spot An Allergy Cough
Certain characteristics can help tell allergy related coughs apart from coughing for other reasons. This is what to look out for:
- Usually a dry cough no clearing mucus from airways or lungs
- Often with postnasal drip
- Often worse at night
- Typically lasts longer than three weeks
A tell-tale sign can be if you have other hay fever symptoms at the same time. For instance, a runny nose or maybe a stuffy nose, sneezing, itchy eyes or dark circles under your eyes. You might also get lower respiratory symptoms like shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing.
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What Is Food Allergy And How Is It Treated
Food allergy or food hypersensitivity can develop to almost any protein or carbohydrate component of food. It most commonly develops in response to protein of the food dairy products, beef, wheat gluten, chicken, chicken eggs, lamb, and soy are commonly associated with food allergies in dogs. Food allergy can develop at almost any age. Food allergy may produce any of the clinical signs previously discussed including itching, digestive disorders, and respiratory distress. A dog may have multiple types of allergy, such as both food allergy and atopy making the exact diagnosis of a dogâs itching quite challenging.
“Food allergy typically does not respond well to corticosteroids or other medical treatments.”
Food allergy typically does not respond well to corticosteroids or other medical treatments. Treatment requires identifying the offending component of the diet and eliminating them. The most accurate way of testing for food allergies is with an elimination diet trial using a hypoallergenic diet. Because it takes at least eight weeks for all other food products to be eliminated from the body, the dog must eat the special diet exclusively for eight to twelve weeks. If a positive response and improvement of your pet’s clinical signs occurs, your veterinarian will advise you on how to proceed.
“If the diet is not fed exclusively, it will not be a valid test.”
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