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My dog is losing her bark. Why is she hoarse and what can I do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Havanese | Female | spayed | 5 years and 5 months old | 10 lbs

My dog is losing her bark like we lose our voice

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 9th, 2018

This could have various causes, the most common one would be an infection with kennel cough which can cause excessive coughing which in turn can make the dog hoarse and so diminish her bark. There are more serious causes such as laryngeal paralysis, a vocal chord swelling or tumor and other conditions that make it hard for the vocal chords to vibrate and make the correct sound. mechanical interference such as an ingested and stuck foxtail, piece of bone , etc. which can cause an abscess in that region. Trauma and nerve damage, hypothyroidism and autoimmune conditions can also change the bark. So, you can see that this is a complicated subject. Your vet is trained to properly examine your dog and diagnose your dog's condition. Depending on the cause, medications may be indicated, rest, or surgery (in case of a tumor or abscess). An appointment with your vet will be the best.

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