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Why is my dog coughing? Is it heartworms, bronchitis, or other causes?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

What tyoe of cough dog do if he has heartworms also stray dog outside mybshop is coughing since February 2018 till now i started giving him medicine from may whole month i give him his cough got better and went away then aftee 4 days again he started to cough and i restart his medicine course but i don't know he is eating well running well but once cough start thenni have to put and press my hand over his throat then he get relief so is it hwaetworms cough or bronchial cough i am confused

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Dayna, DVM, CVA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on June 19th, 2018

There are many different causes of cough, especially in a stray. Unfortunately without diagnostics there is no definitive way to diagnose it. Heartworm disease, lungworm, tracheal collapse, infectious or allergic bronchitis, tumor, fluid in the lungs, pulmonary hypertension, and heart failure are among some of the common reasons for coughing. I would encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian soon. A heartworm test and x-ray may be recommended to help determine the diagnosis and best treatment plan. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

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    Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 14th, 2018

    Poor guy. The cough could be related to heartworms but there are also other diseases that cause coughing in dogs including: regular heart disease, chronic bronchitis, parasitic lung infection, fungal lung infection, a resistant bacterial infection or even lung cancer is possible. Him sitting in water wouldn’t have anything to do with his cough. There is something internal going on there. Getting him some diagnostic tests done at this point would be best so that you can pinpoint the underlying cause and hopefully get an appropriate treatment plan for him to improve his cough and quality of life. I am not sure if you can officially adopt him and bring him indoors out of the heat, but that would be best for his overall health and well being, especially since he has a lung problem. I hope that your stray companion feels better soon! Best wishes and take care.

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