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My senior dog has a dry cough and heart murmur. Is it serious?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Cocker Spaniel | Male

Rudy will be 10 years in October, he has been coughing a lot over the last couple of weeks, a dry cough, 6 or 7 hacks, then he'll try to throw up, but there's nothing there - just dry coughs. This sometimes happens when he gets excited or just simply out of no where while laying down. I obviously read online and read about the association of this cough with a heart murmur, Rudy was born with one. Any advise on this ?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. B. DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)

Veterinarian

Published on April 4th, 2019

Cough can be associated with the heart as you read online, with the airways/lungs (respiratory tree), with the chest cavity in general (outside the lungs), and occasionally in occasion with GI issues. Because there is a history of a heart murmur it would be very important to investigate this first. Onset of a new cough with this history is concerning for possible heart failure or the development of a secondary condition (such as pulmonary hypertension). Because it can be difficult to differentiate a cardiac cough from a respiratory cough just based on the symptoms it would be important for Rudy to see your vet for a good chest auscultation and chest x-rays to start. It heart disease is suspected then consultation with a cardiologist for heart ultrasound, etc. is likely to be recommended. If a respiratory component is suspected then this would be managed quite differently. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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