Why is my senior dachshund coughing with Cushing's and a heart murmur?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Dachshund | Male | neutered | 16 years and 3 months old | 20 lbs
15.5 yr old dachshund has had a chronic wet gagging cough for over a yr. He has Cushing's disease, a 3 out of six heart murmur
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on April 3rd, 2018
Since Moxie does have a heart murmur and Cushing's disease, there is a chance that he has either congestive heart failure or at least fluid retention and pulmonary edema. This would explain the cough. I suggest you have his heart and lungs examined by your veterinarian who, if he finds pulmonary edema, can prescribe a diuretic to remove the fluid from the lungs and heart medication to help the heart be more efficient, This would afford Moxie a much better quality of life as he could breathe much easier and would have more strength and power to move around.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on March 14th, 2017
Since there has been no improvement, consider a recheck or second opinion. Kennel cough typically resolves on its own within a week or two but the cough can linger for longer. In older dogs, younger dogs and immune compromised dogs, it may lead to secondary infections and pneumonia. Chest xrays should be done to assess the heart and lungs. An echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) can be done to assess cardiac architecture and function. Afterwards, cardiac medications can be dispensed if indicated.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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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!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on February 19th, 2017
I would add to Dr. Melanie's excellent advice below that it take 24 - 48 hours for pneumonia to become obvious on x-rays, so it's possible that Moxie has pneumonia, but at the time the x-rays were taken the pneumonia wasn't visible.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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