My dog coughs & sneezes a week after heartworm treatment. Normal?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 9 years and 7 months old | 11 lbs
My dog has been coughing trying to release phlegm but I haven’t seen any come out and he also sniffles and sneezes a bit I was wondering if that’s normal for him since it has been a week since his first round of heartworm treatment shots. He doesn’t sneeze or cough like crazy but occasionally he does do it
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on April 17th, 2018
This can be normal after the first round of heart worm treatment. As the adult heartworms die, they cause an inflammatory reaction in the lungs. It is VITAL to keep Charlie under strict confinement during this time. This means he needs to stay in a confined area or crate and then only to be taken outside on a least to go to the bathroom a few days per day. If they are too active the cough will only get worse. You can try to give him some Benadryl twice a day to help with the sniffles/sneezes. See link below. I would also contact your vet just to tell them what is going on to make sure they don't want to add any meds or change any meds for him. Of course, if he stops eating, the cough gets worse, you notice labored breathing, or he is coughing up blood then I would have your vet take a look at him immediately. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/#!
4Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on April 15th, 2018
Treatment for heartworm is difficult, because the worms are dying and dissolving slowly in the heart. The first place the dead worms and/or pieces of worms go is to the lungs. Depending on the size of the piece that goes to the lungs, they can have varying degrees of lung problems. A cough could indicate a problem, but as long as he's breathing OK, this would not be an emergency. In this case I'd recommend you contact Charlie's vet sometime in the next 24 hours. They can give medication for the cough and help determine how serious this is. If Charlie is having trouble breathing, then this is an emergency, because it can indicate a severe thromboembolism in the lung. I hope that helps and Charlie gets better soon.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on April 21st, 2018
Good on you for keeping Rebel as calm as possible, but sometimes large amounts of worms die at once, leading to problems. One of these problems is coughing, and because things can quickly get worse, I do think it's best that he is seen by an ER vet right away. Other things that can happen include difficulty breathing, panting excessively, the dog becomes weak and lethargic, the dog can collapse, and a decrease in appetite. You want to avoid any severe side effects, and when a cough does develop in a dog who is getting heartworm treatment, it's best to have them seen by a vet as soon as possible. Please take him into an ER vet. Best of luck with Rebel!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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