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My dog has a honking cough. Could it be kennel cough symptoms?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Great Dane | Male | neutered | 8 years and 1 month old

Signs and symptoms of kennel cough

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on January 1st, 2020

A sudden onset of a severe cough is typically seen, which may be productive or non-productive. A productive cough sounds wet and produces mucus, while a non-productive cough is dry and does not produce any mucus. This cough can sound like a honk. Gagging, retching, sneezing, and nasal discharge may also be seen. When a dog with kennel cough has their throat palpated, the dog can be induced to cough. The cough can also be exacerbated by exercise, excitement, or pressure on the neck from their collar.

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Related Questions

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Health & Wellbeing
Cough started today sounds like,a horn. Tries to spit up but doesn't. He is a puggle. What is it an what do I do till Monday?
Cough can be caused by an infection, heart problem or lung condition, it is important to first know the cause before treating it as treatment is different from condition to another. The most common disease causing cough is a viral infection called Kennel cough, this disease usually resolves without treatment within a couple weeks but if the cough is too severe it is recommended to go to the vet in order to get cough medicine and antibiotics.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
What are symptoms of kennel cough or heart disease in a Maltese mix? How do I recognise them? Asking because parents don't believe that it could be dangerous for her life.
With kennel cough, sudden onset of a severe cough is typically seen, which may be productive or non-productive. A productive cough sounds wet and produces mucus, while a non-productive cough is dry and does not produce any mucus. This cough can sound like a honk. Gagging, retching, sneezing, and nasal discharge may also be seen. When a dog with kennel cough has their throat palpated, the dog can be induced to cough. The cough can also be exacerbated by exercise, excitement, or pressure on the neck from their collar. With heart disease, you see a cough that is produced after or during exercise, as well as exercise intolerance. A dog cannot seem to play like they used to in the past. This cough will progress and get worse over time, happening when they are resting as well. You can see episodes of syncope, when a dog suddenly faints.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has had random coughs that I've noticed within the past week or so and tonight I've noticed a few times he has made choking sounds but not connected to him eating or drinking or anything. Any ideas?
From the description of the cough for Marshall it sounds like kennel cough. Kennel cough can sound like a honking cough or a hacking noise and can occur at any random time but more frequently when excited or with exercise. Other reasons for cough with Marshall can be: parasite infection allergies pneumonia (much less likely) inhaled foreign body (much less likely) I would recommend to keep him away from other dogs while he is coughing in case he has kennel cough and is contagious. If his cough persists and/or worsens, stops eating, or acts lethargic, please schedule an appointment with his veterinarian so they can examine him and determine the cause of his cough.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have a puggle Mel 4 moths eight pounds and she has developed a cough first hacking now honking gagging. She recently got a distemper shot, bordertella shot and was wormed on September 29. Why coughing should she see a vet?
A young dog with a honking/gagging kind of cough sure sounds like kennel cough, or infectious tracheitis/tracheobronchitis. This is really common in young dogs who socialize with other dogs, like at puppy class, or at a vet clinic, grooming facility, etc. It is usually self-limiting and not dangerous, but is very infectious. Keep Mel away from other dogs for 10-14 days, and if the cough is very frequent, or if she seems run down and not feeling well, she needs to see the vet for some antibiotics and anti-tussive (cough medicine) like codeine. Hope that helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
New Pet
I just got my dog from a rescue. Yesterday and now i noticed she sometime honks ssome is shhe okay
This is probably caused by a common disease , a viral/bacterial infection called Kennel cough, this disease usually resolves without treatment within a couple weeks but if the cough is too severe it is recommended to go to the vet in order to get cough medicine and antibiotics.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My Boston pug has a cough out of no where. We were at a pet event with a quite a few dogs the day before. My boyfriends dog has been playing with other dogs that have kennel cough. I think that's probably what it is. It's a cough that sometimes lead
You are correct that Kona likely has kennel cough, which is a highly contagious respiratory disease. I would take her into the vet tomorrow. Kennel cough is typically self limiting and can take up to three weeks for symptoms to completely resolve, but her symptoms may benefit from some medications such as antibiotics. Medications can lessen the severity of the symptoms, and may speed up recovery.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Why dog cough like honk sound?
There are a few different reasons pets can make the sound. It could be related to a collapsing trachea, fluid in the lungs or laryngeal paralysis. Try to record a video of the coughing and then have your pup examined by the veterinarian. The doctor may recommend radiographs after the physical exam and watching the video. I hope this helps.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is making a honking sound and I'd like to know if it's something serious. He's acting like his usual self except when he gets excited he makes this loud sound like a goose. Sometimes he'll make a hacking sound afterwords like he's coughing up
As Dr. Linda mentioned, a honking cough can be due to respiratory infections, including kennel cough (tracheobronchitis). It can also be due to conditions like a collapsing trachea, reverse sneezing, or other more serious respiratory issues. I included a link below that has a video of a dog reverse sneezing for comparison to Niko’s episodes at home. If this issue persists, if Niko has any other concerning changes at home (loss of appetite, lethargy, changes in his normal breathing efforts or patterns, etc.), it would be best to have him examined by your vet. Wishing you and Niko the best! https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952493
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is hacking but not vomiting. Occasionally some clear liquid comes up. She is eating and drinking as normal but continues to hack. This has been gong on for over 12 hours now. She is a 6 month old golden retriever puppy
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Poor Dory! There are a few things that come to mind for causes of Dory's symptoms: the more common reason is kennel cough, which is a tracheal cough from bacterial or viral infections. The cough is "goose honk" like and is worse at night and with activity. The dog usually eats and drinks. The cough can trigger the gag reflex which causes the dog to make a gagging sound and motion that sometimes is productive. Dogs can get kennel cough from boarding, grooming, doggie day care, dog parks, playing with other dogs or even from us if we were around a coughing dog. The other possibility is she ate something that irritated her esophagus like a raw hide. I would have her seen by your Vet Wednesday. Most vets treat kennel cough with antibiotics and anti-cough medication. It usually resolves with in 2 weeks. I wish you and Dory the best!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has been intermittently gagging since Sunday. Initially, it was happening after every drink of water but now it doesn't seem to be triggered by anything and it is only in the mornings. I thought he had something stuck in his throat, so we took
I'm sorry your dog is having this issue. Kennel cough is typically a dry, almost "honking" cough that can produce a white foamy/mucus substance- they can cough so hard it causes a gag reflex. It usually starts at one time of day and then gets worse and more frequent. Do you have other dogs in your home or neighbor dogs that play with your dog? If so, are they gagging or coughing? Kennel cough is very contagious thus can spread to other dogs in close contact. If you are noticing this, I would contact your vet so they can determine if your dog needs an antibiotic. Some other possibilities for what you are noticing are other respiratory infections, allergies and/or a reverse sneeze or there may be something stuck in your dogs throat (like a grass seed or part of a rawhide chew). Also, some dogs can simply drink too fast especially when it's very hot- this can cause some water to go down "the wrong pipe" and then a gag response. If your dog continues to gag or, especially if the gag be
Updated on September 24th, 2025

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